How-to Fix OneDrive Syncing Issues

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

Fixing OneDrive Syncing Issues

OneDrive is a cloud storage service offered by Microsoft that allows you to sync files and folders across devices. However, syncing issues can sometimes occur. This comprehensive guide will walk you through troubleshooting and fixing OneDrive syncing issues:

Check Internet Connection:

Ensure you have a stable internet connection. Poor connectivity can cause syncing problems.

Restart OneDrive:

Close the OneDrive application completely and restart it. Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select "Quit" or "Exit." Then, relaunch OneDrive.

Update OneDrive:

Make sure you have the latest version of the OneDrive application installed. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements.

Check Account Status:

Verify that your OneDrive account is active and not experiencing any issues by logging into the OneDrive website.

Check OneDrive Service Status:

Visit the Microsoft OneDrive Service Health page (https://status.office365.com/) to see if there are any ongoing service issues.

Check File Names and Paths:

Ensure that file and folder names do not contain special characters or exceed the maximum character limit allowed by OneDrive.

Check File Types:

Some file types might not sync properly with OneDrive. Make sure the file types you're trying to sync are supported.

Check File Size:

Large files might take longer to sync or cause issues. Check if large files are causing syncing problems.

Pause and Resume Sync:

In the OneDrive app, you can pause syncing and then resume it. This can help refresh the syncing process.

Check Available Storage Space:

Ensure you have sufficient storage space available in your OneDrive account to accommodate the files you're trying to sync.

Check Selective Sync Settings:

If you're using the selective sync feature, make sure the files and folders you want to sync are selected.

Check File and Folder Permissions:

Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to access and modify the files and folders you're trying to sync.

Check Syncing Restrictions:

Some organizations might have policies that restrict certain file types from being synced. Check with your organization's IT department if you're experiencing issues in a work or school account.

Check for File Conflicts:

If you're experiencing conflicts, it's possible that a file has been edited on multiple devices simultaneously. OneDrive will create a conflicted copy in such cases.

Restart Computer:

Sometimes, a simple restart can help resolve syncing issues by refreshing the system.

Reset OneDrive:

In some cases, you might need to reset OneDrive to its default settings:

Windows: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray, select "Settings," go to the 

"Account" tab, and click on "Unlink this PC."

Mac: Open the OneDrive app preferences, go to the "Account" tab, and click on "Unlink this PC."

Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive:

As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling the OneDrive app.

Contact Support.Com:

If none of the above steps work, consider reaching out to Support.Com for further assistance.