The fastest way to restart OneDrive

Close OneDrive completely, then open it again. On Windows, right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right corner), select Close OneDrive, wait ten seconds, then open OneDrive from your Start menu or by clicking the folder icon on your desktop. On Mac, click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar at the top, select the three dots, choose Quit OneDrive, wait ten seconds, then open OneDrive from your Applications folder or Launchpad.

This straightforward restart fixes most syncing problems — files stuck mid-upload, the app frozen on a folder, or the status showing an error that clears once the app restarts. If OneDrive still will not start or sync after this, move to the next step.

Key Takeaways

  • A basic restart — closing the app completely and reopening it — fixes most OneDrive syncing problems without losing any files.
  • If the basic restart does not work, sign out of OneDrive, clear the cache folder, and sign back in to reset the connection to your account.
  • Windows users can use the Settings app to pause and resume syncing, which forces OneDrive to check for updates to your files.
  • If OneDrive will not start at all, restart your computer, which clears temporary files and resets background processes.
  • Contact Microsoft Support if the app crashes repeatedly or shows a specific error code after you have tried these steps.

Sign out and back in to reset your account connection

If restarting the app does not work, sign out of OneDrive, wait a few seconds, and sign back in. This clears the connection between the app and your Microsoft account and forces OneDrive to re-authenticate.

On Windows: Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, select the three dots, choose Settings, go to the Account tab, and click Unlink this PC. Close OneDrive. Open it again, and you will be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account. On Mac: Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, select the three dots, choose Settings, go to the Account tab, and click Unlink. Close OneDrive, open it again, and sign in.

Your files will remain on your computer — unlinking OneDrive does not delete anything. Once you sign back in, OneDrive will re-sync your files with the cloud.

Clear the OneDrive cache folder on Windows

The cache folder holds temporary files that OneDrive uses to track which files have synced. If this folder becomes corrupted, OneDrive may get stuck or show errors. Clearing it forces OneDrive to rebuild the cache from scratch.

Close OneDrive completely. Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive (replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username). Look for a folder named logs or sync_metadata. Right-click it and select Delete. If you see a folder called CacheStore, delete that too. Restart OneDrive. The app will rebuild these folders automatically.

This step is Windows-only because Mac stores cache in a different location that is harder to access safely. If you use a Mac and clearing the cache is necessary, contact Microsoft Support for guidance.

Pause and resume syncing on Windows

Windows users can pause OneDrive syncing for a set time, then resume it. This forces OneDrive to check for file changes and can clear stuck uploads or downloads.

Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, select the three dots, and choose Pause syncing. Select a pause duration — 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours. Wait for the pause period to end, or manually resume by clicking the OneDrive icon again and selecting Resume syncing. OneDrive will then re-scan your files and sync any changes.

Restart your computer if OneDrive will not open

If OneDrive will not start at all or crashes when ready after opening, restart your computer. This clears temporary files, resets background processes, and often allows OneDrive to start fresh.

Save any open work, close all programs, and restart your computer normally. Once it boots up, open OneDrive. If it still will not start, check that your internet connection is working — OneDrive requires an active connection to sign in. If your internet is working and OneDrive still crashes, move to the next step.

Check for OneDrive updates

An outdated version of OneDrive can cause syncing problems or crashes. Windows updates OneDrive automatically through the Microsoft Store, but you can check manually. On Windows, open the Microsoft Store, click your profile icon in the top right, select App settings, and turn on Update apps automatically. You can also search for "OneDrive" in the Store and click Update if an update is available.

On Mac, OneDrive updates through the Mac App Store. Open the App Store, click Updates in the sidebar, and look for OneDrive. If an update is listed, click Update. After updating, close and reopen OneDrive.

When to contact Microsoft Support

If you have tried restarting, signing out and in, clearing the cache, and updating OneDrive and the problem continues, contact Microsoft Support. Have ready the specific error message or error code that OneDrive shows, the version of Windows or Mac you use, and a description of what happens when you try to use OneDrive.

You can reach Microsoft Support through the OneDrive app itself: click the help icon (usually a question mark), select Contact Support, and describe your problem. You can also visit the Microsoft Support website and search for your error code. Support can access your account history and help diagnose problems that require account-level changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restarting OneDrive delete my files?

No. Restarting the app, signing out and in, or clearing the cache does not delete any files on your computer or in the cloud. Your files remain exactly where they are. The app straightforward stops and starts again, or clears temporary tracking information.

How long does it take OneDrive to re-sync after a restart?

It depends on how many files you have and how large they are. A restart usually takes a few seconds. Re-syncing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours if you have thousands of files or very large files. You can continue working while OneDrive syncs in the background.

What if OneDrive keeps crashing after I restart it?

Try signing out and back in, clearing the cache (Windows only), and updating OneDrive. If it still crashes, restart your computer. If crashes continue after that, contact Microsoft Support with the error code or message OneDrive shows.

Can I restart OneDrive on my phone?

Yes. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find OneDrive, and swipe it up to close it. Then open OneDrive again from your home screen. On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, find OneDrive, and tap Force Stop. Then open OneDrive again.

Does pausing OneDrive stop it from syncing permanently?

No. Pausing syncing on Windows is temporary — you set a duration (2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours), and syncing resumes automatically when that time ends. You can also manually resume syncing at any time by clicking the OneDrive icon and selecting Resume syncing.