Why is OneDrive not syncing files between devices?

OneDrive may not sync files between devices due to common issues like internet connectivity problems, full storage, outdated apps, incorrect sync settings, or account/login errors. When OneDrive stops syncing, you might notice missing files, error messages, or changes not appearing across devices.

Top reasons OneDrive won’t sync files:

• Unstable or weak internet connection
• OneDrive or Windows app is outdated
• OneDrive or local device storage is full
• Incorrect folder or sync settings
• Conflicting or expired account credentials
• Firewall, antivirus, or VPN interference

To fix OneDrive sync issues, check your network, update your apps, free up storage, review sync settings, and resolve any account or security software conflicts. Below, we outline step-by-step troubleshooting and advanced solutions to get OneDrive working across all your devices.

Most Common Causes of OneDrive Not Syncing Across Devices

Most of the time, OneDrive stops syncing because of network issues, old software, not enough storage, or settings that aren’t quite right. We see these problems a lot when we’re troubleshooting for clients.

Internet Connectivity Issues

Network issues top the list of reasons OneDrive refuses to sync. OneDrive needs a stable internet connection to talk to Microsoft’s servers—no way around it.

Connection stability matters more than raw speed. If your connection keeps dropping, uploads can fail halfway through, and files just don’t sync.

Try these quick checks:

• Run a speed test (look for at least 1 Mbps upload)
• Use a ping test to check for packet loss
• Turn off your VPN temporarily to see if that’s the culprit

Firewalls and proxies in office settings love to block OneDrive traffic. OneDrive needs access to specific ports and domains, and if those are blocked, syncing won’t work.

We usually set up exceptions for ports 80 and 443, plus the OneDrive-specific URLs, in business firewalls.

Outdated OneDrive App or Windows Version

Old OneDrive versions often cause compatibility headaches that stop syncing cold. Microsoft keeps pushing updates to squash bugs and boost performance.

OneDrive app updates fix a ton of weird syncing problems and patch up security holes. We’ve seen clients’ sync issues disappear after a simple update.

Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and hit “About” to see your version. Compare it to Microsoft’s latest release notes.

Windows updates also play a part. Newer OneDrive versions sometimes need the latest Windows updates to work right.

We always suggest turning on automatic updates for both OneDrive and Windows. If you prefer, you can run updates manually in Windows Update to keep everything in sync.

Full OneDrive Storage or Local Disk Space

Running out of space—either in the cloud or on your device—can stop OneDrive from syncing anything new. We run into this with clients all the time, and half the time they have no idea they’re out of space.

OneDrive storage limits depend on your plan. Free accounts get 5GB, Microsoft 365 users get 1TB per person.

When you’re full, OneDrive stops syncing new files and changes. You’ll usually see a warning about storage.

Local disk space matters too, since OneDrive needs room for cache files and temporary data. If your disk is full, downloads will fail.

Try to keep at least 1GB free on any drive with a OneDrive folder, especially if you’re running on an SSD with limited space.

Incorrect OneDrive Settings

Your OneDrive settings can make or break how syncing works. We see a lot of confusion when default settings don’t match what users want, or when company policies get in the way.

Sync folder selection controls which files actually sync to each device. People often get tripped up when different computers have different folders selected.

Open OneDrive settings from the system tray icon and check which folders are set to sync. Make sure the important stuff is enabled on every device you use.

Files On-Demand changes how files are stored. With this Windows 10 and 11 feature, OneDrive just keeps shortcuts locally and puts the real files in the cloud.

We set up Files On-Demand based on how much storage you have and how you use your files. If you need everything offline, turn this off.

Account linking issues come up when people have more than one Microsoft account. Syncing gets messy if files are tied to the wrong account.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix OneDrive Syncing Problems

When OneDrive won’t sync, start with the basics—restart your system and check your network—before you dive into more drastic measures like resetting or reinstalling the app. Usually, one of these steps does the trick.

