Troubleshooting SharePoint Files Not Syncing: 8 Fixes

Have you ever seen files in your SharePoint folder not syncing right away? One user shared their experience:

Does that sound familiar? If you also have files that get stuck or take too long to appear in File Explorer, it could mean something is wrong with your sync setup. In this guide, you’ll find 8 easy fixes to help you solve these SharePoint file syncing issues.

Part 1: Why SharePoint Is Not Syncing

If your SharePoint files aren’t syncing properly, the first step is to figure out what’s causing the issue. There are many possible reasons for SharePoint files not syncing. Understanding these can save you time when troubleshooting SharePoint sync issues.

1. Internet Connection Issues: Syncing problems often start with a weak or unstable internet connection. SharePoint needs a steady connection to send and receive files, so if your Wi-Fi keeps dropping or your network is slow, SharePoint may not sync properly.

2. OneDrive Sync Problems: If you use File Explorer to access SharePoint files, the syncing actually happens through OneDrive. OneDrive connects your computer to SharePoint and handles the background sync process. If OneDrive itself has a bug, outdated settings, or is stuck, your SharePoint folder will not sync.

3. Image name or Path Issues: SharePoint follows strict rules for Image names and paths. If a Image name is too long or contains special characters that SharePoint does not allow, the whole folder might stop syncing.

4. Permission Restrictions: Even if a file looks like it should sync, permission problems can silently block it. If your SharePoint administrator has limited your access, your files may not sync correctly to your device.

5. Corrupt or Missing Files: Sometimes a file itself is the problem. If a file is damaged or incomplete, SharePoint may skip it during sync. This can break the whole sync process if SharePoint keeps retrying and failing to upload or download the bad file.

Part 2: 3 Basic Fixes to Troubleshoot SharePoint Files Not Syncing Issues

Once you know some common reasons why SharePoint stops syncing, you can begin with the easiest solutions. In many cases, basic troubleshooting can quickly get your SharePoint files syncing again without needing advanced tools or deep technical steps. This section covers simple but effective fixes that you can try right away.

Basic Fix 1: Check Your Internet Connection

A stable connection is the foundation for reliable syncing. If your network goes offline, SharePoint won’t be able to sync your files until the connection returns. Even minor disruptions, like switching from Wi-Fi to a hotspot, can interrupt syncing and leave files stuck.

Step 1. Open your web browser and visit a reliable speed test site like OOKLA.

Step 2. Click Go to run the test.

Step 3. Check your download and upload speeds. For smooth SharePoint syncing, upload speeds of at least 5 Mbps are recommended. Slower than that could cause delays or failures when syncing large files or folders.

Step 4. If the speed is too low, switch to a wired connection or restart your router.

Step 5. If you’re on Wi-Fi, move closer to the router or switch to a faster network if available.

Step 6. After improving your connection, restart OneDrive to refresh the sync.

Basic Fix 2: Restart OneDrive & SharePoint Sync

Since OneDrive manages SharePoint sync in File Explorer, restarting OneDrive is one of the quickest ways to refresh the sync process. Restarting clears temporary glitches, refreshes authentication, and reconnects your computer to SharePoint’s cloud storage. This is especially helpful if syncing stopped suddenly after a computer sleep, software update, or network change.

Step 1. In your system tray (bottom-right corner of the screen), click the OneDrive icon.

Step 2. Select the gear icon and hit Quit OneDrive.

Step 3. Reopen OneDrive and launch it again. If needed, navigate to your SharePoint folder in File Explorer to check if syncing resumes.

Basic Fix 3: Shorten File Paths & Rename Files

Did you know that SharePoint and OneDrive both have a limit on file path length? If a folder is nested too deeply or a Image name includes forbidden characters, SharePoint may refuse to sync that file and stop the whole folder from syncing properly. Shortening Image names, removing unnecessary subfolders, and avoiding characters like , ?, or | can prevent this.

Step 1. Open your SharePoint folder in File Explorer.

Step 2. Look for files with very long names or folders with deeply nested subfolders.

Step 3. Rename long files to shorter names and simplify folder structures.

Step 4. Once done, restart OneDrive to trigger a fresh sync.

Part 3: 4 Advanced Fixes to Troubleshoot SharePoint Not Syncing Files

If the basic steps don’t solve the SharePoint not syncing problem, it’s time to move on to more advanced methods. In this part, you’ll find solutions that can fully reset the SharePoint sync process and rebuild a fresh connection to SharePoint.

