Level 1

21 points

Onedrive Content Unavailable in iPad Files app

I had been using the iPad Files app successfully until recently. Now when I try to access Onedrive using the Files app I often Receive the message “Content Unavailable The folder contents could not be accessed due to an unknown error.” This is new over the last week or so. The files app still works on my iPhone. I have restarted the iPad, the iPadOS is up-to-date, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the Onedrive app. I have seen comments from others with the same issue but have not seen any resolution. Anyone have any ideas?

iPad Pro 11-inch Wi-Fi

Posted on Jul 5, 2020 7:54 AM

Top-ranking reply

Azterix1984

Level 1

16 points

Posted on Jul 30, 2020 4:31 PM

Here is the solution: the issue seems to be related to the “Sorting” feature (see video link below). When you are on OneDrive or Google Drive and you Sort the files by either Name, Size, Kind, or Tags, and then you leave the Files App, it stays on that sorting option you last used, and for some reason it won’t recognize the files on those apps the next time you try to access them again, and that’s why gives you the error message. To bypass this issue, do the following: (see video link)

1) - In the Sorting options select Name. Make sure it is in alphabetical order, because the opposite won’t work. (This will not work until you apply step 2)

2) - Go back and Tap again on either OneDrive or Google Drive, and it should now recognize your files again.

I hope this helps. It works for both iPad and iPhone. Hopefully the engineers that have been telling us that nothing is wrong with their apps, will someday figure it out and solve the problem. But at least you can now work around it.

VIDEO https://youtu.be/5CPomVQ28yI

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43 replies

Jul 27, 2020 4:38 PM in response to wmbarryd

I have the same issue and I called Apple care and they told me that I have to Microsoft.. I really don’t know because it was working just fine until last week.

Jul 30, 2020 3:22 PM in response to Azterix1984

It worked , thank you so much. :)

Aug 3, 2020 7:42 AM in response to Maureenro

Glad I could help :)

Aug 6, 2020 3:49 PM in response to Azterix1984

This did the trick! So strange. Thanks!

Sep 9, 2020 7:26 AM in response to lobsterghost1

Sadly, still getting the same error message

SRB NY

Level 1

23 points

Jul 12, 2020 5:03 AM in response to wmbarryd

I am encountering the exact same issue. I can access files through the OneDrive app and Word, but not via the Files app. In fact, my list of docs in Files flashes onscreen for a moment, then is replaced by a “Content Unavailable. The folder contents could not be displayed because an unknown error occurred. Try Again.”

This is taking place on my iPad and my IPhone, both using 10.14 beta 2.

goodoa

Level 1

12 points

Jul 26, 2020 12:40 PM in response to VasiliosG

I have the same issue and apparently this is not a new problem. Similar discussion threads exist already from 2019, which gives me little hope on it being solved by Apple, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250399776

goodoa

Level 1

12 points

Jul 26, 2020 3:14 PM in response to SRB NY

I was suggested to do the following, it actually worked!

"Try resetting iPad's settings in Settings > General > Reset >

Reset All Settings. Be certain you do not select Erase All Content and

Settings as this will erase all of your information. It is a good idea

to perform a backup of your iPad prior to resetting its settings."

Tak_1138

Level 1

4 points

Oct 7, 2020 5:45 PM in response to AppleShnerd

I have this problems on brand-new iPad Mini 5s and iPad Pro with iOS 14. From what I've read online, this was happening with iOS 13. This work-around does not work, because the ... icon is greyed out, so I cannot change the sort-order... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CPomVQ28yI&feature=youtu.be Works with the individual apps for OneDrive and Google Drive, but not through Files. Makes it difficult for my kids to move files around.

I saw something similar with the BrightSpace Portfolio app, too, but this one showed a little more, saying that the app could not authenticate to Google Drive. It all works correctly in iOS 12 on an iPad Mini 3.

Since this is so widespread, I cannot believe it's just the developers who are at fault. The only thing that may be common (for my devices): the iPad Minis are managed through Screen Time (although I've removed this and tried), and my iPad Pro is managed via InTune. This leads me to wonder if it's some authentication mechanism that iOS 13/14 implement.

Jul 23, 2020 2:18 AM in response to VasiliosG

Any advancement on this front? I have seen updates of both OneDrive and File, but still the same bug.

Jul 23, 2020 5:04 AM in response to wmbarryd

Issue with IPad Attaching files from One Drive. I get this message. Please help!

neevasD

Level 1

10 points

Jul 31, 2020 12:38 AM in response to wmbarryd

Thanks for the solution, it worked for me. How did you figure it out?

Jul 31, 2020 3:53 AM in response to neevasD

Awesome!!! Thank you!!! I had started to move everything over to Dropbox now I can use my OneDrive again hopefully they read this and figure it out.

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Onedrive Content Unavailable in iPad Files app