OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Errors When Uploading Large Video Projects on Mac

Camila Milosovich Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is seeking solutions to fix synchronization issues, failed uploads, and inadequate local storage warnings when uploading massive video files to OneDrive.

How to Fix OneDrive Errors When Uploading Large Video Projects on Mac

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS Sonoma 14.5
Scenario: Synchronizing and copying large video projects from an external drive to the local OneDrive folder for cloud backup.
Observed behavior: Uploads fail through the browser, files go missing, and the system displays a 'not enough local storage' error message despite having Files On-Demand enabled.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable and fast internet connection, and verify that your internal Mac drive has at least some temporary space to process the initial file caching before it syncs to the cloud.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the OneDrive Sync Client and Enable Files On-Demand

Avoid browser timeouts by using the dedicated macOS app and enable Files On-Demand to save local storage after files are uploaded.

Web browser uploads are not designed to handle massive video folders reliably. The OneDrive for Mac sync client creates a dedicated local folder that manages background uploads efficiently.

Even with Files On-Demand active, macOS temporarily requires local disk space to copy files from an external drive to your Mac before OneDrive can upload them and free up the space.

Install the Sync Client

Download and install the official OneDrive for Mac application rather than relying on the web browser interface.

Enable Files On-Demand

Open OneDrive Preferences, navigate to the sync settings, and select 'Download files as you use them' to activate Files On-Demand.

Copy Files in Batches

To avoid local storage errors, copy your large video projects from the external drive to the OneDrive folder in smaller batches, waiting for each batch to upload and clear local space.

Use the OneDrive Sync Client and Enable Files On-Demand

Local Space Requirement: When moving data from an external drive, macOS must cache the file locally first. If your internal drive is nearly full, copy smaller folders sequentially rather than the entire project at once.

Solution 2

Reset the OneDrive Application

Resetting the OneDrive client can resolve underlying synchronization glitches and missing file errors.

Solution 3

Verify Available Cloud Storage Capacity

Ensure your OneDrive account has sufficient cloud storage available to accommodate massive video files.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I get a 'not enough local storage' error if Files On-Demand is enabled?

When copying data from an external drive to your OneDrive folder, the files must temporarily exist on your Mac's internal hard drive before they can be uploaded to the cloud and converted to online-only files. If the file is larger than your available local space, the transfer will fail.

Can I upload large video files using the OneDrive web interface?

It is highly discouraged. The built-in browser upload options are not optimized for extremely large files or folders and frequently result in timeouts, missing files, or failed uploads. Always use the desktop sync client for large projects.

How can I check if my video files successfully uploaded to OneDrive?

Look at the file status icons in your Mac's Finder. A solid green checkmark or a cloud icon indicates the file is safely in the cloud. You can also log into the OneDrive web portal to verify that the files appear there.

Document & File Issues