OneDrive Sync Pending Or Stuck, What To Do

Vikas Solutions

Does your OneDrive synchronization remain pending forever? Does OneDrive file sync pending message don’t go away? If you’re using OneDrive as a primary storage to save your data, it can be troublesome. Occasional sync issues can affect your productivity. In this workaround, we’ll discuss various ways to fix the OneDrive sync pending issue and make the sync process smoother.

Clean Up OneDrive Cloud Duplicates with Cloud Duplicate Finder

Works with OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3 and Box

Stop & Resume Sync

Stop the file sync, wait for some time and restart it again. It might help if there is a temporary technical glitch.

Don’t Use Nested Directory Structures

Are your files stored in a nested directory with too many sub-folders? Move your files to the root folder and try to sync them again.

Check Filenames

Unsupported characters in your file name can cause the OneDrive sync process to be stuck forever. Make sure that you do not use any unsupported characters, symbols in the file names. The length of your filename should not be too long.

Terminate & Re-open OneDrive

OneDrive sync pending does not necessarily mean a system issue. It could be a temporary issue as well. To resolve any temporary issues, simply exit and re-open the OneDrive 

  1. Click the Show hidden icons on your Taskbar’s Notification Area.
  2. Right-click the OneDrive icon and choose Help & Settings.
  3. Choose the option Close oneDrive.

Close Other Applications

Are you running too many applications simultaneously? Apart from the connection speed, another issue that can affect sync is inter-application conflicts. Having too many applications running at the same time is not recommended. Some applications may be hogging up your entire bandwidth, or they may be using the files that you’re trying to sync. A file in use cannot be synced. Close any other applications that are running on your computer, including background processes. Click the upward arrow in the Notification Area of your Taskbar. Right-click an application and select Exit.

Fix Duplicate Files

As a OneDrive user, you might be already sharing files across different devices. Over years of using OneDrive can lead to too many duplicate files with almost identical content. OneDrive might fail to sync files if some of the duplicate files are causing conflicts. Scan your OneDrive storage and fix any duplicates found.

  1. Exit any files stored on OneDrive.
  2. Download and install Clone Files Checker.
  3. Click the Add button on the left.
  4. Select the OneDrive folder, and add it.
  5. Set the Search Option to All Files.
  6. Hit Start Search and wait for the results to accumulate.
  7. Clone Files Checker will give two options:
    1. Auto-Fix: Use this option to initiate a wizard to auto-select files of your choice. It does not require reviewing files on your part and saves a lot of time.
    2. Review & Fix: Use this option to go through the list of all files.Use Select Duplicates button to mark files, and then delete or move them using the Select Action button.

Benefits:

  • Fast, algorithm-based automated scan
  • 100% accurate results
  • File size, file type filters to adjust scan settings up to one’s requirement
  • Batch file selection eliminates the need of user intervention
  • Auto-Fix Wizard guides you through the selection & cleaning procedure
  • Integrated file backup
  • CFC is fully customizable. You can add your own file extensions to ignore from the scan using the program settings.

Clean Temporary Files

Corruption of the temporary files can be another reason. Clean-up the temporary files, temporary application data on the drive that has OneDrive installed.

  1. Type Disk CleanUp in the Search box on your Taskbar.
  2. Open the Disk CleanUp utility.
  3. Select the system drive (typically, drive C:\)
  4. Click on OK.
  5. Disk CleanUp will start analyzing the selected partition for temporary files. Wait for a while.
  6. Once it finishes analyzing your files, check-up everything except the Recycle Bin.
  7. Click on OK.

Disable Sleep Mode

Windows sets your computer to automatically go to sleep mode when it’s inactive for a longer time. Although this feature has its own merits, it can cause issues while syncing your files. OneDrive stucks and stops syncing your files if your computer goes to sleep mode during downloading/ uploading. Disabling sleep mode might help.

  1. Click on Start.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Head on to System, and then Power & Sleep.
  4. In the Sleep category, you’ll find two drop-down boxes. Set your computer to never go to sleep in both the drop-down boxes.

Disable Metered Connection

File syncing will be stuck if your computer is running on a metered connection. Metered connection establishes a data-saving connection to prevent excessive cellular data consumption. OneDrive automatically pauses file synchronization when your connection type is changed to metered connection.

Disabling metered connection in Windows 10:

  1. Click on Start.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Select Network & Internet.
  4. Head on to the Wi-Fi tab.
  5. Select your active Wifi network connection.
  6. Move the switch “Set as metered connection” to the left. It’ll disable it.

Boot In Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is a boot feature that blocks third-party programs, background processes and services. Start your computer into safe mode to fix OneDrive sync pending.

  1. Click on Start.
  2. Click the Settings icon.
  3. Select Update & Security.
  4. Click the Recovery tab.
  5. Click on Restart Now under Advanced Startup.
  6. Your computer will restart and prompt you to choose a task. Select Troubleshoot.
  7. In the subsequent screen, select Advanced Options.
  8. Select Startup Settings, and then Restart.
  9. After your computer restarts, it’ll display different boot options. Press the F5 key to start your computer in the Safe Mode with Networking.

Upgrade your Internet

OneDrive sync pending may occur when you’re connected to a slow Internet connection. If you’re connected to mobile data via a Hotspot, switch to a high-speed Wifi.

If you’re already using a Wifi Internet connection, check the current download/ upload speed offered in your plan. Consider upgrading your plan, if required.

Users connected to a wired broadband connection are more likely to enjoy faster speed and Internet stability compared to wireless Wifi connections. Wired connections can deliver optimum speed with less of a lag.

Disable All Files Syncing

Is your OneDrive account set to sync everything in your account? Disable syncing all folders. Instead, sync individual folder items that you truly need.

  1. Click on the OneDrive icon on your system tray.
  2. Select Help & Settings.
  3. Click on the Account tab and select Choose folders.
  4. OneDrive will display the list of all folders in your account. Uncheck all the folders and check only those you need to sync.
  5. Click OK to save the changes.