Windows 11 update breaks OneDrive, Edge and more here's what to do if you've been hit by this confusing bug

Date:
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:32:54 +0000

Description:
Confusing Windows 11 bug creeps out of the woodwork to cause chaos with a bunch of apps that use a Microsoft account login.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
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now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Windows 11's March update has an annoying bug It breaks some apps which use a Microsoft account login, including OneDrive, Edge and the free version of Teams Microsoft has a workaround, but doesn't sound fully confident in it though fortunately a patch is already underway and should arrive soon Windows 11 's latest update suffers from a bug which has broken some apps that use a Microsoft account login.

Bleeping Computer reports that the March update released last week (known as KB5079473) has messed up the Microsoft account sign-ins for OneDrive and the Edge browser , as well as the free version of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 Copilot, along with Microsoft Word and Excel. Microsoft explains : "As a result of this issue, sign in attempts will display an error message with
text similar to 'You'll need the Internet for this. It doesn't look like you're connected to the Internet'. This appears even if the device is connected to the internet." Article continues below You may like Windows 11 bug breaks entire desktop for some users luckily there's a fix New Windows
11 update goes big on fixes and reliability upgrades Windows 11's new year goes from bad to worse as two bugs are crashing apps

As to what can be done here, Microsoft's advice is: "This issue occurs when the device enters a specific network connectivity state, and may resolve on its own. If you encounter this issue, restart the device while keeping it connected to the internet. This should repair the device connectivity state and prevent the issue from occurring."

This is a bug that hits consumers more, as it's Microsoft accounts which are causing the problem. Microsoft clarifies that businesses using Entra ID won't be affected, and this is just Microsoft Teams Free which has a problem (via Microsoft account sign-ins which are prevalent with that freebie version).

That said, Windows 11 Enterprise versions have encountered other bugs with
the March update which Microsoft has been forced to release emergency patches for. This includes a problem whereby Bluetooth devices aren't visible, so you can't connect them to the PC. Analysis: workaround sounds a little hit-or-miss, but thankfully a patch is imminent (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you've had trouble with Edge or OneDrive logins, or indeed one of the
other mentioned pieces of software, since installing last week's Windows 11 update, now you know the problem. And it might be quite a nasty one to come across, as folks could well assume there's something wrong with their
internet connection, and may end up having a frustrating time of trying to troubleshoot an issue that doesn't actually exist. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

As for the supplied workaround from Microsoft, it is effectively that old standby: turn it off, turn it on again. However, it's not too heartening to read that Microsoft believes this 'should repair' the internet connection, which doesn't sound as definitive as I'd like. Keep your fingers crossed, basically.

Microsoft says it's working on a resolution for the bug and it should be patched in the "next few days", so the good news is that at least this particular network-related gremlin shouldn't be hanging around for long.

Note that the February preview update the optional release just before the March patch also carried a very nasty bug for Samsung laptops where access
to the system (C:) drive was lost. This was the fault of the Samsung Galaxy Connect app, mind, and not Windows 11, but if you were unfortunate enough to be affected, here's how to extract yourself from that particular mess . The best laptops for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best laptops 1. Best overall: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2. Best budget: Asus Chromebook CM14 3. Best Windows 11 laptop Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch 4. Best gaming: Razer Blade 16 5. Best for pros MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro) Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/windows-11-update-breaks-onedrive- edge-and-more-heres-what-to-do-if-youve-been-hit-by-this-confusing-bug


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