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Microsoft OneDrive is a helpful tool for backing up and synchronizing files online and across multiple devices. Still, problems and conflicts do occur. Maybe OneDrive suddenly stops working, files fail to sync, items get accidentally deleted, or two versions of the same file appear. Before you jump ship to a different cloud storage service, here's how to resolve these (and other) common OneDrive glitches.
1. OneDrive isn’t Running
OneDrive is built into Windows, so it should be running as long as you finished the initial setup process. If the OneDrive icon in the Windows System Tray looks grayed out, however, you may be logged out. To fix this, click the OneDrive icon on the Taskbar to bring up the app window, then click Sign in, enter your email address, and authenticate the account. Confirm the folder used for OneDrive, and go through the remaining setup windows until OneDrive pops up again.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)2. OneDrive Icon is Missing
If you can't find the OneDrive icon in the Windows System Tray, right-click on the Taskbar and choose Taskbar settings. In Windows 10, go to the Notification area section and click Select which icons appear on the taskbar. Windows 11 users can click Other system tray icons. You can then enable specific icons to appear in the System Tray. Enable Microsoft OneDrive, and check to see if the icon appears in the Taskbar.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)If you don't see a OneDrive icon here, you'll have to manually load the program. To do this, open File Explorer and head to the following location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\ and double-click the OneDrive.exe file to start it. Your OneDrive folder should appear and the System Tray icon should now show up.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)3. OneDrive Syncing is Paused
Sometimes OneDrive says that it's paused, and that your files are no longer syncing. It's possible you accidentally paused the program, you’re in battery saver mode, or you're using cellular data on your laptop. To resume syncing, select the OneDrive System Tray icon and click the message that says: “Your files are not currently syncing.”
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Don't want syncing to pause in these situations? Click the gear icon in the OneDrive window and select Settings > Sync and backup, then turn off the switches next to Pause syncing when this device is on a metered network and Pause syncing when this device is in battery saver mode.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)4. OneDrive isn’t Syncing Specific Files
OneDrive may not be syncing a file because it’s open and in use by another application. The fix for this is simple: Just close the file in question and give OneDrive a moment to process the update. Once the file is synced, you should then be able to open it again and resume your work.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)5. Can't Access Certain Folders and Files
Are you unable to see or access certain folders and files on your current PC? The problem could be that those folders aren't included in the synchronization. To confirm this, go to OneDrive settings. Click the Account tab and select Choose folders. If the folder you need is unchecked, check it and then click OK to sync its files to your PC.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)6. Conflict with Microsoft 365
If you use Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, an option in OneDrive lets Office control the saving and syncing of files to help you share them with other people. Unfortunately, that option can sometimes block or interrupt the synchronization. To correct this, especially if you don’t need to collaborate on files, go to the Settings page in OneDrive and select the Sync and backup tab. Click Advanced settings and turn off the switch next to File collaboration.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)7. Your PC is Running Low on Space
Sometimes you may run into trouble with OneDrive file syncing because your computer’s storage is running out of space. You can resolve this issue a few different ways. First, try freeing up space on your PC by removing temporary files, uninstalling applications, and emptying the Recycle Bin. Open OneDrive settings to remove folders you no longer need on your PC. Click the Account > Choose folders, uncheck any folders you no longer want to sync locally, then click OK.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)You can also set the service to remove all the OneDrive files from your PC and download them only as you need them. To do this, go to OneDrive settings, select Sync and backup > Advanced settings, and then enable Files On-Demand.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)8. Files are Missing in OneDrive
Can't find a particular file synced through OneDrive? If you think it might have been deleted, your first step should be to check the OneDrive's Recycle Bin, which holds onto deleted files for up to 30 days. To access this feature, click the OneDrive System Tray icon, select View online, and then click the Recycle bin category. Here, you can browse all the files in the bin or search for a file by name. If you find the file, check it and click Restore to return it to its original location.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)9. OneDrive Creates Duplicate Files
You open a folder containing OneDrive files and discover two items with the same name—one with the basic filename and a second with both the filename and the name of your computer. This problem can crop up if you edit the same file on more than one computer. OneDrive isn’t sure which one to sync as the official file, so it syncs both and appends the computer name to one of them.
If you see this, open both files to check which one has the latest changes. Make sure the version you want to keep doesn’t have the appended computer name, and then delete the other.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)If this problem keeps happening, try refreshing your Windows credentials for OneDrive. Search "Credential" from the Taskbar and select Credential Manager. Click the Windows Credentials tab and look for the Generic Credentials section. Click the down arrow next to OneDrive Cached Credentials and unfurl more details, then click Remove. Now, quit and restart OneDrive. Sign back in to recreate the credentials, and the issue should be solved.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)10. Fix an Issue With No Clear Solution
If you’re running into an issue that seem to have no solution, one option is to uninstall and reinstall OneDrive. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Apps and features, then select Microsoft OneDrive and click Uninstall. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then click the ellipsis icon next to Microsoft OneDrive and click Uninstall.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)You can then reinstall the program from Microsoft’s OneDrive website. Click the Download button and run the installation from the downloaded setup file. Click the OneDrive System Tray icon, sign in, and follow the steps to set up your OneDrive account and access again.
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