Fixing OneDrive “Couldn’t Start Files on Demand” Error: 0xffffffea

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

If you’ve encountered the error code 0xffffffea while trying to start Files on Demand in Microsoft OneDrive, you’re not alone.

This error can be frustrating, but there’s a straightforward solution involving network commands and clearing local OneDrive temp files that can resolve the issue. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to fix this problem and get your OneDrive back on track.

Understanding the Error

What is OneDrive Files on Demand?

OneDrive Files on Demand is a feature that allows you to access all your files in OneDrive without having to download them and use storage space on your device. It shows all your files in File Explorer and provides new information about each file.

What Causes the 0xffffffea Error?

The 0xffffffea error typically arises due to network issues or corrupted network settings. or a problem with the temp files. When this error occurs, OneDrive fails to start the Files on Demand feature, hindering your ability to access files seamlessly.

Step-by-Step Solution

To fix the 0xffffffea error, you need to clear the local OneDrive temp files and then reset your network settings. Follow these steps:

Clear the OneDrive Temp Files

OneDrive has local files in a few different locations on your computer. You should browse to each of these locations and delete all the files:

C:UsersaccountnameAppDataLocalTemp

C:UsersaccountnameAppDataLocalLowTemp

C:WindowsTemp

Where you see “accountname” you should replace this with the name of your user profile, so as an example, my Windows user profile name is “techygeekshome”, I would use:

C:UserstechygeekshomeAppDataLocalTemp

You can also use built in Windows variables of:

%appdata%

This will take you to your logged in profiles AppData location.

Whichever way you use to get to these folder locations, delete all the files in them – DO NOT delete the folders themselves.

Clear the OneDrive Local Cache

You should also delete all the files in the OneDrive local cache to ensure there is no corruption there. To do this, go to this location on your computer:

C:UsersaccountnameAppDataLocalOneDrivecacheqmlcache

Then delete all the files in there, they should have qmlc file extensions like this:

It is highly likely that just removing these temp and cache files will fix your computer. So if you want to try this, go ahead and reboot your computer, let your OneDrive login and resync and you should see all your files synchronising again.

However, if this still does not work, try the following steps as well.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

1. Press Win + X to open the Power User menu.
2. Select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”.

Execute Network Reset Commands

Run the following commands one by one. Press Enter after each command:

Reset IP Settings

netsh int ip reset

Reset Winsock Catalog

netsh winsock reset

Release IP Configuration

ipconfig /release

Renew IP Configuration

ipconfig /renew

Flush DNS Cache

ipconfig /flushdns

Restart Your Computer

After executing the commands, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Check OneDrive

Once your computer restarts, check if OneDrive Files on Demand is working properly. The error 0xffffffea should be resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Glossary

• OneDrive Files on Demand: A feature that shows all your files in OneDrive without downloading them to your device, saving space.
• netsh: A command-line scripting utility that allows you to display or modify the network configuration of a computer.
• TCP/IP: Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, a set of rules that governs the connection of computer systems to the internet.
• Winsock: A specification that defines how Windows network software should access network services.
• IP Address: A unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network.
• DNS: Domain Name System, a hierarchical and decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet or a private network.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the OneDrive “Couldn’t start Files on Demand” error code 0xffffffea and continue using OneDrive without issues. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.