Company OneDrive sync status shows up to date but files are missing locally

Micah Taylor 20 Reputation points
2026-01-07T10:18:10.7333333+00:00

OneDrive reports that syncing is “up to date,” but some recently added or updated files are not appearing on my local device. The files are visible in OneDrive on the web, and no sync errors are shown in the client.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | MacOS
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Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2026-01-07T11:26:15.76+00:00

Hi Micah Taylor

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum and sharing your experience.

I understand how frustrating it can be when OneDrive shows ‘up to date’ but the files you need aren’t appearing on your Mac, even though they’re visible in OneDrive on the web.

Before diving deeper, could you confirm your macOS version and the OneDrive client build?

Please also run these quick checks:

  • Verify your internet connection.
  • Update OneDrive to the latest build. User's image

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

  • Check Files On-Demand settings: On macOS Big Sur and later, Files On-Demand is enabled by default. This means files may appear as online-only until you mark them as available offline. In Finder, right-click the missing file or folder and select Always keep on this device.
  • Verify folder selection: Sometimes folders are deselected during updates, making them invisible locally even if the status says "synced". To check this, click the OneDrive cloud icon and navigate to Settings > Preferences > Account > Choose Folders. Ensure that the checkboxes next to the missing folders or files are currently selected.
  • User's image
  • 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

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

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-07T10:18:27.9533333+00:00

    If OneDrive reports that syncing is "up to date" but some recently added or updated files are missing locally, there are a few potential reasons and solutions to consider:

    1. Check for Hidden Files: Sometimes, files may be hidden. Ensure that you have enabled the visibility of hidden files in your File Explorer settings.
    2. Temporary Files: There may be temporary files that are not syncing properly. You can search for and remove any temporary Office files that might be causing issues. Close any open Office files and clear the Office document cache to see if that resolves the issue.
    3. Windows Search Index: An incorrect cached status in the Windows Search index can lead to discrepancies in file visibility. You can try refreshing the File Explorer window or rebuilding the Windows Search index. To do this, go to the Services application, disable the Windows Search service, stop it, and then rebuild the index through the Indexing Options in the Control Panel.
    4. Check OneDrive Settings: Ensure that the files are not set to be available online-only. You can check the OneDrive settings to see if the files are configured to be available offline.
    5. Update OneDrive: Make sure that you are using the latest version of OneDrive, as outdated versions can sometimes cause sync issues.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider checking for any additional sync problems or conflicts that might be affecting the visibility of your files.

    References:

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

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