One Drive Not Working | Reset OneDrive

If OneDrive is not syncing, stuck on “Processing changes,” or crashing, the issue is usually a corrupted local cache rather than a server outage.

Here is the step-by-step guide to fixing OneDrive, ranked from the most effective “Golden Fix” to platform-specific solutions.

1. Reset OneDrive

This forces OneDrive to forget its current settings and “rescan” your files without deleting any data. It fixes 90% of sync issues, including the “Processing changes” loop.

For Windows Users:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.

2. Paste this exact command and hit Enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

3. The OneDrive icon in your taskbar (near the clock) should disappear and reappear after a minute.

4. If it doesn’t reappear after 2 minutes, open the “Run” dialog again and enter: %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe

For Mac Users:

1. Close OneDrive.

2. Open Finder > Applications.

3. Right-click OneDrive and select Show Package Contents.

4. Navigate to Contents > Resources.

5. Double-click the file named ResetOneDriveApp.command (or ResetOneDriveAppStandalone.command).

6. Terminal will open and run a script. Once finished, restart OneDrive.

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2. Fix “Processing Changes” Stuck Loop

If the “Golden Fix” didn’t stop the “Processing changes” message, a specific file is likely blocking the sync.

• File Name Restrictions: Check if any file you recently saved has special characters like " * : < > ? / \ | or has a name longer than 400 characters. OneDrive will choke on these.

• The “Open File” Glitch: If you have a Word/Excel document open, OneDrive sometimes cannot sync it. Save and close all Office apps, then pause and resume syncing.

• Check for “Aria-Debug”: Sometimes a hidden log file gets stuck.

  • Windows: Open File Explorer, enable “Hidden Items” (View tab), go to your OneDrive folder, and delete any file named aria-debug.

3. Account & Login Errors (Error 0x8004de40)

If you can’t sign in or get a “No Internet Connection” error despite having internet:

• Check TLS Settings (Windows):

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and hit Enter.

  2. Go to the Advanced tab.

  3. Scroll to the bottom and ensure TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are checked.

  4. Click Apply/OK and restart your computer.

• Disable Proxy/VPN: OneDrive hates VPNs. Turn off your VPN completely and try logging in again.

4. Mobile App Fixes (iOS & Android)

Camera Upload Not Working:

• iOS: Go to Settings > OneDrive and ensure Background App Refresh is ON. If it still fails, the app usually needs a “Soft Reset”:

  • Press and hold the app icon > Remove App > Delete App. Restart your phone, then reinstall.

• Android: Go to Settings > Apps > OneDrive > Storage & Cache. Tap Clear Cache AND Clear Data. (You will need to sign in again, but your photos will be safe).

• Samsung Users: If you use a Samsung phone, check if “Samsung Gallery” is syncing to OneDrive. Often, the Samsung Cloud sync conflicts with the OneDrive app’s own “Camera Upload.” You usually have to choose one or the other.

5. Advanced: Use the “SaRA” Tool

If nothing else works, Microsoft has a dedicated repair tool for Windows 10/11.

1. Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) from the official Microsoft website.

2. Run the tool and select “OneDrive for Business” or “OneDrive”.

3. It acts as a deeper diagnostic tool that can fix registry keys and network permissions that you cannot reach manually.

Summary Checklist

• [ ] Run the Reset Command (/reset).

• [ ] Check for invalid characters in recent filenames.

• [ ] Turn off VPN/Proxy.

• [ ] (Mobile) Clear Cache and check Background Refresh.