15 Easy Ways to Fix OneDrive Not Syncing on Windows or Mac

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Learn how to troubleshoot syncing issues with OneDrive

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Make sure OneDrive isn’t down.

2 Check your internet connection.

3 Restart OneDrive.

4 Make sure your folders are set to sync.

5 Reduce the number of files you are trying to sync.

6 Change the file or folder names.

7 Merge conflicting files manually.

8 Make sure you have enough OneDrive storage.

9 Make sure you have enough local storage.

10 Unlink and relink your account.

11 Uninstall and reinstall OneDrive.

12 Reset your login credentials.

13 Update your computer.

14 Disable your VPN or proxy server.

15 Reset OneDrive.

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Co-authored by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: January 31, 2026 Fact Checked

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OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service. You can set it to sync automatically with your Windows or Mac computer. However, sometimes there are errors, or it stops syncing altogether. This can be frustrating. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to fix this issue. This wikiHow article teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix OneDrive not syncing.

Ways to Fix OneDrive Not Syncing

Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Make sure you have enough local and OneDrive storage space. Make sure you aren’t syncing too many files at once. Check for restricted files or folder names. Resolve conflicting files. Restart or Uninstall OneDrive. Reset OneDrive as a last resort.

Steps

1

Make sure OneDrive isn’t down.

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1. There may be a temporary issue with OneDrive. It’s not uncommon for online services, like OneDrive, to go offline temporarily for maintenance or if there is a technical difficulty. You can use websites like IsItDownRightNow or DownForEveryoneOrJustMe to check if OneDrive and other services are currently down. If there is currently an issue, you’ll just have to wait and try again later.
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2

Check your internet connection.

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1. Your internet connection may be unstable. If you can’t connect to the internet, OneDrive can’t sync. Make sure you are connected to a solid Wi-Fi connection. See if you are having problems with any other apps or web pages. If your internet is slow or unstable, try resetting your modem or router. If this doesn’t fix this issue, try again later. If the problem persists, contact your internet service provider.

3

Restart OneDrive.

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1. There may be a minor glitch with OneDrive. You may be able to fix minor glitches in OneDrive by restarting it. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Click the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar or the Mac dock.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Quit OneDrive.
   • Click the Windows Start menu or open the Magnifying Glass/Spotlight icon on Mac.
   • Search for "OneDrive."
   • Launch OneDrive again.
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4

Make sure your folders are set to sync.

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1. The folder you want to sync might not be selected. Use the following steps to check and select the folders you want to sync:

   • Click the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar or the Mac dock.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Settings or Preferences.
   • Click Account in the menu bar to the left.
   • Click Choose Folders.
   • Ensure "Make all files available" at the top is checked.
   • Ensure the folder you want to sync is checked.
   • Click Ok.

5

Reduce the number of files you are trying to sync.

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1. There is a limited number of files OneDrive can sync at a time. OneDrive can only sync up to 250 GB at one time. Having a slower internet connection may cause problems, too. If your files or folders are too large, you can try compressing them into a zip file. If you have too many files, pause syncing, move some files out of the synced folder and resume syncing. Once syncing is done, you can move the files back into the folder. Use the following steps to pause syncing:

   • Click the OneDrive icon in the Windows taskbar or Dock on Mac.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Pause syncing.
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6

Change the file or folder names.

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1. There are restrictions on file and folder names in OneDrive. There are certains special characters that aren’t allowed and certain file and folder names that aren’t allowed. You also can’t have a leading or trailing space at the end of the file or folder name. The path to the file (including the file name) can’t exceed 400 characters. The following restrictions are not allowed on OneDrive:

   • Special characters not allowed: " * : < > ? / \ |
   • Names not allowed: .lock, CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM0 - COM9, LPT0 - LPT9, _vti_, desktop.ini
   • Any file or folder that starts with "~$".
   • Some organizations don’t allow "#" or "%".
   • If you are using Office 2010 or earlier, you can’t use "&" in a file or folder name.

7

Merge conflicting files manually.

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1. Sometimes a file conflict can arise. If multiple people are making changes to a file or folder on different PCs or while offline, it can cause conflicts with the file or folder. If this happens, you will need to merge both files manually. If you get an error message about conflicting files while trying to sync OneDrive, you can either click Keep both files or Open in Office to merge changes. If you decide to merge the files, you can decide what changes you want to keep in Office.
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8

Make sure you have enough OneDrive storage.

