OneDrive not syncing

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: OneDrive not syncing. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Problem

Files won’t sync to OneDrive, or you see sync errors. Your files may be outdated or not appearing on other devices.

Symptoms

• Yellow/orange sync icon (cloud with arrow) stuck on files
• Red “Sync Error” badge on the OneDrive icon
• Files show “Pending” or “Uploading” for a long time
• Error message: “We couldn't sync this file”

Solutions

Step 1: Check OneDrive service status

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar to view the current status.
2. If a red X or error badge is shown, note the error message.
3. For known service outages, visit the public Office status page: https://status.office.com. Administrators can also check the Microsoft 365 Service Health dashboard in the admin portal.
4. If you are using OneDrive for Business, see OneDrive for Business sync issues for additional guidance.

Step 2: Verify you are signed in

1. Click the OneDrive icon → “Help & Settings” → “Settings”.
2. On the “Account” tab, confirm the displayed account.
3. OneDrive supports both Business (organisation) and consumer Microsoft accounts. If the wrong account is shown, click “Sign out” and then “Sign in” with the correct credentials.
4. When multiple accounts are signed in, ensure the account you want to sync is the primary one.

Step 3: Ensure the OneDrive client is up‑to‑date

1. Open OneDrive → “Help & Settings” → “Settings” → “About”.
2. Check the version number; the latest version is displayed on the Microsoft download page.
3. If an update is available, click “Update” or download the newest client from https://www.microsoft.com/onedrive/download.

Step 4: Confirm sync is not paused

1. Right‑click the OneDrive icon and look for “Pause syncing”.
2. If “Resume syncing” is shown, click it to restart the sync process.

Step 5: Review selective sync and Files on‑demand settings

1. OneDrive → “Help & Settings” → “Settings” → “Account”.
2. Click “Choose folders” to include or exclude specific folders from syncing.
3. On the “Settings” tab, verify that “Files on‑demand” is enabled if you want placeholder files.

Step 6: Check storage space

1. Visit onedrive.com to view your cloud storage utilisation.
2. Delete unnecessary files and empty the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
3. Free up local disk space on the computer if the drive is near capacity.

Step 7: Verify file and path restrictions

1. OneDrive supports paths up to 260 characters. Move files to a shorter folder hierarchy if the limit is exceeded.
2. File names that differ only by case (e.g., Report.docx vs report.docx) are treated as duplicates on OneDrive and can cause sync failures.
3. Prohibited characters include \/:*?"<>| and any leading or trailing spaces.
4. File types such as .tmp, .lnk, and certain executable extensions are blocked. See the File sharing permission issues article for a full list.
5. Rename or relocate offending files, then retry syncing.

Step 8: Test network connectivity and proxy settings

1. Confirm that ports 443 (HTTPS) are open on your firewall.
2. If a proxy is used, ensure it allows traffic to *.sharepoint.com and *.onedrive.com.
3. Verify VPN configurations do not block or route OneDrive traffic through restricted networks.
4. For detailed proxy guidance, see Cannot access shared network drives.

Step 9: Reset OneDrive

1. Close OneDrive completely (right‑click the icon → “Close OneDrive”).
2. Press Win + R, type "%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe" /reset, and press Enter.
3. Wait about one minute; OneDrive should restart automatically. If it does not, launch OneDrive from the Start menu.

Step 10: Unlink and relink your PC

1. OneDrive → “Help & Settings” → “Settings” → “Account”.
2. Click “Unlink this PC”.
3. After the client signs out, click “Sign in” and follow the prompts to set up the sync relationship again.

Step 11: Repair OneDrive via Settings

1. Open Settings → Apps → Microsoft OneDrive → Advanced options.
2. Click Repair. If the problem persists, select Reset (this will reinstall the client while preserving your files).

Step 12: Check for large or problematic files

1. OneDrive for Business limits files to 100 GB; consumer OneDrive allows up to 250 GB. Ensure files do not exceed the applicable limit.
2. Avoid file names that contain any of the prohibited characters listed in Step 7.
3. Close any programmes that have the file open, then retry syncing.
4. If a file is missing after a sync, see OneDrive file missing.

Need more help?

If OneDrive still won’t sync, open a ticket with IT Support and include:

• The specific error message
• Which files are failing to sync
• Your computer name

Still Having Issues?