Downloading OneDrive files to PC results in corruption. Explanation below.

Dear @Emma-5061,

Good day, and I appreciate the clear explanation of your concern. 

Based on your description, this does not appear to be a Mac-to-Windows compatibility issue. The behavior you are seeing is most commonly related to how OneDrive handles bulk downloads through a web browser. 

When you download multiple files or folders from the OneDrive website, they are automatically bundled into a ZIP file in your browser. If that process is interrupted, such as hitting size or file limits or a browser issue, the ZIP may download incomplete and appear corrupted.  

In those cases, repair tools like WinRAR cannot fix it because part of the data is missing. This explains why single files download correctly, while downloads with many files fail or get canceled. 

Please see the following workarounds that will help you verify the issue:  

Please make sure your operating system and web browsers are fully updated before proceeding with any troubleshooting steps. 

Option 1: Sync the shared files to File Explorer (recommended) 

This is the most reliable approach, especially if you work with these files regularly. 

Make sure the OneDrive sync app is installed and signed in your work account on your PC. If not, you can install it if allowed by your organization. 

Open the shared folder in OneDrive through your web browser. 

Select “Add shortcut to OneDrive” or “Add shortcut to my files” so the folder becomes part of your own OneDrive. 

Allow the folder to sync so it appears directly in File Explorer. 

Open and work with the files locally without needing to download ZIP files. 

Syncing avoids the browser ZIP process entirely and provides a stable, continuous transfer. It is the recommended method for larger file sets or frequent access and it prevents corruption caused by incomplete web downloads. 

Option 2: Download via browser in smaller batches 

If downloading via the browser is required, reducing the size of each download can help prevent corruption. 

Select a smaller number of files at a time rather than a full folder. 

Keep each download well below 10 GB and avoid folders containing very large numbers of files. 

Let one download fully complete before starting the next. 

This reduces the likelihood of the ZIP file being cut off during creation or download. 

Option 3: Use a supported browser and avoid restricted views 

The browser and view context can affect how downloads behave. 

Use a modern browser such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. 

Avoid downloading from older or limited browser modes. 

If accessing files through a Shared view, try opening the main folder location instead of downloading directly from the Shared tab. 

This helps avoid browser-level limitations that can interrupt folder or multi-file downloads. 

Additional information is available in the following resource: Download files and folders from OneDrive or SharePoint - Microsoft Support 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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