What Resyncing OneDrive Means and When You Need It

Resyncing OneDrive means telling the app to reconnect with Microsoft's servers and pull down the latest version of your files. You need to resync when files stop uploading or downloading, when you see a sync error icon next to a file, or when OneDrive appears frozen on a particular folder. The process does not delete your files — it restarts the connection between your computer and the cloud.

Most sync problems resolve with a straightforward pause-and-resume. Some require you to sign out and back in. A few need you to reset the sync engine entirely. This guide walks through each step in order, starting with the fastest fix.

Key Takeaways

  • Pausing OneDrive for 10 seconds and resuming usually fixes temporary sync stalls without touching your files.
  • If pause-and-resume does not work, sign out of OneDrive, restart your computer, and sign back in.
  • On Windows, you can reset the sync engine by unlinking your account and relinking it through Settings.
  • On Mac, removing OneDrive from your login items and restarting the app often clears stuck sync states.
  • If files remain stuck after these steps, check your internet connection and verify your OneDrive storage is not full.

Pause and Resume OneDrive (Fastest Fix)

The quickest resync is a pause-and-resume cycle. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac). Select Pause syncing, then wait 10 seconds. Right-click again and select Resume syncing.

OneDrive will reconnect to the cloud and begin syncing any files that were stuck. Watch the icon — it should show a blue circle with a checkmark once syncing completes. This works for most temporary glitches caused by network interruptions or brief server delays.

Sign Out and Sign Back In

If pause-and-resume does not clear the error, sign out of OneDrive completely, restart your computer, and sign back in. This forces OneDrive to re-authenticate with Microsoft's servers and rebuild its sync database.

On Windows: Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, then click the three dots (More) menu. Select Settings, go to the Account tab, and click Unlink this PC. Restart your computer. Open OneDrive again and sign in with your Microsoft account.

On Mac: Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, then click the three dots menu. Select Preferences, go to the Account tab, and click Unlink. Restart your computer. Open OneDrive from Applications and sign in again.

Reset the OneDrive Sync Engine (Windows Only)

If signing out and back in does not work, you can reset the sync engine on Windows. This clears OneDrive's internal cache and forces it to rebuild the sync relationship from scratch. Your files remain untouched.

Open a Command Prompt as Administrator. Type the following command and press Enter:

taskkill /f /im onedrive.exe

Wait a few seconds. Then type this command and press Enter:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

OneDrive will close and restart. Sign in when prompted. The sync engine will rebuild its database, which can take several minutes for large folders. Do not close the window until the process finishes.

Remove OneDrive From Startup and Restart (Mac)

On Mac, you can clear sync issues by removing OneDrive from your login items and restarting it fresh. Go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions), then select General and Login Items. Find OneDrive in the list and click the minus button to remove it.

Restart your computer. Open OneDrive manually from Applications. It will not auto-start, but it will sync normally. Once you confirm syncing works, you can add it back to login items if you want it to start automatically.

Check Your Internet Connection and Storage Space

Before assuming OneDrive needs a deeper reset, verify two things: your internet connection is stable, and your OneDrive storage is not full. A slow or intermittent connection can cause sync to stall. A full storage account will block all uploads.

Test your internet by opening a web browser and loading a website. If the page loads slowly or times out, restart your router and wait a minute before trying OneDrive again. To check your storage, click the OneDrive icon and look for a storage meter, or sign into OneDrive.com and check your account settings. If you are at or near your storage limit, delete files you no longer need or upgrade your storage plan.

What to Do If Resync Still Does Not Work

If none of these steps resolve the sync error, the problem may be specific to a single file or folder. Try moving the stuck file to a different location on your computer, then moving it back. Sometimes OneDrive gets confused about a file's location and a manual move clears it.

If the error persists across multiple files, or if you see a specific error code, visit the OneDrive Help Center at support.microsoft.com and search for that error code. Microsoft maintains a database of sync errors and their solutions. You can also contact Microsoft Support directly through your OneDrive account settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resyncing delete my files?

No. Resyncing only restarts the connection between your computer and OneDrive's servers. Your files stay where they are — on your computer and in the cloud. Pause-and-resume and sign-out-and-sign-in do not touch your data at all.

How long does a resync take?

A pause-and-resume cycle takes seconds to a few minutes. A full sign-out-and-sign-in can take 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many files you have. A sync engine reset on Windows may take 10 to 30 minutes for large folders because OneDrive rebuilds its entire database.

What if I see a red X on a file after resyncing?

A red X means OneDrive could not sync that specific file. The file may be locked by another program, have a name that Windows does not allow, or be too large. Right-click the file and check OneDrive's error details. If the file is open in another program, close it and try resyncing again.

Can I resync just one folder instead of my whole OneDrive?

Not directly. Pause-and-resume and sign-out-and-sign-in affect your entire OneDrive account. However, you can exclude specific folders from syncing by going to OneDrive Settings, selecting the Sync tab, and unchecking folders you do not want synced. This stops OneDrive from trying to sync those folders, which can help if one folder is causing problems.

Why does OneDrive keep losing sync after I resync it?

Repeated sync failures usually point to a network issue, a full storage account, or a file that OneDrive cannot handle. Check your internet connection stability, verify your storage is not full, and look for files with special characters or very long names. If the problem happens only with one folder, try moving that folder outside OneDrive, restarting your computer, and moving it back.