When OneDrive hangs on “Sync pending” or “Processing changes,” it is rarely a hardware failure. In most cases, the sync engine is blocked by a single problematic file, a sign-in token error, or a Cloud Files/Files On-Demand cache conflict.
This guide provides surgical fixes to unblock your workflow—starting with quick wins, then moving to deeper system repairs.
Step 0: Diagnosis (Pick Your Path)
Match your symptom to the correct solution:
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A) OneDrive says “Sync pending” for a long time: Start at Quick Fix 1, then Advanced 1.
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B) OneDrive says “Processing changes” forever: Start at Quick Fix 2, then Advanced 2.
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C) Only one file/folder won’t sync (Red X / Conflict): Go to Quick Fix 3.
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D) Work/School account with sign-in prompts: Go to Advanced 4.
Quick Fixes (Fastest + Safest)
Quick Fix 1) Check Pause Status & Metered Connection
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Click the OneDrive cloud icon. If you see “Paused,” click Resume sync.
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Disable Metered Connection: Go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi/Ethernet > Metered connection and toggle it OFF.
Quick Fix 2) Restart OneDrive the Correct Way
Do not just reboot Windows; restart the app itself:
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Click the OneDrive icon > Help & Settings > Quit OneDrive.
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Open the Start Menu, search for OneDrive, and relaunch it.
Quick Fix 3) Isolate the “Blocker” File
A single file with a long path or special characters can jam the queue.
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Temporarily move the suspected file/folder out of OneDrive (e.g., to your Desktop).
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Wait for OneDrive to show “Up to date.”
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Rename the file using only simple alphanumeric characters and move it back.
Quick Fix 4) Check Storage Quota
OneDrive will stall silently if you are at your limit.
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Open OneDrive on the web to confirm available space.
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If full, delete large items or upgrade your plan, then restart the app (Quick Fix 2).
Advanced Deep Dives
Advanced 1) Clear Office Document Cache
If Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files are stuck, the Office Upload Center cache is often the culprit.
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Close all Office apps.
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Restart OneDrive.
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If it persists, proceed to Advanced 3 (Reset).
Advanced 2) Fix Files On-Demand Cache Conflicts
In 2026, the Files On-Demand (Cloud Files) engine can fall into a bad state after system updates or sleep cycles.
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OneDrive icon > Help & Settings > Settings.
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Go to Sync and backup > Advanced settings.
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Toggle Files On-Demand OFF > wait 30 seconds > toggle ON.
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Restart OneDrive.
Advanced 3) Reset OneDrive (The “Big Hammer”)
Resetting rebuilds the local sync database without deleting your cloud files.
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Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog. -
Copy and paste the following command and press Enter:
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset
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If you get an error, try:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\OneDrive.exe" /reset
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If the icon doesn’t reappear, search for “OneDrive” in the Start Menu to open it manually.
Refer to Microsoft’s official guide on resetting OneDrive: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reset-onedrive-34701e00-bf7b-42db-b960-84905399050c
Advanced 4) Fix Work/School Account Loops
Corporate accounts are often blocked by expired sign-in tokens or VPN rules.
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Go to OneDrive Settings > Account > Unlink this PC.
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Sign in again and reselect only your most critical folders first.
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Ensure your Windows Time is synced, as time drift causes SSO (Single Sign-On) failures.
Advanced 5) System Integrity Repair
If OneDrive crashes or won’t start, repair the underlying Windows components.
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Open Command Prompt (Admin).
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Run the following commands one by one:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
FAQ
Q: Does resetting OneDrive delete my files? No. It only rebuilds the local client database. Your files in the cloud are safe.
Q: Why is it stuck on “Processing changes” forever? This is usually a database loop or a cache conflict in the “Files On-Demand” feature. A reset or unlinking the account typically fixes this.
Summary
To fix OneDrive loops, start with a proper app restart and file isolation. If the issue persists, use the Reset command or toggle Files On-Demand to force a clean reconciliation of your data.