sync
1051 TopicsInefficient OneDrive Synchronization Causes Windows Explorer Slowdowns
OneDrive has become a significant performance bottleneck in daily Windows usage. Its synchronization process frequently consumes excessive disk resources, directly impacting Windows Explorer performance and making file browsing noticeably slow, regardless of the desktop PC's hardware specifications. What is even more concerning is that this issue has persisted for years. Many users have reported the same problem, yet the recurring response is simply that the team is "aware of the issue." Despite these acknowledgments, there have been no meaningful improvements, no clear action plan, and little transparency regarding progress or future fixes. The lack of communication and visible progress creates the impression that the user experience is not receiving the attention it deserves. For a service as important and deeply integrated into the Windows ecosystem as OneDrive, users expect greater transparency, stronger commitment, and continuous improvements to performance and reliability. At this point, OneDrive is becoming less of a practical productivity solution and more of a source of frustration for many users. We hope Microsoft will give these concerns the priority they deserve and provide a clearer roadmap for improving both the performance and overall reliability of the service. --- Sincronização ineficiente do OneDrive causa lentidão no Windows Explorer O OneDrive tem se tornado um gargalo significativo no uso diário do Windows. A sincronização frequentemente consome recursos de disco de forma excessiva, afetando diretamente o desempenho do Windows Explorer e tornando a navegação de arquivos lenta, independentemente da configuração do computador utilizado. O mais preocupante é que essa situação persiste há anos. Muitos usuários relatam o mesmo problema e, apesar das respostas recorrentes de que a equipe está "ciente da situação", não percebemos melhorias concretas, um plano de ação claro ou atualizações transparentes sobre o andamento das correções. A falta de comunicação e de avanços visíveis passa a impressão de que a experiência do usuário não está recebendo a atenção necessária. Para um serviço tão importante e amplamente integrado ao ecossistema Windows, seria fundamental haver mais transparência, comprometimento e evolução contínua da plataforma. Atualmente, o OneDrive está deixando de ser uma solução prática para muitos usuários e se tornando uma fonte constante de frustração. Esperamos que a Microsoft trate essas questões com a prioridade que merecem e forneça um posicionamento mais claro sobre os planos futuros para melhorar o desempenho e a confiabilidade do serviço.52Views0likes3CommentsSymlink Directory Perpetually Shows “Sync Pending” Status
Client uses NAS drive for shared documents in a small office. He asked to be able to access these documents while traveling, so I created a Symbolic Link directory in his OneDrive folder (“%UserProfile%\OneDrive\NAS Files”) pointing to the mapped network drive (S:\). This worked for quite a while, i.e. several years, until recently when the OneDrive status for that directory only is stuck on “Sync Pending” even though the overall OneDrive status says files are synced. To date, I have tried the following: Quit and restart OneDrive app Unlink and relink workstation to OneDrive account Rename SymLink directory to “NAS Files New” Add test documents to directory on both workstation and in web-based OneDrive interface Deleted entire SymLink directory from both workstation and web-based OneDrive interface, waited for changes to process, and readded SymLink directory After the last attempt listed above, the directory partially synced again but did not complete and still shows pending status. Client can access some, but not all, of the needed files in the directory. Any suggestions for further troubleshooting steps? Many thanks in advance!Solved786Views0likes4CommentsProblem with OneDrive-Docusign
Hello, I have been using Microsoft 365 Family with Word Online and OneDrive for a long time, and the "Request Signature" feature worked perfectly until recently. Now, every time I click Request Signature, I receive the following error: "We couldn't connect to the '{0}' catalog server for this add-in." I found your announcement about the retirement of the Legacy DocuSign for SharePoint integration, and I'm trying to determine whether this is the cause of the issue. My questions are: Is Microsoft 365 Family still supported for the Request Signature feature in Word Online? Do I need to migrate to Microsoft 365 Business to continue using this feature? If so, which Microsoft 365 Business plan do you recommend, and will my current DocuSign account continue to work after the migration? I have already cleared my browser cache, signed out and back in, and tested different browsers, but the issue persists. Thank you for your assistance.25Views0likes1Comment[Feature Request]: OneDrive CLI
