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Fix OneDrive that will not sync

We'll check sign-in, storage, connectivity, and sync settings—on Windows, Mac, or web—or tell you when to contact support.

Troubleshooting · Backups & recovery
10–20 min
What you'll need
  • Microsoft account
  • Internet connection
Step 1 of 6

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Steps

Goal: Get OneDrive syncing again by checking sign-in, storage, connectivity, and sync settings.

  • Confirm you are signed in and have storage space.
  • Good: Proceed to Check sign-in and storage.
  • Bad: Sign in or free storage first.

Check sign-in and storage

Goal: Confirm your Microsoft account is active and has space.

  • Windows: click the OneDrive icon in the system tray. Mac: click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar. Check that you are signed in.
  • Go to onedrive.com, sign in, and check storage. When storage is full, sync blocks. Free space or upgrade.
  • Good: Signed in, space OK. Proceed to Check connectivity.
  • Bad: Sign in or free storage.

Check connectivity

Goal: Rule out internet issues before changing OneDrive settings.

  • Open a browser and load a website. OneDrive needs a stable connection to sync.
  • Good: Internet works. Proceed to Pause and resume sync.
  • Bad: Fix Wi‑Fi or network first. Restart the router if needed.

Pause and resume sync

Goal: Clear stuck sync with a simple pause and resume.

  • Windows: right-click OneDrive icon > Pause syncing > 2 hours. Mac: click OneDrive icon > Pause syncing.
  • Wait one minute. Resume syncing.
  • Good: Sync works. You are done.
  • Bad: Proceed to Sign out and sign back in.

Sign out and sign back in

Goal: Re-link your account to clear sync state.

  • Windows: right-click OneDrive icon > Settings > Account > Unlink this PC. Mac: click OneDrive icon > Preferences > Account > Unlink this Mac.
  • Sign in again. OneDrive will re-sync.
  • Good: Sync works.
  • Bad: On Windows, try Reset OneDrive. Otherwise, check status.office.com for outages and contact Microsoft support.

Check folders are included

Goal: Confirm the folders you need are set to sync.

  • Windows: right-click OneDrive icon > Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup. Mac: click OneDrive icon > Preferences > Sync and backup.
  • Check which folders are synced. When the folder you need is excluded, add it.
  • Good: Correct folders selected. Bad: Add the folder and wait for sync.

Reset OneDrive (Windows)

Goal: Re-initialize OneDrive when other steps fail.

  • Close OneDrive. Run %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset.
  • OneDrive will restart and prompt to sign in. Re-sync will start.
  • Good: Sync works. Bad: Contact Microsoft support.

When to get help

Contact Microsoft support if:

  • OneDrive does not sync after reset (Windows) or sign out and back in (Mac).
  • You have critical files and need help recovering them.
  • Check status.office.com for outages first.

Provide the error message from the OneDrive icon and the steps you have already tried.

Verification

  • OneDrive icon shows no errors (no red X or warning).
  • Files sync—check the cloud icon on files in File Explorer or Finder.
  • OneDrive folder shows correct sync status (green checkmarks for synced files).

Escalation ladder

Work from the device outward. Stop when the problem is fixed.

  1. Sign-in and storage Confirm signed in; check storage space at onedrive.com.
  2. Connectivity Confirm internet works; fix Wi‑Fi or network if needed.
  3. Pause and resume Pause sync, wait, resume.
  4. Sign out and back in Unlink PC or Mac, sign in again.
  5. Reset OneDrive (Windows) Run onedrive.exe /reset.
  6. Contact support Check status.office.com; contact Microsoft support.

What to capture if you need help

Before calling support or posting for help, have these ready. It speeds everything up.

  • Error message from OneDrive icon or app
  • Storage free space in Microsoft account
  • Folders set to sync
  • Steps already tried

Are you signed in and do you have storage space?

Sign-in and storage are common blockers for OneDrive sync.

Check the OneDrive icon (system tray on Windows, menu bar on Mac)—are you signed in? Go to onedrive.com and check storage. Good: signed in, space OK—proceed to connectivity. Bad: sign in or free storage first.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Sign in or free storage

Sign in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account. If storage is full, free space at onedrive.com or upgrade your plan. Retry sync.

Done

Is your internet connection working?

OneDrive needs a stable connection to sync with the cloud.

Open a browser and load a website. Good: sites load—proceed to pause and resume. Bad: fix Wi‑Fi or network first; OneDrive cannot sync without internet.

Yes No

You can change your answer later.

Fix internet connection

Check Wi‑Fi or Ethernet. Restart the router if needed. Confirm other devices can reach the internet. Retry OneDrive sync.

Done

Does pause and resume fix sync?

Stuck sync often clears with pause and resume.

Right-click OneDrive icon (Windows) or click OneDrive icon (Mac) > Pause syncing. Wait one minute. Resume syncing. Good: sync works. Bad: sign out and sign back in.
Question

Sync working?

Continue

You can change your answer later.

Sign out and sign back in

Unlink this PC (Windows) or Unlink this Mac. Sign in again. OneDrive will re-sync. If still fails, reset OneDrive on Windows (onedrive.exe /reset) or contact Microsoft support.

Done

Reviewed by Blackbox Atlas

Frequently asked questions

Why would OneDrive not sync?
Signed out, storage full, internet issues, sync paused, or folders excluded. Check sign-in and storage first, then connectivity.
Can I fix OneDrive sync myself?
Yes. Sign in, free storage, pause and resume sync, sign out and back in. On Windows or Mac, check the OneDrive icon for specific errors.
When should I contact support for OneDrive?
If sync fails after reset and you have critical files. Check status.office.com for outages first, then contact Microsoft support.

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