10 Way to Fix OneDrive Not Syncing in Windows 10 or 11

You will learn the reasons and 10 solutions to OneDrive to syncing problems in Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11. Learn more about this issue below!

Ivy

by Ivy Updated on October 21, 2022

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OneDrive not Syncing Problem

I have been using OneDrive on my computer and iPhone for several years, it’s going perfectly and never gives me any problems. However, 2 weeks ago, I discovered that files saved to OneDrive are not synced on my PC, so I can’t access these files via the application on my iPhone or online.

I click on the OneDrive icon and a window pops up saying that all my files are up to date. If I open up OneDrive, there are some files that need to be synced as indicated. But I can upload files from the phone app on my phone. Can anyone have any ideas to help me out, Thanks.

 In fact, many users have this sync issue, and there are multiple solutions to fix OneDrive not syncing in Windows 10 or 11. So you don't need to worry about this much. And I'll introduce you to the main reasons and 10 solutions to it. 

Why Is OneDrive Not Syncing?

Microsoft OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud storage, which helps you to store, share or sync files smoothly. However, there are times OneDrive not syncing files and it's caused by many possible reasons in the following.

  • You are running on an old version of the OneDrive app.
  • You just run out of space on the cloud. 
  • The maximum size is limited to 10GB.
  • The network is not working well.
  • Your computer has a bad update.
  • ...

Fix OneDrive Not Syncing in Windows 10 or 11

After understanding the OneDrive Not Syncing reasons, you can start to fix it with corresponding solutions. If you don't know how to start, please check the OneDrive icon and OneDrive Sync problem documents provided by Microsoft. And then, try the following solutions.

Solution 1. Restart the OneDrive App

It’s the first method you can try when you meet the OneDrive sync problem. Go to the notification area and right-click the OneDrive icon > Close OneDrive > Close OneDrive. And then input OneDrive in the Windows search box, select OneDrive desktop app to make sure OneDrive is running on your PC.

Close Onedrive

Solution 2. Setup OneDrive and Sync Files

Just in case you are using a new computer, you need to set up OneDrive and the files you want to sync. Open File Explorer and click the OneDrive folder, you will see a pop-up Set up OneDrive window. Type the email address to sign in with OneDrive if you already have an account. If not, please create one first.

Setup OneDrive

Solution 3. Compress File Size up to 10GB

Even if you use the Premium version, you cannot upload files over 10GB. So if it is the cause of the OneDrive sync problem, please compress its file size before uploading. 

Right-click the file or folder you want to zip > choose to Send to > select Compressed (zipped) folder > then you will see a new zipped folder with the same name is created in the same location.

Compress File

Solution 4. Check If the File Path Is Too Long 

According to Microsoft, the entire path including the file name must contain fewer than 255 characters, otherwise, you will encounter OneDrive sync problem. At the same time, if you have different subfolders, the sync process may not work. So you need to visit your OneDrive folder and rename the file name shorter.

Rename OneDrive File Path

Solution 5. Re-connect Your OneDrive 

The connection between OneDrive and Windows will be interrupted by the poor internet sometimes. And then, you may think OneDrive does not sync files. In this case, you can choose to unlink OneDrive account from this and relink it. 

Right-click the OneDrive icon at the task bar and then select More > Settings. Switch to the Account tab, click Unlink this PC and  Unlink Account. Afterwards, click Add an account and sign in OneDrive in turn. 

Unlink This Pc

Solution 6. Check Your Windows Update

The OneDrive not syncing problem may occur when your system lacking important Windows updates or there is a bad update. So please go to Control Panel > System & Security > Windows Update and check if there are any newer updates.  It’s recommended to update Windows manually.

Windows Updates

Solution 7. Check the Storage Space

Microsoft requires sufficient space for both local storage and cloud storage if you want to sync local folder to OneDrive, otherwise OneDrive won’t sync files in Windows 10 or 11. You can check the total storage and used storage on the manage storage page of OneDrive.

If it reaches the storage limit, you could consider getting more space with the following options.

  • Subscribe to Microsoft 365 for 1024GB.
  • Move files from OneDrive to another account. 
  • Invite your friends for additional storage up to 10GB.
  • Subscribe to OneDrive 100GB. 
  • Combine all the OneDrive free storage.

Solution 8. Reset OneDrive

If the OneDrive sync seems to be stuck for a long time, you can choose to reset OneDrive and then it will re-sync all your OneDrive files.

Press the Windows key and R key to open Run box, then enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and click OK.

Reset Onedrive

Solution 9. Upgrade OneDrive to Latest Version

Using an older version of OneDrive may also cause OneDrive not syncing problem. To fix this issue, you need to uninstall OneDrive and then download the OneDriveSetup.exe from the official page. 

Go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features, scroll down to Microsoft OneDrive, click it and select Uninstall. And then, type download one drive in the browser, select the official page and download it.

Uninstall OneDrive

Solution 10. Try third-party file sync tool 

If you still have OneDrive not syncing issue, you can try third-party file sync software. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a great option for Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/Vista/XP computers. It will help you to sync files or folders to OneDrive without effort, such as photos, music, videos, work documents etc.

And it allows you to sync files on a regular basis with its automatic sync feature. You can sync files in daily, weekly, or monthly, so you will not worry about data loss someday due to forgetting to backup it.

To get started, please download and install AOMEI Backupper Standard. To sync Windows Server with OneDrive, try AOMEI Backupper Server!

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard. select Sync at the left panel and click Basic Sync.

File Sync

Step 2. Click + Add Folder to choose the files or folders that you prefer to synchronization. Change Task Name if necessary.

Add Folder

Step 3. Tap the inverted triangle icon > Select a cloud drive

Select A Cloud Drive

Step 4. choose OneDrive as a destination to save local files or folders.

OneDrive

Step 5. Click Schedule Sync and enable it, then select Daily, Weekly, Monthly. You can also set up email notification, comment on the sync task to distinguish it from other tasks, run specified programs or scripts before syncing, fast synchronization in Options. And then, press Start Sync >> button to sync files to OneDrive automatically. 

Schedule Settings General

👍More advanced features on the professional version or higher:
✔ Event triggers: It is to sync files at specific events, such as, system shutdown, system startup, etc.
✔ USB plug in: It is only useful to copy files automatically when USB drive connected. So you don't need to connect it every time before the task start or keep it always connected.
✔ Filter setting: It helps you sync files with certain file extensions, thereby saving time and space.
✔ Different sync methods: Except for Basic Sync, you still can use Real-Time Sync, Mirror SyncTwo-Way Sync, depending on the sync direction, frequency, or synced files in the destination. 

★ How to backup files to AOMEI Cloud

Apart from the cloud drives offered by third-party providers, you can also backup files to AOMEI Cloud. It offers you 1TB free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

AOMEI Cloud

Conclusion

Find the suitable way to fix OneDrive not syncing in Windows 7/8/10/11 according to the above 10 ways. If the OneDrive not working problem still exists, please try another free file syncing software - AOMEI Backupper Standard to automatically sync files to OneDrive with simple clicks, or you could sync files between two drives.

Besides, It’s not only a file synchronization software but also a hard drive cloning software, which enables you to clone hard drive to larger disk without losing data, migrate Windows 10 to SSD to speed up your computer’s performance. 

Ivy
Ivy · Editor
Ivy is an editor of AOMEI Technology, she covers backup & restore,hard disk & partitions management and cloud files transfer and so on for AOMEI. She is an outgoing girl and enjoys helping people find solutions to their problems. She loves traveling, eating, reading and so on. She usually hangs out with friends at her leisure time.