When you download a folder from OneDrive as a ZIP archive, you may find that some files inside the folder are missing from the downloaded ZIP. This issue occurs because OneDrive’s ZIP export feature has a well-known limitation: it cannot include files that are stored online-only and have not been downloaded to your local device. This article explains the technical cause of this limitation and provides step-by-step instructions to ensure all files are included in your ZIP download. You will also learn how to avoid this problem in the future and what to do if files still go missing.
Key Takeaways: How to Fix Missing Files in OneDrive ZIP Downloads
- OneDrive web > Select folder > Download: The built-in ZIP export skips files that are not synced locally — you must first make files available offline.
- OneDrive sync client > Right-click file > Always keep on this device: Forces a file to download fully so it appears in a ZIP export.
- File Explorer > OneDrive folder > Select files > Share > Send as ZIP: Creates a local ZIP that includes all files, regardless of their sync status.
Why OneDrive ZIP Downloads Skip Some Files
OneDrive’s ZIP download feature works by reading the file metadata from the cloud and packaging the actual file contents into a ZIP archive. However, when a file is set to online-only status, OneDrive stores only a placeholder on your device. The cloud service does not automatically download the full file content during the ZIP creation process. As a result, any file that is online-only at the time of the download request is omitted from the ZIP archive.
This behavior is by design. OneDrive optimizes bandwidth and storage by keeping infrequently used files in the cloud. When you trigger a ZIP download from the web interface, the service attempts to gather the files from the cloud, but it does not force a local sync of online-only items. If the file content is not already cached locally or available through a direct cloud read, the ZIP export skips it silently. You receive the ZIP archive without any warning that files are missing.
Files On-Demand and ZIP Export
Files On-Demand is the feature that controls whether a file is stored locally or only in the cloud. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you see status icons in File Explorer: a blue cloud icon means online-only, a green check mark means locally available, and a solid green circle means always kept on this device. The ZIP export from the OneDrive website only includes files that are either locally available or always kept on this device. Online-only files are excluded.
Web Browser vs. Sync Client Behavior
When you download a ZIP from the OneDrive website in a browser, the process runs entirely on the server side. The server checks the file’s sync status. If the file is online-only and has not been synced to a local device, the server cannot retrieve the full content for the ZIP. In contrast, using the OneDrive sync client in Windows ensures that files you mark as always kept on this device are fully downloaded. A ZIP created locally through File Explorer or the sync client’s context menu includes all files regardless of their status.
Steps to Download a ZIP With All Files Included
To guarantee that every file in a folder appears in your ZIP download, you must first make all files available locally. Use the OneDrive sync client on Windows to force the download of online-only files before exporting the ZIP. Follow these steps.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the OneDrive folder
Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer. In the left pane, click OneDrive. Locate the folder that contains the files you want to ZIP. - Change file status to Always keep on this device
Select all files inside the folder. To select all, press Ctrl + A. Right-click one of the selected files. In the context menu, choose Always keep on this device. A solid green circle icon appears on each file. OneDrive begins downloading the full file content to your local drive. - Wait for sync to complete
Look at the OneDrive icon in the system tray near the clock. A rotating circle or a check mark indicates sync is active or complete. Do not proceed until the sync finishes. You can also check File Explorer — the green circle icons remain, and the file sizes appear as actual sizes instead of 0 KB. - Create the ZIP archive locally
In File Explorer, select all files again. Right-click the selection. In the context menu, choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder. Windows creates a ZIP file in the same folder. This ZIP contains all files, including those that were previously online-only. - Move or share the local ZIP
You can now copy the ZIP file to another location, attach it to an email, or upload it to a different cloud service. The ZIP is a complete archive of all files from the original OneDrive folder.
Alternative Method: Download from OneDrive Web After Syncing
If you prefer to download the ZIP from the OneDrive website, sync the folder locally first using the Always keep on this device setting. After the sync completes, the files are fully downloaded to your computer. The next time you download the folder as a ZIP from the web, OneDrive includes all files because they are now available locally. This method works only if you are signed into the same OneDrive account on the web and the sync client.
If OneDrive ZIP Still Has Missing Files After the Fix
OneDrive ZIP download from the web shows fewer files than expected
If you followed the steps above but the ZIP from the web still misses files, check that the files are not excluded by file type restrictions. OneDrive does not ZIP files that are blocked by your organization’s policy. For example, some administrators block .exe, .ps1, or .vbs files from being downloaded. Open the OneDrive folder in the web browser and look for any files with a warning icon. If a file is blocked, you cannot include it in any ZIP download. Contact your IT admin to remove the block if necessary.
OneDrive ZIP file is corrupted or cannot be opened
A corrupted ZIP file usually indicates an incomplete download or a browser issue. Try downloading the folder again using a different browser. Clear your browser cache before retrying. If the corruption persists, use the local ZIP method described above. Local ZIP creation in Windows uses the built-in compression engine, which is more reliable for large archives.
OneDrive shows a red X on shared Office files
A red X on an Office file in File Explorer means the file is not syncing due to a conflict or a sync error. Right-click the file and select View sync conflicts. Resolve the conflict by keeping the version you want. After the conflict is resolved, the file syncs fully and becomes available for ZIP export.
OneDrive Web ZIP vs Local ZIP: Key Differences
| Item | OneDrive Web ZIP Download | Local ZIP via File Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Downloads a folder as a ZIP directly from the OneDrive website | Creates a ZIP file on your computer using Windows’ built-in compression |
| File inclusion | Skips online-only files that are not synced locally | Includes all files regardless of sync status |
| File size limit | ZIP size is limited to 20 GB per download | No practical limit — limited by local disk space |
| Network usage | Downloads only the ZIP archive from the cloud | Requires prior sync of all files to local drive |
| Best use case | Quick download of small folders with all files synced | Reliable export of large folders or folders with mixed sync status |
OneDrive’s ZIP export from the web is convenient but has a critical limitation with online-only files. For a complete and reliable ZIP archive, use the local method in Windows File Explorer. First sync all files by selecting Always keep on this device, then create the ZIP locally. This approach eliminates missing files and gives you full control over the archive.