Restart OneDrive and Your Devices

Just restarting OneDrive fixes a surprising number of sync hiccups. It clears out cached data and reconnects to the server.

Restart OneDrive like this:

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray
2. Click “Close OneDrive”
3. Wait about 30 seconds
4. Press Windows + R, type “onedrive,” and hit Enter

If you don’t see the icon, open Task Manager, end any OneDrive processes, and start it up again.

Restart your computer if OneDrive keeps acting up. A full reboot clears out memory issues and resets network connections that might be blocking OneDrive.

Check Internet Connection and Network Settings

Network problems are a huge reason OneDrive won’t sync. Make sure your connection is stable and meets OneDrive’s requirements.

What you need:

• A solid broadband internet connection
• At least 1 Mbps upload speed
• No firewall or proxy blocking OneDrive

Open a browser and try a few different websites. If things load slowly or not at all, you might need to call your internet provider.

Some common issues we see:

• Metered connections: OneDrive pauses syncing by default
• VPNs: Certain VPNs block OneDrive
• Office firewalls: Company networks might restrict cloud storage

Check your Windows network settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet and make sure your connection isn’t set to metered unless you really want it that way.

Update OneDrive and Windows

Old software causes all sorts of weird sync problems. Make sure both OneDrive and Windows are up to date.

To update OneDrive:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in your system tray
2. Hit Settings (the gear)
3. Go to the “About” tab
4. Click “Get updates” if you see it

OneDrive usually updates itself, but it’s worth checking. Microsoft pushes out fixes and improvements all the time.

Windows updates:

• Press Windows + I to open Settings
• Go to Update & Security
• Click “Check for updates”
• Install everything and restart

We’ve noticed Windows updates often include OneDrive fixes. Keeping Windows current helps avoid compatibility headaches.

Reset or Reinstall OneDrive

If nothing else works, try resetting OneDrive to clear out any corrupted data and get back to default settings. Don’t worry—your files stay safe.

To reset OneDrive:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
3. Hit Enter
4. Wait a couple of minutes, then start OneDrive again

If that doesn’t help, reinstall OneDrive:

1. Uninstall it from Settings > Apps
2. Restart your PC
3. Download and install the latest version from Microsoft
4. Sign in again

This usually fixes stubborn sync errors that nothing else touches.

Device and Operating System Considerations

Your device and OS settings can have a big impact on how well OneDrive syncs. Power management, permissions, and selective sync options can all get in the way.

Configuring OneDrive on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Setting up OneDrive right from the start makes a difference. If you keep having issues, a fresh install is sometimes the easiest fix.

Initial setup:

• Download OneDrive from Microsoft’s site (if you need to)
• Sign in with your Microsoft account
• Pick where you want your sync folder
• Let OneDrive have the permissions it asks for

Windows 11 comes with OneDrive built in, but on Windows 10 you might need to install it yourself. You should see the blue cloud icon in your system tray when it’s working.

Key settings to check:

• Turn on “Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows”
• Enable “Let me use OneDrive to fetch any of my files on this PC”
• Use “Save space and download files as you use them” if you want

Make sure OneDrive is allowed through Windows Defender Firewall for both private and public networks.

Battery Saver and Power Settings Impact

Battery saver mode can quietly block OneDrive from syncing in the background. This is especially an issue for laptops and tablets when they’re not plugged in.

Battery Saver does things like:

• Stops OneDrive from running in the background
• Blocks automatic uploads and downloads
• Limits network use for non-essential apps

Turn off battery saver, or at least add OneDrive to the allowed list. Go to Settings > System > Battery > Battery Saver and mark OneDrive as “Always allowed.”

Power settings matter too:
We tweak advanced power settings to stop USB selective suspend and wireless adapter power management from interrupting syncs.

Sleep and hibernation also pause syncing. If you need files to sync while your device is idle, adjust your sleep settings to keep the network alive.

