How to reset Microsoft OneDrive in Windows 10 to troubleshoot sync issues

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Microsoft OneDrive logo

OneDrive syncs with your Windows device 10 to back up your files to the cloud, but from time to time there might be some issues preventing syncing from working properly. Resetting OneDrive could fix these problems.

What happens when you restart OneDrive?

OneDrive is great, but it's not perfect. Even when it is not something common, you may need to occasionally reset OneDrive in Windows 10 to fix sync issues. But, before resetting OneDrive, good to know what really happens when you do.

RELATED: How to disable OneDrive and remove it from File Explorer in Windows 10

Most importantly, you won't lose any data when you restart OneDrive. All files stored locally on your PC will remain on your PC and all files stored on OneDrive will remain on OneDrive.

Despite this, what happens is that all existing connections will be disconnected; the purpose of the reset is to disconnect and reconnect. At the same time, if you only selected specific folders to back up to OneDrive, you'll need to redo those settings when you reconnect to OneDrive. OneDrive won't remember your previous settings.

Sound like a pain? It really is not such a difficult procedure, but you can always try to just restart OneDrive. Unlike a hard reset, which resets your settings and disconnects the connection between your Windows PC 10 and OneDrive, a reboot simply shuts down and restarts OneDrive while keeping all settings intact.

Try restarting OneDrive first

Restarting OneDrive can fix any connection issues that are causing OneDrive to not sync properly. To restart OneDrive, right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray on the desktop, and then click “Close OneDrive” on the menu.

A notification window will appear asking if you are sure you want to close OneDrive. Click the button “Close OneDrive” to confirm.

Click Close OneDrive.

Once selected, OneDrive will close and its icon will disappear from the system tray. Now you must start it again. To do it, scribe “OneDrive” in the Windows search box and then choose the application “OneDrive” of search results.

Search for OneDrive.

OneDrive will now restart and, if everything goes fine, it will start syncing properly again. Opposite case, you may need a hard restart.

How to reset Microsoft OneDrive

To reset OneDrive on your Windows PC 10, open the Run app by pressing Windows + R. you can also use the command prompt for this procedure if you prefer.

Then, you will need to enter the file path of the OneDrive executable file, followed by /reset, in the Run application text box. the path of the .exe file may differ for several reasons, but in general it is one of the following commands. you can test these commands. If the command is correct, OneDrive will restart. If the command you enter contains an incorrect file path, you simply receive an error message; nothing else happens. Keep trying until you find the right one.

Decidedly, if you don't like to guess, you can locate the onedrive file.exe in File Explorer, note the file path and run the command.

%localappdata%MicrosoftOneDriveonedrive.exe /reset
C:Program FilesMicrosoft OneDriveonedrive.exe /reset
C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OneDriveonedrive.exe /reset

Once you have entered the command, press the Enter key or click “To accept”.

Enter the OneDrive restart command.

You will now need to restart OneDrive. Scribe “OneDrive” in the Windows search bar, and then click “OneDrive” in search results.

Search for OneDrive.

OneDrive will now open and automatically start syncing your files and folders. Again, if you previously told OneDrive to only sync specific files and folders, you will need to redo that configuration.

RELATED: How to configure OneDrive to sync only certain folders in Windows 10

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