- Mastering OneDrive Sync on Windows 10
- Diagnose OneDrive Sync Errors
- Restart the OneDrive App
- Update Windows
- Reconnect Your Microsoft Account
- Verify Available Storage
- Adjust Battery Saver Settings
- Repair Sync Problems
- Reset the OneDrive App
- Compress Large Files
- Delete Unneeded Files
- Contact Microsoft Support
- References
Mastering OneDrive Sync on Windows 10
OneDrive comes pre-installed with Windows 10, enabling you to access your files from any device. However, you may occasionally encounter syncing errors that prevent files from updating across devices. In this guide, we’ll explore the most common OneDrive sync issues on Windows 10 and provide actionable solutions to get you back up and running.
Diagnose OneDrive Sync Errors
When OneDrive fails to sync properly, the icon in the system tray turns red or displays an error code. Before attempting to fix syncing problems, check for an error code by right-clicking the OneDrive icon and selectingView sync problems.
Common error codes include 0x8007000E, 0x80070057, 0x8004de40, and 0x80c80031. Look up your specific code on Microsoft’s Support website to understand the issue. Errors often stem from storage limits, file name conflicts, corruption, or network problems.
Restart the OneDrive App
The simplest solution is to restart the OneDrive desktop app. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and selectMore > Settings. In Settings, chooseRestart OneDriveto stop and relaunch the sync process. Restarting often fixes temporary glitches.
Update Windows
Outdated Windows versions can disrupt OneDrive connectivity. Windows Update automatically downloads system and software upgrades, but you can manually check for updates. Go toSettings > Update & Security > Check for Updates. Install any available updates, then restart your PC. Keeping Windows current optimizes OneDrive performance.
Reconnect Your Microsoft Account
If OneDrive won’t sync properly after updating Windows, try disconnecting and reconnecting your Microsoft account. Right-click the OneDrive icon and selectSettings > Account. ChooseDisconnect this PCand confirm.
Then reopen OneDrive and re-enter your Microsoft account details. This refreshes the connection, which often resolves sync problems.
Verify Available Storage
OneDrive offers 5GB of free storage. If you exceed the limit, files will fail to sync until you clear space or upgrade to a paid plan. Check your usage underSettings > Account > Manage Storage. OneDrive also temporarily stops syncing when your PC’s hard drive reaches capacity. Delete local files or move them to external storage.
Adjust Battery Saver Settings
Windows 10’s Battery Saver mode pauses OneDrive syncing to conserve laptop battery life. If you use a laptop, make sure Battery Saver does not prevent OneDrive syncing when plugged in. Go toSettings > System > Battery Saverand disable the “Pause syncing” option while plugged in.
Repair Sync Problems
When intermittent glitches arise, use OneDrive’s built-in Repair option. Right-click the OneDrive icon and selectHelp & Settings > Repair. This identifies and fixes sync issues with your Microsoft account, OneDrive folders, network connections, and relevant registry keys.
Reset the OneDrive App
Ifrepairingdoes not resolve OneDrive problems, resetting the app may help. This uninstalls and reinstalls OneDrive to purge corrupt files or registry entries. Navigate to *%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive*using File Explorer. Delete the *sfxfolder, then reopen OneDrive. The app will reconfigure itself with default settings.
Compress Large Files
Extremely large files often fail to sync properly on OneDrive. Try compressing files over 1 GB into a ZIP folder before syncing. Right-click, chooseSend to > Compressed (zipped) folder. Sync the compressed folder instead of individual files. This reduces bandwidth requirements.
Delete Unneeded Files
As a last resort, delete unneeded files from OneDrive to free up space. Open onedrive.com and choose files to delete. Removing content lets OneDrive start fresh. You can also upgrade to a paid OneDrive plan for more storage capacity.
Contact Microsoft Support
If you still can’t resolve OneDrive sync problems after exhausting self-help, contact Microsoft Support. Experts can troubleshoot based on error codes and logs. OneDrive chat support and phone assistance are available for free during business hours. Support agents can also escalate issues and arrange callbacks from the OneDrive engineering team if necessary.
We hope these tips help get your OneDrive sync working smoothly again on Windows 10. Let us know in the comments if you have any other fixes for OneDrive issues. And stay tuned for our next blog post on optimizing OneDrive performance.
