Knowledge base
OneDrive and SharePoint troubleshooting guides
Concise technical guides on naming rules, path limits, sync problems and error codes, based on Microsoft’s documentation and linked to it.
7 guides
File names and paths
Naming rules, unsupported characters and path length limits in OneDrive and SharePoint.
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How to fix invalid file names in OneDrive
OneDrive and SharePoint skip any file or folder whose name breaks their naming rules. Learn the rules, find the affected items and rename them without breaking links.
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Characters you can’t use in OneDrive and SharePoint file names
The exact characters OneDrive and SharePoint reject, the special cases for #, %, & and the semicolon, and how to replace them consistently.
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SharePoint file path too long: limits, causes and fixes
SharePoint and OneDrive allow paths up to 400 characters, but Windows apps often stop at 260. See which limit applies, how to measure a path and how to shorten it.
Sync troubleshooting
Structured checks for sync that has stopped, stalled or failed.
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OneDrive not syncing on Windows: a step-by-step checklist
Work through the usual reasons OneDrive stops syncing, in order: sign-in, paused sync, storage, problem files, app version and finally a reset.
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OneDrive stuck on “Sync pending” or “Processing changes”
What “Sync pending” and “Processing changes” mean, why they can last for hours, and how to find the hidden, temporary or open file that is holding sync back.
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SharePoint library won’t sync: causes and fixes
Troubleshoot SharePoint libraries that will not sync with the OneDrive app: a missing Sync button, read-only libraries, credentials, conflicts and the naming and size rules.
Error codes
What OneDrive error codes mean and where the official fix lives.
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OneDrive error codes explained
What common OneDrive error codes such as 0x8004de40, 0x8004def7 and 0x8007016A indicate according to Microsoft, and where to start fixing each one.