OneDrive
Fixing Common OneDrive Sync Errors
This guide helps you diagnose and fix the most common OneDrive sync errors so your files stay backed up and current.
Time needed
15 minutes
Platform
Microsoft 365
Guide steps
4 clear sections
Before you begin
OneDrive sync is installed on your computer.
Follow along
Step-by-step guide
Fix a stuck or paused sync
- Instruction 1: Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
- Instruction 2: If sync is paused, click Resume syncing.
- Instruction 3: If it says 'Processing changes' and has not moved for over 30 minutes, try pausing and resuming.
- Instruction 4: If still stuck, restart OneDrive: right-click the OneDrive icon and click Pause syncing, then click Quit OneDrive. Wait a moment, then open OneDrive from the Start menu or Applications folder.
Action map
Fix a stuck or paused sync
- 01
Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac).
- 02
If sync is paused, click Resume syncing.
- 03
If it says 'Processing changes' and has not moved for over 30 minutes, try pausing and…
Visual guide
Use this visual action map alongside the written instructions above.
Open OneDrive help & learning for Fixing Common OneDrive Sync ErrorsFix a repeated sign-in prompt
- Instruction 1: If OneDrive keeps asking you to sign in, your account may have lost its connection. Click the OneDrive icon and click Sign in when prompted.
- Instruction 2: If signing in again does not help, unlink your account: go to OneDrive Settings > Account > Unlink this PC (Windows) or click your account and choose Unlink. Then set up OneDrive again from the beginning.
- Instruction 3: If your organisation uses Conditional Access policies, you may need to ensure your device is enrolled in Intune. Contact the helpdesk if the sign-in loop continues.
Resolve a file conflict
- Instruction 1: A file conflict occurs when the same file was edited on two devices without syncing first.
- Instruction 2: OneDrive resolves this by creating a copy of the conflicting version with 'conflict' or your name added to the file name (e.g. 'Report-Jane Smith.docx').
- Instruction 3: Open both the original and the conflict copy, compare the differences, and manually merge the changes into one file.
- Instruction 4: Delete the conflict copy once you have saved the merged version.
Fix a file name or path error
- Instruction 1: Files with unsupported characters in their name (# % & * : < > ? / \ |) will not sync.
- Instruction 2: Files with very long file paths (over 260 characters total) may also fail.
- Instruction 3: Rename the file to remove unsupported characters and shorten the path if necessary.
- Instruction 4: The OneDrive sync panel will show which specific files have errors — click the error message for details.
Quick fixes
Troubleshooting
None of the above steps fixed the sync issue
Try resetting OneDrive completely. On Windows, press Win + R, type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset' and press Enter. This resets OneDrive without deleting your files. If the problem persists, contact the helpdesk.
Sync errors appear on a file I cannot rename (e.g. a system file)
Some files (like desktop.ini or thumbs.db) are system files that OneDrive cannot sync. These can usually be safely excluded. Contact the helpdesk for guidance on excluding specific file types from sync.
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