Advanced Fix 1: Unlink and Relink OneDrive

Sometimes resetting the whole sync connection is necessary, especially if the link between OneDrive and SharePoint got damaged. This can happen if you changed your SharePoint account, moved to a new device, or switched from personal OneDrive to a work account. Unlinking and relinking clears the old settings and forces a fresh sync from the cloud.

Step 1. Open the OneDrive app from the system tray.

Step 2. Click the gear icon, then select Settings.

Step 3. From the Account tab, hit Unlink this PC.

Step 4. Close OneDrive completely.

Step 5. Reopen OneDrive and sign in again.

Step 6. Set up your SharePoint library sync again.

Advanced Fix 2: Clear OneDrive Cache

OneDrive stores cache files to speed up syncing, but these files can sometimes become outdated or corrupted. A broken cache can cause OneDrive to get stuck, preventing new files from syncing and making SharePoint folders disappear in File Explorer. Clearing the cache removes these files and lets OneDrive rebuild its sync data.

Step 1. Press Windows + R, type:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

Then, press OK.

Step 2. Wait a minute or two for OneDrive to fully reset.

Step 3. If OneDrive does not restart automatically, open it manually from the Start Menu.

Advanced Fix 3: Update or Reinstall OneDrive

Outdated OneDrive versions may not work well with the latest SharePoint updates. Microsoft regularly updates OneDrive to fix bugs and improve compatibility with SharePoint Online. If you haven’t updated OneDrive in a while, or if your installation got corrupted after a failed update, reinstalling OneDrive can restore reliable syncing.

To Update:

1. Open Settings and look for Windows Update.

   

2. Install any available OneDrive updates.
3. Restart your PC if required.

To Reinstall:

1. Press Windows + R. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.

   

2. Find Microsoft OneDrive, right-click it, and select Uninstall.

   

3. Download the latest version directly from Microsoft.

   

4. Install and set it up again.

Advanced Fix 4: Use PowerShell to Reset Sync Settings

For deep technical problems, especially those involving registry errors or failed sync configurations, PowerShell commands can reset OneDrive’s sync state. This is a more technical method, but it can be very effective when standard fixes don’t work. It forces OneDrive to recheck all its connections, permissions, and file paths.

Step 1. Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click, and choose Run as Administrator.

Step 2. Run this command to reset OneDrive sync settings:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2188353 -OutFile $env:TEMP\ResetSync.ps1.$env:TEMP\ResetSync.ps1

Step 3. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 4. Restart OneDrive and check if SharePoint syncing works.

Part 4: What to Do If SharePoint Files Not Syncing Due to Corruption?

What if the real reason SharePoint is not syncing files is because some files are damaged? This can happen if files were interrupted during upload, edited by software that isn’t fully compatible with SharePoint, or transferred from another system that didn’t follow SharePoint’s file rules.

When a file is corrupted, SharePoint might refuse to sync it at all. In these cases, repairing the file is the only way to restore the sync process.

If you are looking for a reliable tool, Repairit File Repair is the answer. It is designed to repair corrupted Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other important SharePoint files. With Repairit, you can repair your damaged files and upload them back to SharePoint without further issues.

Here are the key features that make Repairit File Repair a good solution for SharePoint-related file issues:

• Supports Multiple File Types. Repairit can repair common SharePoint files, including Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), PowerPoint (.pptx), and PDF files.
• Fixes Structural and Data Corruption. Repairit can rebuild the file’s structure and recover the content no matter what the problem is.
• Batch Repair Option. If you have several SharePoint files that failed to sync due to corruption, you can repair multiple files at once.
• Preview Before Saving. After Repairit fixes your files, you can preview the content to make sure everything looks correct before saving them back to SharePoint.
• Easy to Use. You don’t need technical skills to use Repairit. The process is quick, guided, and user-friendly. This is important if you just want to get your SharePoint files working again without extra hassle.

Here is how to Corrupted Files Using Repairit File Repair

Step 1. Launch Repairit. Navigate to the More Types Repair section and pick File Repair.

Step 2. Click +Add and import your corrupted SharePoint files.

Step 3. Click Repair to start the process.

Step 4. Once complete, Preview the repaired files. Save the healthy files back to your SharePoint folder and restart sync.

Conclusion

Fixing SharePoint files not syncing is usually possible if you know where to look. Start with simple checks like your internet connection and OneDrive restart. If the problem continues, go deeper into Image names, permissions, and cache clearing.

If you ever suspect that corrupt files are behind your syncing trouble, don’t waste time trying to fix them manually. Use Repairit File Repair to quickly restore your files. So that SharePoint can sync them again without issues.