OneDrive File Issues

Fix Custom Photo Tags Not Syncing Between OneDrive Devices

Emma Brown Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where custom photo tags added to images in the OneDrive Pictures folder do not sync between Windows and Mac computers.

How to Fix Custom Photo Tags Not Syncing Between OneDrive Devices

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows, Mac
Scenario: Managing and organizing photos with custom tags across multiple operating systems using OneDrive.
Observed behavior: Custom tags added via the Windows file folder do not appear on the Mac, and tags added on the Mac do not appear on the PC, despite both syncing to the OneDrive Pictures folder.

Before you start

Ensure that your OneDrive desktop application is fully updated on both your Windows and Mac computers, and verify that basic file synchronization is actively working without errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Embed Tags Directly into Photo Metadata

Understand how operating systems handle file metadata differently and use embedded EXIF/IPTC tags to ensure reliable cross-platform synchronization.

Windows and macOS use completely different file systems (NTFS vs. APFS) and handle file metadata like custom tags differently. Tags added directly in Windows File Explorer or Mac Finder are often written to local file system metadata rather than embedded into the image file itself.

Because OneDrive primarily syncs the actual file contents, OS-specific metadata tags may not seamlessly transfer across different operating systems. Embedding the tags directly into the image ensures they travel with the file.

Check OneDrive Sync Status

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your taskbar (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) to ensure all files are up to date and no sync errors are currently reported.

Test Web Interface Tagging

Log into OneDrive on the web. Add a custom tag directly through the web interface and check if this tag persists when viewing the photo online from both your PC and Mac.

Use Dedicated Image Editors

Instead of using OS-level file tagging, open your photos in a dedicated photo editor (like Adobe Lightroom, XnView, or ExifTool) to embed EXIF or IPTC metadata directly into the image file. Embedded metadata becomes part of the file and will sync perfectly through OneDrive.

Tag Management: OneDrive's web interface also automatically tags photos using AI. Custom tags added there remain with the photo online but may not appear in the local OS tag lists.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft Support for Account-Specific Investigation

If synchronization fails even for supported metadata or web tags, professional support may be required to check your account status.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do tags added in Windows File Explorer not show up on Mac Finder?

Windows and macOS handle file system tags differently. Windows uses Alternate Data Streams (ADS) on NTFS, while Mac uses extended attributes on APFS. Unless tags are embedded directly into the photo's EXIF data, OneDrive may not sync these OS-specific local attributes across different operating systems.

Does the OneDrive web interface automatically tag photos?

Yes, OneDrive Personal includes a feature that uses AI to automatically recognize and tag photos based on their visual content in the web interface. These tags are managed server-side and behave differently from local file system tags.

How can I ensure photo metadata reliably syncs across all my devices?

The most reliable method is to embed metadata directly into the image file format (such as EXIF or IPTC data) using dedicated photo management or editing software, rather than relying on the native file explorer tags provided by Windows or macOS.

Document & File Issues