OneDrive not syncing on Windows: a step-by-step checklist

The problem

“OneDrive is not syncing” covers very different problems: the app is not running, you are signed out, storage is full, one file is blocking a folder, or the app itself needs a reset. Start with the status icon. It tells you which of these you are dealing with.

What the OneDrive status icon tells you

Icons can differ slightly between versions of the OneDrive app.

Symptoms

• Files saved on this PC do not appear on OneDrive.com or on other devices.
• Changes made on another device do not arrive on this PC.
• The OneDrive icon shows an error, a pause symbol or nothing at all.

Causes

• Not running or signed out

  OneDrive closed, or the account sign-in expired after a password change.

• Sync paused

  Sync was paused manually or automatically, for example by battery saver or a metered network.

• Storage full

  When your OneDrive storage is full, new and changed files stop uploading.

• Problem files

  Invalid names, paths that are too long or files over 250 GB stay behind with an error.

• Very large libraries

  Microsoft recommends syncing no more than 300,000 items in total. Above that, sync can slow down considerably.

• Outdated or stuck app

  An old OneDrive version or a damaged local sync state can stop sync entirely.

How to fix it

1. Check that OneDrive is running and signed in

   Look for the OneDrive cloud in the notification area. If it is missing, open OneDrive from the Start menu and sign in with the account that owns the files.

2. Resume syncing

   Select the OneDrive icon, open Settings and choose Resume syncing if sync is paused.

3. Check your storage

   Open the OneDrive settings and look at the storage used. Free up space or add storage if it is full.

4. Read the errors in the activity center

   Select the OneDrive icon. Items that cannot sync are listed with a reason. Invalid names and long paths are fixed by renaming or moving the item.

5. Restart OneDrive

   Select the OneDrive icon, open Settings, choose Quit OneDrive, then start it again from the Start menu.

6. Update Windows and OneDrive

   Install pending Windows updates and make sure you have the current version of the OneDrive app.

7. Reset OneDrive

   If nothing else helps, reset the app. Press Windows key + R and run the first command. If Windows cannot find it, try the second, then the third. A “Windows cannot find” message for all three means the OneDrive sync app is not installed.

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
   C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

When OneDriveSyncFixer helps

Microsoft documentation

• Fix OneDrive sync problems (opens in a new tab)support.microsoft.com
• Reset OneDrive (opens in a new tab)support.microsoft.com
• Restrictions and limitations in OneDrive and SharePoint (opens in a new tab)support.microsoft.com

This guide summarizes Microsoft’s published guidance in our own words. Microsoft documentation remains the authoritative source.