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1. Your storage may be full. A free OneDrive account comes with 100 GB of storage space. If you go over that, OneDrive can’t sync. If OneDrive is full, you’ll need to purchase additional storage space. Use the following steps to check your OneDrive storage and upgrade if needed.

   • Click the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar or the Mac dock.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Settings or Preferences.
   • Check how much storage you are using in the menu to the left.
   • Click Upgrade in the menu bar to the left.
   • Select a new plan.
   • Follow the prompts to enter your payment information and upgrade.

9

Make sure you have enough local storage.

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1. Your computer storage may be full. Just like how OneDrive can’t sync if the storage space is full, it also can’t sync if your hard drive on your computer is full. Check your hard disk space in File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac. If your hard drive is full, you’ll need to delete some apps or files to free up some hard disk space.
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10

Unlink and relink your account.

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1. There may be an issue connecting your account. You may be able to fix this by unlinking your account and then relinking it. Use the following steps to do so:

   • Click the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar or the Mac dock.
   • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
   • Click Settings or Preferences.
   • Click Account in the menu bar to the left.
   • Click Unlink this PC.
   • Click Unlink account.
   • Click the OneDrive icon on the Windows taskbar or the Mac dock.
   • Click Sign In.
   • Sign back in with your Microsoft account.
   • Follow the prompts to sign back in.

11

Uninstall and reinstall OneDrive.

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1. Your OneDrive installation may be corrupted. You may be able to fix problems with your OneDrive installation by uninstalling OneDrive and reinstalling it. Use one of the following steps to do so:

   • Windows:
     • Click the Windows Start menu.
     • Click the Settings/Gear icon.
     • Click Apps.
     • Click Installed Apps.
     • Click the icon with three dots (•••) next to OneDrive.
     • Click Uninstall.
     • Follow the prompts to uninstall OneDrive.
     • Download and Install OneDrive from the Microsoft Store.
   • Mac:
     • Open the Finder.
     • Click Applications.
     • Drag OneDrive to the Trash.
     • Download and install OneDrive from the App Store.
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12

Reset your login credentials.

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1. Your login credentials may be corrupt or outdated. You can use one of the following steps to reset your login credentials.

   • Windows:
     • Click the OneDrive icon in the Windows taskbar
     • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
     • Click Settings.
     • Click Account in the menu bar to the left.
     • Click Unlink this PC.
     • Click Unlink account.
     • Press Win + R to open Run.
     • Enter %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings and press Enter.
     • Delete the "PreSignInSettingsConfig.json" file.
     • Sign back into OneDrive.
   • Mac:
     • Open OneDrive in the Dock.
     • Click the Gear/Settings icon.
     • Click Preferences.
     • Click Account in the menu bar to the left.
     • Click Unlink this PC.
     • Click Unlink account.
     • Click the Magnifying Glass/Spotlight icon.
     • Search "Keychain access."
     • Select Keychain Access.
     • Select OneDrive.
     • Delete OneDrive Cached Credential.
     • Sign back in to OneDrive.

13

Update your computer.

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1. You might not have the latest operating system or version of OneDrive. OneDrive will update automatically when you update Windows or macOS. Make sure you have the latest version to keep your system running smoothly. Use one of the following steps to update your computer:

   • Windows:
     • Click the Windows Start menu.
     • Click the Settings/Gear icon.
     • Click Windows Update.
     • Click Check for Updates.
     • Click Download & Install if an update is available.
   • Mac:
     • Click the Apple Icon.
     • Click System Settings.
     • Click General.
     • Click Software Update.
     • Click Check for Update.
     • Click Update Now if an update is available.
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14

Disable your VPN or proxy server.

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1. Your VPN or proxy server may be blocking OneDrive. If you are using a proxy server or VPN when trying to sync with OneDrive, turn it off and try again. You can usually disable your VPN using the app that came with your service.

15

Reset OneDrive.

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1. There may be a glitch with OneDrive. This should be a last resort. If you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, use one of the following steps to reset OneDrive:

   • Windows:
     • Press Win + R to open Run.
     • Enter %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter.
     • Enter C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter if the first command doesn’t work.
     • Enter C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter if neither command works.
   • Mac:
     • Open the Finder.
     • Click Applications.
     • Right-click (or Control-click) OneDrive.
     • Click Show Package Contents.
     • Open Contents.
     • Open Resources.
     • Double-click ResetOneDriveStandalone.command.
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