$: man onedrive_rsync onedrive_rsync src_folder_path dst_folder_path src_folder_path: Can be a local path or a onedrive path dst_folder_path: Can be a local path or a onedrive path # Examples # Uploads all files which are present in the local and missing in the onedrive path $: onedrive_rsync path_to_local_folder path_to_ondrive_folder # Downloads all the files which are missing in the local path and persent in the onedrive path $: onedrive_rsync path_to_onedrive_folder path_to_local_folder # Syncs two folders on the onedrive path $: onedrive_rsync path_to_onedrive_folder_1 path_to_onedrive_folder_2 # Regex patterns should also be allowed $: onedrive_rsync path_to_local_folder/*.nef path_to_onedrive_path Hi All, It would be really nice to have an official OneDrive CLI that can be used via the terminal to allow for secure uploads/ downloads and syncing of either local folders to the OneDrive or syncing two OneDrive folders. My motivation for the above feature request is that I quite often upload/download quite big folders to/from OneDrive (many many GBs), and sometimes all I need is incremental changes. Keeping the browser open for the entire duration is cumbersome, and thus, it would be very nice to have a CLI, that can run in the background or can be automated via some script. This also enables a use case where I need to upload files from multiple devices to the same OneDrive folder. Hoping this would become a thing, as I would prefer as little browser interaction as possible, so the entire suite of CLI commands for path manipulations (creating, deleting and moving files and folders in OneDrive) would be very much appreciated. Thanks !44Views0likes1CommentOneDrive sync causes workflow inefficiencies and UX issues in Microsoft 365 and File Explorer
I would like to describe some workflow issues caused by the current integration between OneDrive, Windows, File Explorer, and Microsoft 365 apps. I understand that OneDrive is designed to synchronize files across devices, but in some scenarios the current behavior creates unnecessary delays, especially with slow internet connections or large synchronization queues. 1. Exported Microsoft 365 files are not immediately available in the selected OneDrive folder When exporting a Microsoft 365 file, for example exporting a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document to PDF, the user can select a OneDrive-synced folder as the destination. However, the exported file is not always immediately visible or accessible in that folder through Windows File Explorer. From the user’s perspective, it seems that the file is first saved into a temporary or internal Microsoft 365/OneDrive staging location, then uploaded to OneDrive, and only later appears in the actual synced folder through the normal synchronization process. The issue is not that the file is never stored locally, but that it is not immediately available in the location explicitly selected by the user. This creates practical problems. After exporting a PDF, I may need to quickly locate it in File Explorer to copy it elsewhere, attach it, upload it to another platform, or use it in a web tool to merge it with other PDFs. However, even though I selected a OneDrive folder as the destination, the file may not be available there right away. A related issue is that Microsoft 365 or Windows may open the exported file through a browser or web link instead of opening the local file directly. This can trigger login prompts, open the web version of Office, and interrupt the expected desktop workflow. Expected behavior: When saving or exporting a file to a OneDrive-synced folder, the file should become immediately visible and accessible in the selected folder in File Explorer, while OneDrive continues uploading or syncing it in the background. If the user selected a local OneDrive path, Microsoft 365 should prioritize the local file workflow and avoid redirecting to the browser unless explicitly requested. 