OneDrive Not syncing on Mac – Reasons and Fixes

Microsoft OneDrive is a very popular cross-platform cloud storage and syncing solution available for all major devices. Some of the reasons it’s quite famous include its affordable pricing compared to other cloud storage solutions, integration with Microsoft Office tools, and more.

OneDrive’s Windows 10 and 11-based application is very neatly designed and tightly integrated with the OS, but OneDrive’s Mac application requires some improvements. I often receive OneDrive not syncing on Mac-related complaints from our readers.

Therefore, here, I have decided to write a thorough article explaining all of the possible solutions that you can try to fix the OneDrive not syncing issue on Mac.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started –

OneDrive Not syncing on Mac- Possible Reasons

Before moving forward to the solutions, let’s first discuss the possible reasons you might be facing this OneDrive not syncing issue on Mac.

• Sync is paused – There are very good chances that even though the OneDrive app is installed on your Mac, the sync is paused for some reason.
• Dated OneDrive version – Sometimes, this issue occurs when you have a very dated OneDrive version installed on your Mac. Therefore, always keep your OneDrive application updated to ensure all of the functions work smoothly.
• Firewall or Antivirus hindering syncing process – If you have recently installed any Antivirus or any other firewall or VPN, there are some chances that their settings are causing problems with Microsoft OneDrive sync on Mac. If that’s true, we recommend you reconfigure the settings of these apps and allow OneDrive all the access it asks for.
• Special Proxy or DNS – If you are using any proxy or special DNS to connect to the internet, those settings may be interfering with this OneDrive syncing and causing this syncing error. If that’s so, you need to reconfigure those settings to fix OneDrive not syncing on Mac.
• Lack of cloud storage – There are also chances that your OneDrive’s storage is full, and that’s why you are facing OneDrive not syncing issues. Check if there is sufficient storage available on your OneDrive.

Read How to Add OneDrive to File Explorer

OneDrive Not Syncing on Mac- How to Fix

We saw some of the reasons you might be facing OneDrive syncing-related errors. Now, it’s time to fix it.

1. Set up OneDrive properly

The first and most basic thing you need to do if the syncing function is not working is to check whether OneDrive is properly configured.

Here is how you can do that –

• Locate the OneDrive icon on the Menu bar and click on it.
• Here, click on the Settings icon.

• Now open Preferences, and Click on the Account tab.

• From the Choose Folders section, click on the Choose Folder option and select the Mac folder you want to sync with OneDrive.

That’s it. The files and folders inside that selected folder will automatically start syncing to OneDrive.

Read How to Share a Document on OneDrive

2. Ensure OneDrive is running properly

To fix this syncing error, you should check whether OneDrive is running properly. OneDrive services must run in the background so the syncing function will work properly.

Most of the time, due to aggressive RAM or battery management and some other reasons, Mac might have stopped OneDrive services from the background.

Here is how you can check it and fix it if needed –

• Press the Command and Space buttons simultaneously to launch the Spotlight Search function.
• Type Activity Monitor on the search box and launch the App.
• Now, select the CPU tab, and here, find out if OneDrive is there in the Process column.

• If you can see OneDrive on the list, try the following method. However, if OneDrive isn’t there, start it to ensure it runs correctly in the background.

3. Check your internet connection

There are some strong possibilities that your internet connection may be why OneDrive’s syncing feature isn’t working properly.

So, first of all, start by checking your internet connection. Check whether your internet is working properly by opening any website on your browser. If the website opens, your internet connection is fine, but if the website doesn’t open, restart your router or contact your internet service provider.

Once you are assured that your internet is working correctly, you must open OneDrive’s website. If you can access OneDrive’s web portal, your internet connection, DNS, and proxy-related things are working properly.

But suppose you face difficulty opening OneDrive’s web portal. In that case, this means that even though your internet connection is fine, either your DNS, proxy server, Antivirus, VPN, or any other layered firewall is causing this error.

Look for the latest apps you installed on your PC and try to reconfigure that with OneDrive.