External Hard Drive and Selective Sync

If you put your OneDrive folder on an external drive, syncing often breaks when the drive disconnects. We always suggest keeping OneDrive on internal storage.

Problems with external drives:

• Sync stops when you unplug the drive
• File paths break
• OneDrive can’t find your files

Selective sync helps you save space and keep syncing fast. You can leave out big files or folders you don’t use much.

To set up selective sync:

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon
2. Go to Settings > Account > Choose folders
3. Uncheck folders you don’t want to sync
4. Click OK

Those files stay in OneDrive online, but don’t take up space on your device.

Antivirus and Firewall Conflicts

Third-party antivirus software can block OneDrive from syncing. We run into this a lot and usually fix it by changing a few settings.

Typical antivirus problems:

• Real-time scanning blocks uploads
• Firewall rules block OneDrive’s network access
• Some tools flag OneDrive’s sync as suspicious

How we fix it:
Add OneDrive programs to your antivirus exclusions:

• OneDrive.exe
• OneDriveSetup.exe
• FileCoAuth.exe

Make sure your firewall allows OneDrive through TCP ports 80 and 443. Double-check that Windows Defender Firewall lists OneDrive as an allowed app.

In company networks, you might need your IT team to whitelist OneDrive domains and IPs.

Advanced Solutions and Preventative Measures

If the usual fixes don’t work, it’s time for some advanced strategies. These tackle bigger issues like giant files, credential problems, or keeping storage optimized so sync keeps running smoothly.

Managing Large Files and File Name Restrictions

Big files can be a real pain for OneDrive, especially with bandwidth limits and timeouts. Keep an eye out for anything over 100GB—that’s OneDrive’s max file size.

File name problems also cause sync failures:

• Names longer than 400 characters
• Special characters: < > : ” | ? * \ /
• Reserved names like CON, PRN, AUX, NUL
• Names ending with spaces or periods

Set up some basic naming rules to avoid these issues before you upload files. For big files, try OneDrive’s “Files On-Demand” to save space but still have access.

For bandwidth:

• Upload large files during off-peak hours
• Limit upload/download speeds in OneDrive settings
• Use a wired connection for the first big sync

Dealing with Account or Credential Issues

If you’ve run into stubborn OneDrive syncing problems, there’s a good chance authentication issues are at the root. Sometimes, cached credentials go bad, or multi-factor authentication gets in the way and stops things from syncing smoothly.

Common credential resolution steps:

1. Go into Windows Credential Manager and clear out any stored credentials.
2. Unlink your OneDrive account, then link it again to reset authentication.
3. Double-check your multi-factor authentication settings—they might be blocking the sync.
4. Make sure you aren’t signed in with conflicting Microsoft accounts at the same time.

If you’re in an enterprise environment, things get a bit trickier with hybrid identity setups. You’ll want to check Azure AD Connect to see if it’s syncing properly, and confirm that your on-premises Active Directory accounts are actually making it up to the cloud.

Account-specific troubleshooting includes:

• Make sure your OneDrive for Business license is valid and active.
• Check that nothing in your tenant-level policies is stopping sync from working.
• Take a look at conditional access policies—sometimes they block device registration without you realizing it.

Optimizing OneDrive Storage Management

Managing OneDrive storage well keeps most syncing headaches at bay. We keep an eye on storage usage with monitoring tools, so we can spot issues before they get out of hand.

Storage optimization techniques:

Proactive storage management means:

• Setting storage quotas so you don’t hit Microsoft OneDrive’s limits
• Using automated cleanup for temporary files
• Watching out for duplicate files from sync conflicts

We set up OneDrive to pause sync automatically when storage gets close to full. That way, we avoid partial uploads and the messy sync errors they can cause.

Running regular storage audits helps us spot huge files that should probably get archived or moved elsewhere. It’s smart to set clear rules for file retention and deletion—otherwise, things get messy fast.