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MS Teams Free suddenly won't download attachments

Carla Zappala 20 Reputation points
2026-01-31T14:18:15.0866667+00:00

Yesterday my Teams Free was working fine in the morning, I could download attachments from chats. Then suddenly, I clicked on files and nothing happened. There was no warning, the issue is not a file permissions thing as I cannot even download files that previously were accessible. The only workaround is to downlod them from Team Web, but this is a massive inconvenience and adds multiple extra steps that I could do without.

I have tried multiple 'fixes' - all to no avail:

  1. In Files and Links I have set the download location to a different folder - I have tried this with 'Always ask where to save' both on and off.
  2. I have emptied the cache
  3. In Windows settings - Apps etc. I have tried both the Repair and Reset buttons.
  4. I have made sure that Windows Ransomware Protection Controlled Folder Access is set to 'Off'
  5. I have uninstalled Teams Free and did a completely fresh reinstall.
  6. I have uninstalled Teams Free and installed a slightly older version - since the udates were last checked on the day the problem occurred, I figured that an update had caused the problem, and hoped that a roll back would fix it - I was wrong!

Nothing works. I have downloaded the support logs, and my brother - who is a skilled software engineer (PhD Level) - can find nothing in them to suggest why this is happening.

I am out of ideas - hoping someone out there has the magic fix!

Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Teams Free | Files
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Ruwim.B 6,095 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-31T18:53:57.1166667+00:00

    What is the version number of your Teams application?

    I have just updated Teams app on another computer with another Teams account. The version number of this update is 26005.213.4315.4117. The Download feature works on this update too, but there is some peculiarity with the Settings -> Files and links page.

    User's image

    The labels on this page are just place holders, but the buttons work. This often happens after a new update, but the issue is usually resolved after restarting the app. However, this was not the case with this update.

    If there is an issue with your particular update, then I would suggest joining the "Insider" program.

    User's image

    After joining the Insider program, the application should be updated to this latest Insider version, which I'm currently using on my Windows computer.

    User's image

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Ruwim.B 6,095 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-31T16:42:46.14+00:00

    This are the settings I now have in Teams -> Settings -> Files and links.

    User's image

    When I right click on any shared file, and select Download option, Windows File Explorer opens in Downloads, but another folder can be selected too.

    User's imageUser's image

    Can you reproduce this behaviour?

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  2. Carla Zappala 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-31T16:19:30.35+00:00

    The files are a mixture of image and non-image files. I can access all files on OneDrive, but not in Teams.

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  3. Ruwim.B 6,095 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-31T15:14:01.5766667+00:00

    Are you trying to view attached image files or other files?

    Non-image files are shared using OneDrive, and in order to be able to access these files you need to have access to your personal OneDrive account on the OneDrive.com site.

    Can you access this OneDrive site on the Web using the same account as you are using with Teams?

    https://onedrive.live.com/

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  4. Carla Zappala 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-31T14:23:39.7133333+00:00

    Additional: The internet connection is stable - 520GB speed.
    The version of teams is up to date.

    We have checked that there are no old teams processes running that might confuse the newer version.
    I have done cxomplete shut downs ans restart between each step.
    I don't have another network to try, but others in the family have Teams on their devices and theirs still works fine.
    The only thing that changed is that Teams did an update and then suddenly it didn;t work anymore.

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