OneDrive, a cloud storage service provided by Microsoft, offers seamless file backup and access across various devices. However, some users experience an error that says “The tag present in the reparse point buffer is invalid.” This error takes place on Windows and can be extremely frustrating for those who rely on OneDrive for storage and collaboration purposes. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to help you fix this issue.
1. Restart OneDrive
Before trying any complicated solutions, first attempt by simply restarting OneDrive. Here’s how:
a. Right-click on the OneDrive icon located in the system tray (next to your clock).
b. Click on “Close OneDrive” or “Exit.”
c. Launch OneDrive again by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Run Windows Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in troubleshooting tool that can help identify and fix common issues with software like OneDrive.
a. Press the Windows key + S, and type “troubleshoot settings.”
b. Click on “Troubleshoot settings” from the search results.
c. Scroll down to find “Windows Store Apps” or “Windows Apps” and click on it.
d. Click on “Run the troubleshooter” and follow the displayed instructions.
3. Clear OneDrive Cache
Clearing the cache files can help resolve synchronization issues between your device and OneDrive. Follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
b. Type “%localappdata%\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\onedrive.exe /reset” without quotes and hit Enter.
Wait for some time for the process to finish (it might take a couple of minutes). This will reset your cache files and hopefully fix the error.
4. Reinstall Microsoft Office
In some cases, the issue might be related to a corrupted Microsoft Office installation. To fix this, reinstall Office following these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + I to open up the Settings app.
b. Navigate to “Apps” then “Apps & features.”
c. Locate Microsoft Office in the list and click on it.
d. Select “Uninstall” and follow the on-screen instructions.
e. Once uninstalled completely, head over to office.com and sign in with your account.
f. From your account dashboard, click on “Install Office” and download the installer.
g. Run the installer and follow its instructions to reinstall Office.
5. Unlink and Relink your OneDrive Account
If none of the above methods work, you can try unlinking your computer from OneDrive and then relinking it.
a. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in your system tray.
b. Click on “Settings.”
c. Go to the “Account” tab.
d. Click “Unlink this PC” and confirm your choice.
e. Reboot your computer.
f. Now, sign in to your OneDrive account again by following the setup prompt.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve “The tag present in the reparse point buffer is invalid” error in OneDrive on Windows. Give these solutions a chance before considering radical measures like resetting or reinstalling Windows itself.
Fix OneDrive’s “Reparse Point Buffer Invalid” Error on Windows
OneDrive, a cloud storage service provided by Microsoft, offers seamless file backup and access across various devices. However, some users experience an error that says “The tag present in the reparse point buffer is invalid.” This error takes place on Windows and can be extremely frustrating for those who rely on OneDrive for storage and collaboration purposes. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to help you fix this issue.
1. Restart OneDrive
Before trying any complicated solutions, first attempt by simply restarting OneDrive. Here’s how:
a. Right-click on the OneDrive icon located in the system tray (next to your clock).
b. Click on “Close OneDrive” or “Exit.”
c. Launch OneDrive again by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Run Windows Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in troubleshooting tool that can help identify and fix common issues with software like OneDrive.
a. Press the Windows key + S, and type “troubleshoot settings.”
b. Click on “Troubleshoot settings” from the search results.
c. Scroll down to find “Windows Store Apps” or “Windows Apps” and click on it.
d. Click on “Run the troubleshooter” and follow the displayed instructions.
3. Clear OneDrive Cache
Clearing the cache files can help resolve synchronization issues between your device and OneDrive. Follow these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
b. Type “%localappdata%\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\onedrive.exe /reset” without quotes and hit Enter.
Wait for some time for the process to finish (it might take a couple of minutes). This will reset your cache files and hopefully fix the error.
4. Reinstall Microsoft Office
In some cases, the issue might be related to a corrupted Microsoft Office installation. To fix this, reinstall Office following these steps:
a. Press the Windows key + I to open up the Settings app.
b. Navigate to “Apps” then “Apps & features.”
c. Locate Microsoft Office in the list and click on it.
d. Select “Uninstall” and follow the on-screen instructions.
e. Once uninstalled completely, head over to office.com and sign in with your account.
f. From your account dashboard, click on “Install Office” and download the installer.
g. Run the installer and follow its instructions to reinstall Office.
5. Unlink and Relink your OneDrive Account
If none of the above methods work, you can try unlinking your computer from OneDrive and then relinking it.
a. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in your system tray.
b. Click on “Settings.”
c. Go to the “Account” tab.
d. Click “Unlink this PC” and confirm your choice.
e. Reboot your computer.
f. Now, sign in to your OneDrive account again by following the setup prompt.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve “The tag present in the reparse point buffer is invalid” error in OneDrive on Windows. Give these solutions a chance before considering radical measures like resetting or reinstalling Windows itself.
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Updated on August 5, 2026 by EdRater
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