2. File duplication inside OneDrive should use both cloud-side copy and local optimization Another issue occurs when duplicating or copying a file that is already stored in OneDrive, especially within the same OneDrive account. Currently, the process may behave like a traditional local copy: the file is downloaded if needed, copied locally, and then uploaded again as a new file. This is inefficient when OneDrive already has the source file in the cloud and the operation is simply a copy within the same account. Ideally, OneDrive should combine two optimizations: Perform a cloud-side copy when possible, so the duplicated file appears quickly in OneDrive online and on other devices. Reuse the local cache when available, so the current device does not unnecessarily download and re-upload the same data. This would make copied files appear faster on other devices as online-only placeholders, ready to be downloaded later if the user opens them or marks them as available offline. The other device should not have to wait for the first computer to download, copy, re-upload, and then synchronize the change. Expected behavior: When copying or duplicating a OneDrive file within the same account, OneDrive should use a cloud-side copy whenever possible, while also reusing local data when available. The copied file should appear quickly across devices as an online-available item, without forcing a redundant download, local copy, upload, and synchronization cycle. 3. OneDrive does not dynamically prioritize files the user needs immediately A third issue appears when OneDrive has a large backlog of pending synchronization changes, especially after using another computer. In this situation, OneDrive seems to follow its own synchronization order, even if the user opens a specific folder or tries to access a specific file urgently. For example, if there are hundreds or thousands of pending changes, and I need one specific document, that file may remain unavailable until OneDrive reaches it in the queue. Even when I navigate directly to the folder or attempt to open the file, OneDrive does not seem to move that item to the top of the sync priority. Expected behavior: OneDrive should dynamically adjust synchronization priority based on user activity. If the user opens a folder, selects a file, or attempts to open a cloud-only item, that file and its immediate dependencies should be prioritized over the general sync queue. Summary of requested improvements I believe these issues could be improved with smarter local and cloud prioritization: Exported or saved files should become immediately visible in the OneDrive folder selected by the user. Microsoft 365 should avoid opening exported files through a browser when the local file workflow is expected. Copying files within the same OneDrive account should use cloud-side copy operations when possible. Local file data should be reused to avoid unnecessary download and upload cycles. Copied files should appear quickly on other devices as online-available placeholders. OneDrive should prioritize files and folders the user is actively trying to access. Is this behavior expected, or are there settings to make OneDrive prioritize local file availability, cloud-side copy operations, and currently accessed files more intelligently?48Views0likes1CommentPlease help, OneDrive sync and missing/deleted work files
I have OneDrive installed on both my PC and laptop because I use OneNote sometimes. The other day while I was on my PC, OneDrive randomly decided to sync my laptop and PC, I think, and all my files from my laptop were on my PC. This is a big problem because my PC is for personal use and laptop for work. Then I deleted some files thinking they were still on my laptop anyways. But today when I opened my laptop, all of my work files were gone. My desktop was just my PC desktop. I need help because the work files were really really important and I'm freaking out. Why would OneDrive do this? They are separate, I don't want them synced. Please help. Can I recover them?71Views0likes2Commentsonedrive sync issues
Hi We use OneDrive for Business and need a solution for sharing files and folders among a team while maintaining proper access permissions. Currently, each team member's Desktop and Documents folders are synced with their own personal OneDrive for Business account. In addition, we have a separate common OneDrive account that has been added to all team members' PCs, and all team members have Owner permissions on that account. When a user creates a folder or saves a file in the shared OneDrive location, it is actually being created under the common OneDrive account, not in the user's personal OneDrive. While this allows everyone to access the same files, we frequently experience synchronization conflicts and sync issues between users. What is the Microsoft-recommended approach for this type of collaboration? Is using a common OneDrive account with multiple owners a supported best practice, or should we instead use a SharePoint document library (or another Microsoft 365 solution) for shared team files, permissions, and reliable synchronization? Thanks97Views0likes2CommentsTasks sync failure - Outlook web vs mobile Outlook vs desktop Outlook
