11 Ways to Fix OneDrive Sync Issues on Windows 10

Windows 11 comes with OneDrive so you can seamlessly store and access files online.Of course, this won't work if OneDrive is having sync issues on your Windows 11 PC.

If you run into similar issues, don't panic.We've compiled several helpful solutions to make OneDrive sync files like never before.

1. Check OneDrive service status

Before trying anything else, you should check OneDrive's server status to make sure there isn't a widespread outage.You can visit Microsoft's service health page, to check that the OneDrive server is running properly.

If you see a red cross icon next to OneDrive, there probably isn't anything wrong with your server.You'll have to wait until Microsoft fixes the problem.

2. Restart the OneDrive app

Here's another basic troubleshooting tip that can help with OneDrive sync issues on Windows 11.Restarting the OneDrive application will resolve any temporary failures you may have encountered while the application is running.If it's not a big deal, this should solve your problem.

Follow the steps below to restart the OneDrive application:

1. Click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.If you can't find it, click the "Show Hidden Icons" arrow.

2. Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the OneDrive window, then select Pause Sync > Quit OneDrive.

3. When prompted for confirmation, select the Turn off OneDrive option.

4. Open the Start menu, type OneDrive and press Enter.

3. Check account storage status

Your OneDrive account may have run out of storage space, which is why your files are no longer syncing. OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage, but if you've upgraded or subscribed to Microsoft 365, you may have 100GB, 1TB, or 5TB of storage.

Follow the steps below to check the available storage space in your OneDrive account:

1. Click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

2. Click the gear icon and select "Settings".

3. In the OneDrive Settings window that appears, check Storage Status in the lower left corner.

If your OneDrive storage is almost full, consider deleting some files or upgrading your plan.

4. Verify sync settings

Enabling battery saver mode or using a metered connection on a Windows 11 computer may cause Microsoft OneDrive to stop syncing.If you don't want this, follow these steps to modify OneDrive's sync settings:

1. Click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

2. Click the gear icon and select "Settings".

3. In the "Sync & backup" tab, turn off the toggles next to "Pause sync while this device is in power saving mode" and "Pause sync while this device is on a metered network."

5. Make sure the files are not compatible

While OneDrive allows you to sync almost any file, there are specific limitations and constraints on file type, name, size, and other factors.For example, the maximum file size you can upload to OneDrive is 250GB.Microsoft regularly updates these limits and constraints to ensure smooth operation.

So, if your OneDrive sync issues are limited to a specific few files, see Microsoft's support page, for information about limitations and constraints that apply to OneDrive files.

6. Remove OneDrive upload and download rate limit

Is OneDrive taking longer than usual to sync files despite using a fast network connection?If so, you may have upload or download rate limits set for OneDrive.Follow the steps below to remove this restriction:

1. Click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

2. Click the gear icon and select "Settings".

3. In the "Sync & Backup" tab, click "Advanced Settings".

4. Turn off the toggles of "Limit Download Rate" and "Limit Upload Rate".

7. Unlink and link your accounts

Authentication issues with Microsoft accounts can also cause OneDrive to stop syncing.Unlinking accounts and relinking them is an effective solution to this type of problem.

Follow the steps below to unlink your Microsoft account:

1. Open OneDrive Settings.

2. Select Accounts from the left sidebar.

3. Click "Unlink this PC".

4. Select "Unlink account" to confirm.

Once done, log back in with your account and check that OneDrive is syncing properly.

8. Update the OneDrive app

OneDrive usually automatically installs the latest application updates on Windows 11 computers, but sometimes these updates can fail.When this happens, OneDrive may behave unexpectedly and stop syncing.You can try updating the OneDrive app manually and see if that fixes it.

Follow the steps below to update the OneDrive app:

1. Open OneDrive Settings.

2. Switch to the "About" tab and click the version number next to OneDrive version.

3. In the web page that opens, check the latest available OneDrive version number and compare it with the version number on your PC.

4. If a newer version is available, click the "Download OneDrive for Windows" link and install it.

9. Reset or reinstall the OneDrive app

If updating the OneDrive app doesn't help, or if you're already running the latest version, you can try resetting it on your Windows computer.Follow the steps below:

1. Press Win + S to open the search menu.

2. Type OneDrive in the search box, and then select Open File Location.

3. In the File Explorer window that opens, right-click the OneDrive application shortcut and select Copy as path.

4. Press Win + R keys to open the "Run" dialog box.

5. In the Open field, paste the file path to the OneDrive executable, then paste /reset, and tap OK.

If the problem persists after this, you may consider reinstalling the OneDrive application.To do this, open the search menu and enter OneDrive in the text field.Click the Uninstall option and select Uninstall to confirm.Then, go to Microsoft websiteDownload and install OneDrive.

10. Try basic fixes

If the above tips don't work, you can try some common Windows repair methods mentioned below:

Install Windows Updates: OneDrive may have sync issues due to the wrong version of Windows.Try installing any pending Windows updates to see if that resolves the issue.

Disable antivirus software: Third-party antivirus software can sometimes conflict with OneDrive and cause problems.Try temporarily disabling your antivirus and see if that helps.

Check your Internet connection: This may seem obvious, but a slow or intermittent network connection can prevent OneDrive from syncing your files.It's best to troubleshoot Ethernet or Wi-Fi issues on your Windows 11 computer.

Sync OneDrive files on Windows 11

Even though OneDrive is a Microsoft product, it can still run into issues like any other app.Following the tips above should resolve any sync issues you may be having with OneDrive on your Windows 11 computer.