How to fix Error 376 on Windows 11

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Windows 11 Troubleshooting Guide: Error 376 — “The File Is Not a Cloud File”

Why This Error Happens

Error 376 occurs when the Windows Cloud Filter driver (cldflt.sys) attempts to perform a placeholder operation—such as hydration, pinning, or attribute checks—on a file that lacks the required cloud file metadata (reparse point tags). This typically happens when a file has been stripped of its “placeholder” status due to corruption in the sync provider’s local database, improper migration from another cloud service, or manual manipulation of files outside the sync client (e.g., using third-party backup tools that strip NTFS reparse attributes). It can also occur if OneDrive, or another Cloud Files API-based provider, loses sync with its metadata cache while the file still resides in a synced folder.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

  1. Force a OneDrive/Cloud Provider Reset
    Press Win + R, type the following, and press Enter:
   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

Wait 1–2 minutes for the OneDrive icon to disappear from the system tray and reappear, indicating the sync database has rebuilt.

  1. Check File Attributes via Command Prompt
    Open Command Prompt as Administrator and navigate to the affected file’s directory. Run:
   attrib "C:\Users\<YourUsername>\OneDrive\path\to\file.ext"

If the output does not show a P (pinned) or cloud reparse attribute, the file has lost its cloud file linkage and needs to be re-synced (see Step 3).

  1. Move the File Out and Back Into the Synced Folder
    Cut the affected file and paste it into a non-synced location (e.g., C:\Temp). Then copy it back into the OneDrive (or other cloud provider) folder. This forces Windows to re-register the file with the Cloud Filter driver and reassign proper placeholder metadata.

  2. Unregister and Re-register the Cloud Filter Driver
    In an elevated PowerShell window, run:

   Get-WindowsDriver -Online | Where-Object {$_.OriginalFileName -like "*cldflt*"}
   pnputil /enum-drivers

If cldflt.sys shows as corrupted or missing, run System File Checker to restore it:

   sfc /scannow
  1. Check for Sync Provider Conflicts
    Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and check for multiple cloud sync clients (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) managing the same folder tree. Having overlapping Cloud Files API providers on the same directory can cause metadata mismatches. Uninstall or repoint conflicting clients to separate folders.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the Fix: Right-click the file in File Explorer — under the “General” tab in Properties, confirm the “Attributes” section no longer flags an inconsistent cloud status, and check that the OneDrive status icon (cloud/checkmark) displays correctly next to the file.
  • Alternative Fix: If the error persists, unlink your account via Settings > Accounts > OneDrive > Unlink this PC, restart the machine, then re-link and allow a full resync — this rebuilds the entire placeholder database from scratch.