Read How to Download a File from OneDrive

4. Restart OneDrive

If your internet is working properly and you have also tried the web portal of OneDrive, then restarting the OneDrive app may fix this syncing-related issue.

To restart OneDrive, you have to follow these simple steps –

• Find the OneDrive icon on the Menu bar and click on it.
• A pop-up window may appear. At the bottom right corner of the window, you will see the Help & Settings option. Click on it.
• A bunch of menu options will appear. Here, click on the Quit OneDrive option.

• Now, restart the OneDrive app to see whether the issue is fixed.

Alternatively, you can also try to restart your Mac device. This will probably fix the issue for you, but in case it doesn’t, try the next method.

5. Resume Syncing

For data-saving reasons, especially when using metered connections, OneDrive offers an option to pause all syncing-related options for up to 24 hours. If you have used that option, consciously or unconsciously, you can resume the syncing settings to fix OneDrive not syncing issue on Mac.

Here is how you can do that –

• Locate the OneDrive icon on the Menu bar and click on it.
• Click on the Help & Settings option.
• Click on the Resume Syncing option.

That’s it. Doing this will enable the OneDrive syncing issue on Mac. In addition to that, we recommend restarting the Wi-Fi network on your Mac device.

Read How to Access OneDrive Recycle Bin

6. Enable OneDrive AutoStart

One common reason people face OneDrive syncing-related issues is that the OneDrive app isn’t running in the background.

Our first method helps you fix that, but that method would not help you, especially if OneDrive fails to open during Mac startup.

In that case, you need to follow these steps to enable OneDrive AutoStart –

• Find the OneDrive icon on the Menu bar and click on it.
• Click on the Helps & Settings option in your screen’s bottom right corner.
• Click on the Preferences option.
• Here, enable the Open at Login option.

That’s it. Now, OneDrive will automatically start when you start your Mac.

Alternatively, you can do the same from the Mac settings menu.

Here is how you can do that –

• Click on the small Apple icon at the menu bar’s top left corner.
• Click on the System Preferences option.
• Go to Users & Groups and enable the tab of Login items.
• Click on the Add (+) icon and select OneDrive from the menu list.

That’s it. Once you start your Mac device, OneDrive services will also automatically launch in the background. This will mostly fix OneDrive not syncing on Mac, but in case it doesn’t, try the next method.

7. Remove Download Limit Rate

When you install OneDrive for the first time, it asks you to set a download limit rate. OneDrive does so to ensure that all of your primary activities will work smoothly, even on a slow internet connection, and that is really a handy feature.

However, that can also be why you might face the OneDrive not syncing issue on Mac.

Here is how you can remove that limit –

• Locate the OneDrive icon on the Menu bar and click on it.
• Click on the Helps & Settings option.
• Click on the Preferences option.
• Here, you have to click on the Network tab.
• Now, select the Don’t Limit options for both Upload Rate as well as Download Rate.

Once the settings are applied, you will see that all syncing-related errors will be fixed.

8. Check OneDrive Storage

OneDrive is a great cloud storage solution, and when you use it aggressively, it gets full in no time, especially if you are using the free plan. The free plan only offers 5 GB of space which can be easily filled up with just a couple of high-quality videos, and it can possibly be the reason the syncing function isn’t working properly.

Check your OneDrive storage. If it is full, you can delete some unnecessary files or consider buying additional space.

9. Update OneDrive

If you haven’t updated OneDrive for a very long time, this is the time to do so. Sometimes, dated versions of software face issues like app crashing, syncing errors, and more. Therefore, you should always keep your OneDrive updated.

In addition to that, having the latest software also allows you to access the latest introduced functions and delivers better support.

Closing Comments

There you have it – a detailed article covering OneDrive not syncing on Mac error and some solutions to fix the problem.

OneDrive is undoubtedly a powerful cloud storage solution, but it is not neatly integrated into Mac and other devices as it is on Windows. However, Microsoft has done a fantastic job and has fixed all known errors.