OneDrive for Business web upload fails in one browser for Chrome users: Fix Guide

You are using Google Chrome to upload files to OneDrive for Business through the web interface. The upload fails only in Chrome but works fine in Microsoft Edge or Firefox. This problem usually occurs because of corrupted browser cache, conflicting Chrome extensions, or incorrect site permissions. This article explains the specific causes and provides five targeted fixes to restore web uploads in Chrome.

Why OneDrive Web Upload Fails Only in Chrome

The OneDrive for Business web interface relies on JavaScript and browser APIs to handle file uploads. Chrome may block or interfere with these operations for several reasons. The most common cause is a corrupted browser cache or cookies specific to the Microsoft login domain. When Chrome stores outdated session data, the upload request can time out or return a silent failure.

Another frequent cause is a Chrome extension that modifies network requests. Ad blockers, privacy tools, or script managers can prevent OneDrive from loading the upload module. Extensions like uBlock Origin, Ghostery, or Tampermonkey are known to cause this issue.

Chrome site permissions can also block uploads. If the clipboard, pop-ups, or file system access are restricted for the OneDrive domain, the upload dialog may not open or the file transfer may be interrupted.

Less common but possible causes include an outdated Chrome version, a corrupted Chrome user profile, or a group policy that disables file uploads. These scenarios are covered in the troubleshooting steps below.

Steps to Fix OneDrive Web Upload in Chrome

Follow these methods in the order listed. Test an upload after each step before moving to the next.

Method 1: Clear Chrome Cache and Cookies for OneDrive

1. Open Chrome Clear Browsing Data
   Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome. Select More tools > Clear browsing data.
2. Set the time range
   In the dialog that opens, set the time range to All time. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
3. Limit to OneDrive site
   Click the Site and app settings dropdown. Select Add and enter []onedrive.live.com and []sharepoint.com and all subdomains. This ensures only OneDrive data is removed.
4. Clear the data
   Click Clear data. Close all Chrome windows and reopen Chrome. Go to https://onedrive.live.com and sign in again. Try uploading a file.

Method 2: Disable Chrome Extensions

1. Open Extension Manager
   In Chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Turn off all extensions
   Toggle the switch on each extension to the off position. Do not remove them yet.
3. Test upload
   Go to OneDrive and try uploading a file. If the upload works, one of the extensions is the cause. Turn extensions back on one by one, testing after each, to identify the culprit. Common offenders include uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, Ghostery, and any script manager.
4. Remove the conflicting extension
   Once identified, click Remove on the extension card. If you need the extension, check its settings for an allowlist and add onedrive.live.com and sharepoint.com.

Method 3: Reset Chrome Site Permissions for OneDrive

1. Open Site Settings
   In Chrome, go to chrome://settings/content/siteDetails?site=https://onedrive.live.com. If that does not load, navigate manually: Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > View permissions and data stored across sites. Search for onedrive.live.com and click the entry.
2. Reset permissions
   Click the Reset permissions button at the top of the page. This clears all custom permissions for the site.
3. Reconfigure required permissions
   After resetting, ensure these permissions are set to Allow: Pop-ups and redirects, Clipboard, File system access. If any are set to Block, change them to Allow.
4. Test upload
   Reload the OneDrive page and attempt the upload again.

Method 4: Update Chrome to the Latest Version

1. Open Chrome About page
   Type chrome://settings/help in the address bar and press Enter. Chrome automatically checks for updates.
2. Install pending updates
   If an update is found, click Relaunch to apply it. Chrome restarts and reopens your tabs.
3. Test upload
   After the update, sign in to OneDrive and try uploading.

Method 5: Create a New Chrome User Profile

If none of the above methods work, the Chrome user profile may be corrupted. A new profile starts with default settings and no extensions.

1. Open Profile Manager
   In Chrome, type chrome://settings/people and press Enter. Under Other profiles, click Add.
2. Create a new profile
   Enter a name like Work Upload. Choose a color and icon. Click Done.
3. Sign in to OneDrive in the new profile
   Chrome opens a new window with the new profile. Go to https://onedrive.live.com and sign in. Try uploading a file.
4. Move bookmarks if needed
   If the upload works, you can switch to this profile permanently. Use Chrome’s bookmark manager to export and import bookmarks from the old profile if necessary.

If OneDrive Still Fails After These Fixes

OneDrive upload dialog does not open

If clicking the Upload button does nothing, check that pop-ups are not blocked for the OneDrive domain. Follow Method 3 above to reset permissions. Also verify that no Chrome flag is overriding pop-up behavior. Type chrome://flags in the address bar, search for pop-up, and set any related flag to Default.

Upload starts but stops at a specific percentage

This indicates a network interruption or a file size limitation. OneDrive for Business has a file size limit of 250 GB per file through the web interface. If your file is near that limit, use the OneDrive sync client instead. Also check your network stability. A Wi-Fi drop can cause partial uploads. Try using a wired connection or a different network.

Upload fails with a generic error message

A generic error often means the browser’s local storage for the site is corrupted. In addition to clearing cache and cookies, clear the site’s local storage manually. Open Chrome Developer Tools with F12. Go to the Application tab. Under Storage, expand Local Storage. Right-click https://onedrive.live.com and select Clear. Reload the page and try again.

Chrome vs Edge vs Firefox for OneDrive Web Uploads: Key Differences

Item	Chrome	Edge / Firefox
Upload mechanism	Uses JavaScript and the File API	Same underlying web standards
Extension interference	High — many extensions can block upload scripts	Lower — fewer extensions affect OneDrive
Cache corruption frequency	Moderate — heavy browsing can corrupt cookies	Similar risk
Site permission granularity	Detailed — pop-ups, clipboard, file access	Similar controls available
Profile corruption recovery	Create new profile	Reset browser or create new profile

OneDrive web uploads in Chrome fail primarily due to cache corruption, extension conflicts, or incorrect site permissions. Clearing browser data for the OneDrive domain, disabling extensions, and resetting site permissions resolve the vast majority of cases. If the problem persists, updating Chrome or creating a new user profile provides a clean environment. For large files or frequent uploads, consider using the OneDrive sync client instead of the web interface. The sync client bypasses browser limitations entirely and offers more reliable transfer handling.