How to Resolve OneDrive Sync Issues in Every Possible Way

OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud storage and sync apps out there. Whether you're a large business with millions of files to manage or an individual user with terabytes of photos and videos, OneDrive gives you full control over your data and lets you sync files between your devices easily and quickly.

OneDrive syncs with your Microsoft account and is secure, but you might see the OneDrive sync pending error at times.

What does "OneDrive sync pending" mean?

With OneDrive sync enabled on your various devices, Windows will keep files, folders, and documents synced to the cloud. When this is done, Windows places a checkmark on these files so you can see what's been changed when updates are made.

The OneDrive syncing and suspended states might appear similar but are slightly different. According to the OneDrive website, both involve downloading files from OneDrive but deferring that action. Suspended files haven't yet been downloaded from OneDrive; in contrast, syncing is the process of downloading files to OneDrive. Typically, OneDrive waits up to five days for suspended files to merge with the official OneDrive.

A file that's in sync is considered "being monitored" (also called a tracked file). Another type of file is in sync pending. A file that's in sync pending has been sent to OneDrive, but OneDrive thinks the file isn't yet "being monitored" or in sync. This kind of file is called a pending file.

To check if syncing is pending, open the Windows File Explorer, click on the OneDrive icon on the left, and inspect the sync status on the cloud service provider's website. If you see a syncing pending sign, then Windows might still be detecting and backing up all the files in your OneDrive account.

Why does the OneDrive sync get stuck?

A more fundamental issue is that we are in the early stages of syncing with OneDrive. We haven't encountered this with other Microsoft products used this way because we need an active sync process. This is still new to us, and we often have pending OneDrive errors.

There are many reasons why you might see a OneDrive sync error.

- Unresolved syncing issues with OneDrive may occur if you're running an older version of the application. - Syncing can stop if you run out of cloud storage space. - File size limitations for uploads on OneDrive can cause syncing to hang if you exceed the limit. - Issues during Windows operating system updates can lead to sync problems. - Something might be denying permission to sync files to OneDrive. - An excessive cache stack in the OneDrive app could contribute to the issue.

An unstable internet connection can also cause OneDrive to become suspended, usually when there are many files and folders waiting to sync. OneDrive has limited upload size allowances. When the file you're trying to upload exceeds this limit, it gets suspended.

How to Fix the OneDrive Sync Stuck or Paused Error

Regardless of the reason you're stuck with OneDrive pending sync issues, this comprehensive guide is here to help. Read on patiently to learn how to resolve your OneDrive pending sync problems.

1. Solution 1: Reset OneDrive
2. Solution 2: Disable "On-Demand Files"
3. Solution 3: Fix the OneDrive Application
4. Solution 4: Pause and Resume OneDrive Sync
5. Solution 5: Check Storage Space

Solution 1: Reset OneDrive

If you're having trouble with OneDrive sync, you can try resetting OneDrive. There are two ways to resolve this issue through reset:

1. Search and Run:

Step 1. Search for “Run” in the taskbar search box, then press Enter.

Step 2: Type the following command, and then press Enter: (%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset)

If the icon doesn't appear in the taskbar after a few moments, run the following command:

(％localappdata％\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe)

When it's done, you'll see a blue arrow on the OneDrive icon. Your files will begin syncing. Once it's finished, check to make sure your files synced correctly and that the issue is resolved.

From the OneDrive settings

If that doesn't work, try using OneDrive settings.

Step 1: Open File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive icon, and select Settings from the context menu.

Step 2. Next, you must go to the “Account” tab.

Step 3: Click on “Unlink this computer.”

Step 4: You will see the OneDrive setup wizard again. You must complete and configure this wizard.

Solution 2: Clear the Check box for Demand Files

If both files and folders are pending sync, an effective solution is to uncheck “Save space and download files on demand” under the “Files On Demand” section. All files and folders will then sync to OneDrive and your other devices immediately.

Step 1: Open OneDrive settings and click the Settings tab.

Step 2: Clear the check box next to Save space and download files only when needed, and then click OK to save your changes.

Any files or folders that got stuck in a sync pending state should proceed, hopefully to completion.

Solution 3: Troubleshoot the OneDrive app

If OneDrive is temporarily failing or if OneDrive sync is pending, you can troubleshoot. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Press the (Win + I) keys to open Settings. Then, search for "Troubleshoot Windows Store Apps" in the taskbar and select it.

Step 2: Scan for conflicts and issues with apps installed from the Store. Select "Apply automatic fixes," click "Next," and follow any on-screen instructions to fix the issues.

