[Fixed]: We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites

Sometimes, we may notice this “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance.” error message both in SharePoint on-premise as well as online – in this article, we will see what is the “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance.” error about and how to fix it.

Once we see the above message – the site will be in read-only mode meaning we cannot add or remove any documents to the document library.

Analysis of the “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance.” error

The above-mentioned error might be seen both in the SharePoint on-premise site as well as in SharePoint Online. In SharePoint Online, it retains for sometimes then it disappears automatically after some time if it does not go away, we need to raise a ticket to Microsoft 365 support.

But what happens when it displays in SharePoint on-premise site, and what are the most probable reasons for having this error in SharePoint on-premise.

In SharePoint on-premise environment, we might see this error due to the below reasons:

• Low disk spaces in log files drive
• Low disk spaces in SQL database (file growth size)

For the above scenarios, you need to talk to your IT support team to clean up and release some memories in the said servers, and sometimes we need to change the file growth size in the SQL database, then the above error should go.

In case, after performing the above steps, if still, the error does not go, we need to execute the below PowerShell script for the said site collection.

$siteCollectionURL="yoursitecollectionurl"
$Admin = new-object Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPSiteAdministration($siteCollectionURL)
$Admin.ClearMaintenanceMode()
$site.MaintenanceMode

Detailed Understanding: We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance

When OneDrive and SharePoint sites are set to read-only during maintenance, users will experience restricted access to their files and sites. Here’s what this typically means:

What Does Read-Only Mean?

1. Access and View: Users can still access and view documents, lists, libraries, and other site content.
2. No Edits or Uploads: Users cannot edit existing content, upload new files, create new documents, or make any other modifications.
3. Site Features: Some features that involve writing data, such as creating new list items or modifying site settings, will be disabled.

Common Reasons for Maintenance

1. System Upgrades: Applying updates or patches to the SharePoint and OneDrive infrastructure to improve security, performance, or functionality.
2. Data Migration: Moving data to new servers or storage solutions, which often requires write operations to be temporarily disabled to ensure data integrity.
3. Database Maintenance: Performing tasks such as backup, recovery, or optimization of the SharePoint databases.

Impact on Users

1. Read-Only Mode Notification: Users typically receive a notification or alert message indicating that the service is in read-only mode. This could be displayed as a banner within the SharePoint site or as a notification in OneDrive.
2. Temporary Restriction: The restriction is usually temporary, lasting only for the duration of the maintenance window. Once the maintenance is complete, full access is restored.

Example Notification

When users try to perform write operations during maintenance, they might see a message similar to:

“We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance. Please try again later.”

Best Practices During Maintenance

1. Plan Ahead: Administrators should schedule maintenance during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
2. Communicate: Inform users well in advance about the maintenance schedule, the expected duration, and the impact on services.
3. Provide Support: Offer support channels for users who have questions or need assistance during the maintenance period.

Summary: What we have learned here (we apologize for the inconvenience)?

Thus, in this troubleshooting article, we have learned how to fix the “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ve made OneDrive and sites read-only while we do some maintenance” error.

See Also: We apologize for the inconvenience

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• SharePoint or OneDrive read-only error messages

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Microsoft Techy

As a SharePoint and Power Platform Maven, my greatest joy comes from sharing my expertise with colleagues, friends, and the tech community, helping them navigate the ever-evolving world of technology and guiding them through the dynamic landscape of modern technology.

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