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Unable to access One Drive on web app - Error message "attempting to perform an unauthorised operation."

Heather Morton 0 Reputation points
2026-05-07T21:55:44.1+00:00

Hi,

I have been using Outlook and One Drive via the web app for months for work via my organisations business account.
Recently, I have been unable to access One drive via the web app and get the error message "attempting to perform an unauthorised operation."

My permissions have not been changed.
What steps can I take to restore my use?

Many thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | Other

2 answers

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  1. Alexis-NG 16,185 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-07T22:25:38.9+00:00

    Hi Heather Morton,

    I hope you're having a productive day. 

    To help narrow down the root cause of the “attempting to perform an unauthorised operation” error, I’d like to ask a few quick questions. These will help determine whether the issue is related to permissions, account/session inconsistencies, or a backend configuration change:

    1. Does the issue occur only in the web app? Are you able to access your files normally through desktop apps or mobile apps?
    2. Which browsers you're using to when you encountered this error?
    3. Have you tested in another browser or in private/incognito mode?
    4. Are you signed into multiple Microsoft accounts in the same browser?
    5. Are your colleagues experiencing the same issue, or is it only affecting your account?
    6. If possible, can you share the URL where the error appears? Please also shared the screenshot of the error "attempting to perform an unauthorised operation." you mentioned.

    Once I have a clearer understanding of your current situation, I’ll be happy to assist you with greater accuracy. Please feel free to share any additional details you believe are relevant. Screenshots are especially helpful and much appreciated.

    Additionally, to ensure we resolve this securely, I have initiated a private message for your convenience and left a note there. At your earliest availability, please review that message and provide the information requested in private message so I can assist you more affectively.

    User's image

    In the meantime, please follow the steps suggested by Q&A Assist, as it's basic troubleshoot for such cases, and please keep me updated on whether the issue persists and the outcomes of those steps.

    Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out. 

    I'm looking forward to your reply. 

    Note: Please follow the steps in this documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-07T21:55:57.55+00:00

    Try the following steps in order, testing OneDrive in the browser after each step:

    1. Use a private/incognito browser session
      • Open the browser’s privacy mode (for example, InPrivate in Microsoft Edge or Incognito in Google Chrome).
      • Sign in to Microsoft 365 with the work account and try opening OneDrive again.
    2. Clear browser cache if it works in private mode
      • If OneDrive works in private mode but not in a normal window, clear the browser cache and cookies.
      • In Edge, follow the steps in “View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge.”
      • In Chrome, follow the steps in “Clear cache and cookies.”
      • After clearing, close all browser windows, reopen the browser, sign in again, and test OneDrive.
    3. Confirm permissions and organizational policies
      • If the error persists even in private mode, contact the organization’s SharePoint/OneDrive or Microsoft 365 administrator.
      • Ask them to:
        • Verify that the user account still has permission to the OneDrive site and content.
        • Check for any organizational policies (such as location-based access or acceptable use policy enforcement) that might be blocking access to OneDrive or SharePoint.
    4. If access is blocked due to organizational or acceptable use policies
      • If the admin sees messages about “Access Denied due to organizational policies” or “This page has been blocked as it violates the Acceptable Use Policy,” they should follow the guidance in the admin center diagnostics or submit a support request from the Microsoft 365 admin center to restore access.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, the organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator should open a support ticket with Microsoft, as tenant-level or service-level restrictions may be involved.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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