--- # 📄 **Technical Report: Persistent Outlook Web App Sync Failure Affecting Microsoft To Do / Outlook Tasks Ecosystem** **Issue Duration:** At least 3 months probably more **Platforms Affected:** - Microsoft To Do (Android) - Outlook Tasks (Windows Desktop Outlook) - Outlook Tasks (Outlook Web App) - Exchange Online (backend sync service) --- ## 1. **Executive Summary** I have experience **persistent, intermittent, and platform‑specific synchronization failures** within the Microsoft To Do / Outlook Tasks ecosystem. The critical finding is: ### **The Outlook Web App is often isolated and does not sync with any other platform.** Meanwhile: - **Windows Desktop Outlook ↔ Android To Do sync perfectly in both directions.** - **Outlook Web App ↔ (Desktop / Android)** do not sync. This isolates the issue to the **web app’s sync pipeline**, not the task data, not the account, and not the other apps. The failures present as: - **“Synchronization in progress”** stuck indefinitely - **“Synchronization failed”** when manually attempting sync - Web app showing **stale, outdated, or incomplete task lists** - Web app failing to send or receive updates from Exchange Online The same tasks that fail to sync for hours later sync successfully without any modification, proving the data is not corrupted and the failure is backend‑related. --- ## 1.1 **Cross‑Platform Sync Behavior (Critical Diagnostic Insight)** ### ✔ **Windows Desktop Outlook ↔ Android To Do** - Full two‑way sync - Immediate updates - Reliable and consistent ### ✖ **Outlook Web App ↔ Desktop Outlook** - No sync in either direction ### ✖ **Outlook Web App ↔ Android To Do** - No sync in either direction ### ✖ **Outlook Web App ↔ Exchange Online** - Appears to be failing or stalling This proves the web app is **not participating in the sync ecosystem**. --- ## 2. **Symptoms Observed** ### 2.1 **Outlook Web App** - Sync button stuck on **“Synchronization in progress”** for hours - Manual sync results in **“Synchronization failed”** - Web app shows outdated task lists - Web app does not receive updates from desktop or mobile - Web app does not send updates to desktop or mobile ### 2.2 **Android To Do** - Tasks created on Android do not appear in the web app - Tasks created in the web app do not appear on Android - Edits fail to propagate to the web app - Manual sync does not resolve the issue - Logout/login sometimes helps, inconsistently ### 2.3 **Windows Desktop Outlook** - Syncs perfectly with Android - Does not sync with the web app - Shows correct, up‑to‑date task data ### 2.4 **Platform Sync Matrix** | Action | Desktop Outlook | Android To Do | Outlook Web App | |--------|-----------------|---------------|------------------| | Create/edit task on **Desktop** | ✔ Syncs to Android | ✔ | ✖ No sync to Web | | Create/edit task on **Android** | ✔ Syncs to Desktop | ✔ | ✖ No sync to Web | | Create/edit task on **Web** | ✖ No sync to Desktop | ✖ | ✔ Stays only on Web | **Conclusion:** The Outlook Web App is **fully isolated** from Exchange Online’s task sync pipeline. --- ## 3. **Troubleshooting Steps Already Attempted** ### 3.1 **Web App** - Hard refresh (Ctrl + Shift + R) - Full browser cache clear - Logout → close browser → reopen → login - Switching lists to force metadata reload - Creating tasks to trigger sync events - Deleting tasks to force backend updates ### 3.2 **Android** - Manual sync - Clear cache - Logout/login - Device restart - Network switching - Creating/completing tasks to trigger sync ### 3.3 **Desktop Outlook** - Verified account health - Verified Exchange Online connectivity - Verified task folder integrity ### 3.4 **Account / Backend** - Verified Microsoft Account stability - Verified no multi‑account conflicts - Verified Exchange Online service health None of these steps produce consistent or lasting resolution. --- ## 4. **Frequency and Pattern** - Occurs multiple times per week - Occurs regardless of recent task edits - Occurs across multiple browsers - Occurs across multiple Android versions - Sync resumes randomly after hours - Sync resumes without any data changes - Sync resumes after logout/login, but inconsistently This pattern strongly suggests **backend sync token stalling**. --- ## 5. **Technical Analysis** ### 5.1 **Two‑Way Sync Failure Confined to Web App** Because: - Desktop ↔ Android works - Web ↔ (Desktop / Android) fails The failure is isolated to the **web app’s connection to Exchange Online**. ### 5.2 **Sync Token Stalling (Most Likely Cause)** Symptoms match known sync token stall behavior: - Endless “Synchronization in progress” - Manual sync fails - Sync resumes randomly - Sync resumes after forced metadata refresh - Sync resumes after unrelated actions (e.g., completing a task) ### 5.3 **Not a Corrupted Task Issue** Because the same tasks later sync successfully: - No malformed tasks - No unsupported metadata - No blocked sync queue - No corrupted lists ### 5.4 **Backend Sync Pipeline Instability** The pipeline: **Web App → Microsoft Sync Service → Exchange Online → Desktop / Android** appears to be failing at the **first hop** (web app → sync service). ### 5.5 **Web App Lacks Retry Logic** The web app provides: - No manual retry - No way to cancel a stuck sync - No way to reset sync session - No way to regenerate sync token Thus, when the backend stalls, the web app remains stuck indefinitely. ### 5.6 **Android Background Sync Not the Cause** Android is syncing perfectly with desktop Outlook, proving Android is not the source of the issue. ### 5.7 **Web App Sync Isolation (New Insight)** The web app is the **only** platform failing to communicate with Exchange Online. This is now clearly a **web‑app‑specific sync session failure**, not a multi‑platform issue. --- ## 6. **Impact** - Tasks frequently out of sync - Web app becomes unusable for task management - Daily workflow disrupted - Manual intervention required multiple times per week - Task state inconsistent across platforms - Reduced confidence in Microsoft To Do as a reliable ecosystem --- ## 7. **Requested Assistance** ### 7.1 **Engineering‑Level Investigation** Specifically into: - Outlook Web App sync token behavior - Web app → Exchange Online sync session stability - Backend retry logic - Web app sync error handling - Web app task API connectivity ### 7.2 **Diagnostic Tools** If available: - Sync session logs - Sync token status - Task metadata inspection tools - Backend queue visibility - Error codes beyond “Synchronization failed” ### 7.3 **Known Issues** Requesting documentation on: - Known To Do / Outlook Web sync token stalls - Known Exchange Online sync delays - Known intermittent sync failures - Known web app pipeline instability ### 7.4 **Confirmation Whether This Is a Known Issue** Given the duration and reproducibility, this appears to be a **backend‑level web app sync failure**. ### 7.5 **Request for Web App Sync Session Reset** Specifically: - Manual reset of the web app’s sync session - Forced regeneration of sync token - Flush of stuck sync queues - Verification of web app’s Exchange Online connectivity --- ## 8. **Evidence Available** I can provide: - Screenshots of “Synchronization failed” - Screenshots of “Synchronization in progress” - Timeline of sync failures - Android device logs - Browser console logs --- ## 9. **Conclusion** This is a **persistent, platform‑specific sync failure** affecting only the Outlook Web App. Desktop Outlook and Android To Do sync perfectly, proving the backend and data are healthy. The web app is isolated and failing to communicate with Exchange Online. I am requesting **engineering‑level support** to reset or repair the web app’s sync session and investigate the underlying cause. ---Solved63Views0likes1CommentOneDrive stuck on "signing in"
Hi, I'm trying to use Onedrive and Onenote, but it seems to be really terrible 50% of the time. Sometimes when I log on my pc, it says I have to log in, and in doing so, is stuck on a "signing in" loop, until it says some error code about me not having an internet connection. Here's what I've tried: 1. Close and open Onedrive 2. Removing auth from the pc and adding it again 3. Reinstalling Onedrive 4. Change Wi-Fi 5. Do a /reset in Windows run AND cmd 6. Update drivers 7. Install the newest Onedrive from the website 8. Try the app-version found in Windows Store What am I supposed to do? I don't want to restart my pc every time it doesn't work, that's a terrible fix.356KViews9likes62CommentsOneDrive offline on my Windows pc
Apologies if I am not in the right place. I recently changed my primary email address on my OneDrive account, ‘on the internet’ i.e. using a browser to access my account. Today I received a pop up message on my pc saying I needed to provide my 'credentials' in order for syncing to continue. I attempted to sign in using my new primary email address but this did not work & the next message that popped up seem to suggest I should be using my old email address; saying something about a different account ('passkey' might have got a mention too). OneDrive is now offline, and thus not syncing. When I click on the OneDrive app on my pc it simply opens -what I call- the files; there is no obvious way to sign in. FWIW I can still sign in ‘on the internet’ i.e using a browser. I have no idea how to resolve the problem. Grateful for any assistance please, that takes account of the fact that I am no more than average when it comes to computers. Thanks, JeremySolved70Views0likes2Comments