10 Ways | Fix OneDrive Not Syncing in Windows 10, 11

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. 

Possible Causes for 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.
• ...

10 Fixes for OneDrive Not Syncing in Windows 10, 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. 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. Then input OneDrive in the Windows search box, and select OneDrive desktop app to make sure OneDrive is running on your PC.

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.

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 Send to > select Compressed (zipped) folder > then you will see a new zipped folder with the same name is created in the same location.

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 a 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.

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 your OneDrive account from this and relink it. 

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

Solution 6. Check Your Windows Update

The OneDrive not syncing problem may occur when your system lacks 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.

Solution 7. Check the Storage Space

Microsoft requires sufficient space for both local storage and cloud storage if you want to sync local folders 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 the Run box, then enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and click OK.

Solution 9. Upgrade OneDrive to Latest Version

Using an older version of OneDrive may also cause OneDrive not syncing problems. 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. Then, type download one drive in the browser, select the official page, and download it.

Solution 10. Try Free File Sync Software - AOMEI Backupper

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!

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

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

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

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

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

👍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.
✔ 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 Sync, and Two-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 of free storage for 15 days after you sign up for an AOMEI account.

Conclusion

Find a 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, and migrate Windows 10 to SSD to speed up your computer’s performance.