Fixing 10 Common OneDrive Sync Data Synchronization Errors

Regarded as one of the best cloud storage services, OneDrive enables users to store and synchronize documents, accessing them across multiple devices. However, it's not a flawless system, and occasionally, users may face issues, such as files refusing synchronization. While there are various errors during OneDrive usage, data synchronization issues are perhaps the most commonly encountered. Below, we will explore 10 common OneDrive sync data errors and how to address them.

Fixing 10 Common OneDrive Sync Data Synchronization Errors

1. Issues with Microsoft account or files

The first thing you'll want to determine is whether there is an issue with your system or the OneDrive service. To find out, right-click on the OneDrive icon and click on View online to open files in a web browser.

If the files don't load, the problem may be from Microsoft's end rather than your system. The only thing you can do at this point is wait until the issue is resolved.

2. Connect Your Account

Another potential reason files may not synchronize is that your OneDrive account is not linked to your Windows account. To link these two accounts, follow these steps:

- Click on the OneDrive icon to open the app.

- Select More > Settings > Account.

- Click on Add an account.

- Enter the email address for your OneDrive account.

- Log in with the password and click Next.

Complete the process by following the instructions on your screen. Your OneDrive and Microsoft accounts will be linked. Then, try syncing your files again.

3. Using OneDrive on Linux

Microsoft OneDrive lacks an official app for Linux users. However, you can sync your cloud files using Insync - a third-party synchronization tool for Linux.

Insync is compatible with Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and the most common 64-bit Linux distributions. To sync OneDrive, follow these steps:

- Download and install Insync for Linux.
- Log in with your Microsoft account.
- Choose the files you want to sync to the cloud or your computer.

- All synchronized files will be located in the Base Folder within the Insync application.

4. Size of Files and Folders

The largest file that can be uploaded to both free and paid OneDrive packages is 10 GB. If you're considering hosting a website on OneDrive, compare the HostScore of other hosting service providers to ensure it has the bandwidth, speed, and resources you need to store all your files.

If any file exceeds this limit, compress them before uploading. Simply right-click on the file, click Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.

Afterwards, try syncing your files again to see if the issue has been resolved. To double-check, click on the white or navy blue OneDrive icon. If you don't see the icon, click the up arrow in the notification area, select More > Settings.

Click on Account > Choose folders. If there are any files you don't want to sync, uncheck them.

5. Reset OneDrive

If your files aren't syncing, sometimes simply turning off and on OneDrive can resolve the issue. Therefore, restart the OneDrive application by right-clicking on the cloud icon and selecting Close OneDrive to reset it.

6. Check file paths

When a file isn't syncing, checking the entire file path is essential. Ensure it's not more than 255 characters and includes the file name. Sometimes, if you use nested folders, the path can become too long.

Move the file to a higher-level folder or rename it to fix this issue. To rename a file, right-click on it and select Rename. Special characters in a file's name might be supported online but not offline, or vice versa. This could be the cause of the syncing issue.

For example, OneDrive doesn't support ' * : <> ? / \ |, so if your file contains any of these characters, remove them.

7. Reconnect OneDrive account

When none of your files are syncing, it could be due to an issue with the connection to your OneDrive account. Try disconnecting and reconnecting your account to resolve this problem:

- Open OneDrive, select More > Settings > Account.

- Click on Unlink this PC.

- In the newly opened window, select Unlink account.

- To reconnect your account, log in with your email address.

- Enter your account password, log in, and click Next.

8. Check security permissions

Security permissions control access to files and folders. You cannot sync a file if you don't have access rights to it. To check security permissions, follow these steps:

- Right-click on OneDrive from Windows Explorer and select Properties.

- Then, choose Security > System.

- If you see any entry in Deny status, change that permission to Allow.

- Click on your name in the Users list and click on Advanced.

- Choose Replace all child object permissions > Apply to gain full control over your OneDrive files and folders.

9. Selective Sync

If one or more files and folders are not syncing, it might be due to using selective sync option. To resolve this, change this setting by:

- Open OneDrive.

- Click on More > Settings > Account > Choose folders.

- Select the option Make all files available.

- Click OK to save the changes.

10. Update Windows and OneDrive

Are you using the latest versions of OneDrive and Windows? Keeping your software up to date is crucial. If you don't have automatic updates set up, you can do this manually:

- To update Windows, type Update Settings in the search bar and click on Windows Update settings. Then follow the on-screen instructions to update to the latest version of Windows.

- To update OneDrive, go to Settings > Information. Look for the version number and click on it. Next, a link will open in your browser, taking you to the OneDrive download page. You can also check the OneDrive homepage to see if you are using the latest version of the app.

Here are the top 10 OneDrive sync errors that users commonly encounter. If you are facing any of the issues mentioned above, apply the corresponding solutions to resolve the issues.