“File Could Not Be Uploaded” – Troubleshooting Guide for SharePoint

If you’re encountering the error “File could not be uploaded” while trying to upload a document to SharePoint, it could be due to various reasons, such as file size limitations, unsupported file types, network issues, permissions, browser problems, or sync errors.

This detailed step-by-step guide will help you troubleshoot and fix the issue.

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Step 1: Check the File Name and Format

Certain file names or types are restricted in SharePoint, preventing uploads.

1. Avoid Special Characters in the File Name

SharePoint does not allow certain special characters in file or folder names, including:
✅ Allowed: MyDocument.pdf
❌ Not Allowed: My?Document.pdf, Project:Report.xlsx, Test*File.docx

Restricted Characters:

~ " # % & * : < > ? / \ { | } . (Leading or trailing spaces are also not allowed)

✔ Solution: Rename the file to remove special characters before uploading.

2. Avoid Restricted File Extensions

SharePoint blocks certain file types from being uploaded, such as:
❌ Restricted: .exe, .bat, .cmd, .msi, .ps1, .vbs

✔ Solution:

• If you’re uploading a restricted file type, compress it into a ZIP file before uploading.
• Contact the SharePoint administrator to check if the file type is blocked.

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Step 2: Check the File Size

SharePoint has file size limitations that may prevent uploads.

1. File Size Limits in SharePoint

• SharePoint Online: Maximum 250 GB per file.
• SharePoint Server (On-Premises): Usually 50 MB to 2 GB (can be increased by admins).

✔ Solution:

• Check the file size by right-clicking it and selecting Properties.
• If it’s too large, try:
  • Compressing the file into a ZIP.
  • Splitting large files (e.g., PDFs, videos, databases).
  • Uploading via OneDrive Sync instead of the browser.

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Step 3: Ensure You Have Upload Permissions

If you don’t have the necessary permissions, you might not be able to upload files.

1. Check Folder Permissions

1. Go to the Document Library in SharePoint.
2. Click the three dots (…) next to the folder.
3. Select Manage Access.
4. Ensure your name appears in the list with the correct permissions (Edit/Contribute).

2. Request Access

• If you see “Access Denied”, ask your SharePoint administrator for permission to upload files.

✔ Solution: Contact the IT team to request access if needed.

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Step 4: Check If the SharePoint Library Has Reached Storage Limits

If your document library or SharePoint site is full, new files cannot be uploaded.

1. Check Available Storage

1. Click the gear icon ⚙️ in SharePoint.
2. Select Site Information > View all site settings.
3. Click Storage Metrics to check available space.

✔ Solution:

• If storage is full, delete unnecessary files or ask the admin to increase the quota.
• Consider moving large files to OneDrive or Azure Storage.

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Step 5: Use OneDrive Sync Instead of Browser Upload

If browser uploads fail, try using OneDrive Sync, which handles large files better.

1. Sync the Document Library

1. Open SharePoint and go to the document library.
2. Click Sync (found in the top menu).
3. Open the synced folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
4. Drag and drop your file into the OneDrive folder.

✔ Solution: OneDrive will automatically upload the file in the background, even if it’s large.

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Step 6: Check Your Internet Connection

A slow or unstable internet connection may interrupt file uploads.

1. Test Your Internet Speed

• Go to SpeedTest.net and check your upload speed.
• Recommended upload speed: At least 10 Mbps for large files.

✔ Solution:

• If your Wi-Fi is weak, try a wired Ethernet connection.
• Restart your router and try uploading again.

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Step 7: Try a Different Browser

Some browsers handle uploads better than others.

Recommended Browsers for SharePoint

✅ Best Browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox

❌ Avoid Older Browsers:

• Internet Explorer (IE) is no longer supported.

✔ Solution:

• Clear the browser cache (Ctrl + Shift + Delete) and restart your browser.
• Try uploading from a different browser.

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Step 8: Check for Sync Issues in OneDrive

If you’re uploading via OneDrive and getting errors:

1. Check for OneDrive Errors

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
2. Look for sync error messages.
3. If you see errors, click View sync problems.

✔ Solution:

• Restart OneDrive (Right-click > Quit OneDrive > Reopen).
• Pause and Resume Syncing to refresh the connection.

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Step 9: Check SharePoint Server Settings (For On-Premises Users)

If you’re using SharePoint On-Premises, file upload settings might be too restrictive.

1. Increase Maximum File Upload Size (Admin Only)

🔴 Requires Admin Access

1. Open SharePoint Central Administration.
2. Click Manage Web Applications.
3. Select your web application.
4. Click General Settings > Find Maximum Upload Size.
5. Increase the limit (e.g., from 50 MB to 2 GB).
6. Click OK, then restart IIS by running: iisreset

✔ Solution: If you’re not an admin, ask your IT team to increase the upload limit.

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Step 10: Check If SharePoint Is Down

Sometimes, SharePoint services may be temporarily unavailable.

1. Check Microsoft Service Status

Visit Microsoft Service Health and look for SharePoint Online outages.

✔ Solution: If SharePoint is down, wait until Microsoft resolves the issue.

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Step 11: Contact IT Support

If you’ve tried all the above steps and still can’t upload files, contact your IT department or SharePoint administrator with the following details:

✅ Information to Provide

• File Name & Size
• Error Message Screenshot
• Browser Used (Chrome, Edge, etc.)
• Upload Method (Browser, OneDrive, etc.)
• Date & Time of Issue

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Final Thoughts

🔹 For File Name Issues: Remove special characters.
🔹 For File Size Issues: Compress or split the file.
🔹 For Permission Issues: Request access from the admin.
🔹 For Network Issues: Test your internet speed or try a wired connection.
🔹 For Sync Issues: Restart OneDrive or re-sync the library.

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