Solution 4: Pause and Resume OneDrive Syncing If you have an unstable internet connection, you can temporarily pause OneDrive's syncing process and resume it when your network improves. Here's how to do it: 1. Open File Explorer. 2. Navigate to the OneDrive folder (usually located in the "OneDrive" folder under "This PC"). 3. Right-click on the OneDrive icon, and then choose "Pause syncing" or "Resume syncing," depending on its current status. If OneDrive is currently syncing, it will show a pause button; if paused, it will display a button to resume syncing. 4. If you choose to pause syncing, OneDrive will stop downloading and uploading files. To resume syncing, simply repeat these steps but select "Resume syncing" this time. By doing this, you can flexibly control OneDrive's syncing based on your network conditions, optimizing your online experience.

If you still encounter the OneDrive sync paused error, you can try the pause and resume method. The steps are as follows:

Step 1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, choose “Help & Settings,” and then click “Pause syncing” from the context menu. Select 2 hours.

< b > Step 2. Navigate to the OneDrive storage location and find its sync folder. Then, select the files you want to drag to the desktop.

Step 3: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, and select Resume syncing from the context menu. Check if OneDrive resumes syncing successfully.

Solution 5: Check your storage space

If your OneDrive account is out of storage space, you might have a OneDrive sync issue pending.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: First, you need to check how much free space you have on your OneDrive. Go to the OneDrive website and log in using your account credentials.

Step 2. Check how much space you have used and how much is available on your OneDrive. If you don't have enough disk space, you'll need to delete unnecessary files to free up room.

Step 3: It's also a good idea to check disk space. Right-click on your local hard drive, select “Properties,” and click “Disk Cleanup” on the General tab to manage your storage.

A better solution: Back up your files to the cloud with backup software. [Back to top](#top)

OneDrive is an excellent cloud backup service, but it only offers 5GB of free cloud storage, and it can have its issues. In such cases, you can use alternative third-party backup software like Todo Backup to help you out. With Todo Backup, you can back up your data to different locations, such as the cloud, local drives, NAS, and secure zones.

Todo Backup Home, encoded in utf-8, is a powerful backup tool suitable for all computer users. It helps you automate the backup of files like images, documents, music, and videos. You can create an ISO image from your operating system and make a bootable USB drive for Windows 11/10/8/7. Furthermore, it allows you to reinstall Windows without losing games and perform a clean installation of Windows 11. Most importantly, this backup software offers you 250GB of free cloud storage space.

Here are the specific steps to back up your computer files:

Step 1. To start the backup process, click on the Select Backup Content button.

Create File Backup Step 1:

Step 2: Lists four backup categories: Files, Disks, Operating System, and Mail.

Create File Backup Step 2

Step 3: A list of both local and network files will appear on the left-hand side of the screen. Expand the directories and select the files you want to back up.

Step 4. Choose where you want to save your backup, as prompted on screen.

Make sure your backups are encrypted, and set up backup schedules by clicking Options within Backup Options. You can also click Options within a backup plan to start a backup at a specific time. There are many other customizable options to explore.

Step 5. You can store the backup file on your computer, in a ToolBox cloud service, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6: Todo Backup from Tools lets you store your backups on third-party cloud drives or your company's own cloud storage.

If you want to back up to a third-party cloud drive, select “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add a “Cloud Device.” Enter your account information when prompted.

Click "TOOLS Cloud", if you want to store the backup file in TOOLS' own cloud storage service, you can sign up and log in with your TOOLS account.

Step 7. Click on Backup Now to start the backup process. When it's done, it will appear as a card on the left side of the screen. Right-clicking on it gives you more options to dig into what your backup job entails.

Last Words

The above methods make it easy to fix the "OneDrive sync pending" issue, and keep in mind the main reasons that might lead to the OneDrive sync status pending to effectively avoid the problem. Besides, if you back up files with Todo Backup, it will be much easier. With this software, you won't encounter the above issues or other OneDrive sync pending problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does synchronization take so long?

Synchronization can be affected by many factors that can slow it down, such as incorrect user connections, database corruption, slow broadband provider connections, and insufficient disk space.

Will Sync delete all my content?

Not syncing doesn't delete everything; a device backup includes all data not saved on the device, so it's synced. The reason is that anything you sync to the device is stored on your computer, so if you lose an article, you can easily resync it.

What happens when they turn it on?

Syncing ensures that changes you make to files on your desktop or in the cloud service are synchronized, so that each copy of the file reflects the most recent changes.

When sync is on, all of your personal information (like bookmarks, browsing history, and passwords) is saved to your Google Account, so you can access it across all of your devices. If you want to choose what information is saved, you can manage your sync settings.

< b > Why aren't my OneDrive files syncing?

If OneDrive is not syncing, go to Settings and click on the Office tab. Here, you need to uncheck the option that says "Use Microsoft Office to sync Office files" and then click OK to save your preference. Restart the drive to resolve this issue. If the problem persists, try the solutions mentioned above.