OneDrive for Mac refuses to sync certain folders

Tommie Bowman 265 Reputation points
2025-11-19T12:52:59.95+00:00

I’m hitting a frustrating problem with OneDrive on my Mac. It won’t sync at all and the status icon is a grey minus.

I’ve made sure OneDrive has full disk access, I’m signed in with the right Microsoft 365 account, and storage isn’t an issue. Still, these specific folders stay stuck.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | MacOS
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2025-11-19T14:01:15.63+00:00

Hi Tommie Bowman

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum and sharing your experience. I’m sorry the sync issue is disrupting your work.

To better understand, could you please confirm:

  • Your macOS and OneDrive client version
  • OneDrive account type (Personal or Business/Microsoft 365)

Before diving deeper, please run these quick checks:

  • Verify your internet connection.
  • Check OneDrive on the web to see whether files are syncing there as expected.
  • Update OneDrive to the latest build. User's image

If the problem persists, you can try the following sequence:

  • Pause and resume sync: Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar > choose Pause syncing, wait a moment > then Resume syncing.
  • Unlink and relink the account: Open OneDrive Preferences > Account >Unlink this Mac > then reopen OneDrive from Applications and sign in again.
  • Reset the OneDrive client: Quit OneDrive completely. Open Finder > Applications > locate OneDrive > right‑click OneDrive app > choose Show Package Contents, then navigate to Contents > Resources. Double‑click one of the reset scripts available for your build: ResetOneDriveApp.command or ResetOneDriveAppStandalone.command. A Terminal window may appear briefly; let it finish. Afterwards, reopen OneDrive from Applications and sign in. Please refer to this article: Reset OneDrive - Microsoft Support
  • Please note that OneDrive has restrictions on certain files and folders, including file names, file types, and path lengths. These restrictions might be the reason why your sync is getting stuck on certain files. Review and remove any files that do not meet these requirements from your sync folder, then try syncing again.

For further reference: Fix OneDrive sync problems on Mac - Microsoft Support

Based on community experience, a similar OneDrive for Mac syncing issue was resolved by one of the steps above; you can review the confirmed solution here: OneDrive for Mac syncing issue - Microsoft Q&A

Please let me know how you get on, as your feedback is valuable to the community. 

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2025-11-19T12:53:17.3466667+00:00

    If OneDrive on your Mac is showing a grey minus icon and is refusing to sync certain folders, there are a few potential causes and resolutions to consider:

    1. Check Library Settings: If the folders are part of a SharePoint library, ensure that the library settings do not have restrictions that could prevent syncing. For example, check if the Require Check Out option is enabled or if there are any required columns that need to be filled out.
    2. Draft Item Security: Make sure that the Draft Item Security setting is not restricting access. It should be set to allow any user who can read items to access the drafts.
    3. Account Type: Ensure that you are using an internal account to sync content. Syncing with a guest or external account is not supported.
    4. Unlink and Relink OneDrive: Sometimes, unlinking your OneDrive account and then relinking it can resolve sync issues. You can do this by selecting the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, going to Preferences, and then unlinking your account.
    5. Update OneDrive: Ensure that your OneDrive app is up to date. An outdated version may cause syncing issues. You can check for updates through the Mac App Store or the OneDrive website.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult the OneDrive Sync health dashboard for more insights into any sync errors that might be affecting your folders.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.