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Fix OneDrive Files Not Uploading on Mac (Stuck on Preparing)
Question details
Files copied from an external drive to a Mac are not syncing to OneDrive and remain stuck in the 'Preparing to upload' state.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Copying files from an external storage drive to a Mac for cloud synchronization.
- Observed behavior
- Files fail to upload to OneDrive, do not appear online, and continuously display a 'Preparing to upload' status.
Ensure your Mac has a stable internet connection and verify that you have sufficient storage space remaining in your OneDrive account before altering network settings.
Change Mac DNS Settings to Resolve Connection Issues
Updating your DNS to a reliable public server like Google's (8.8.8.8) can bypass local network routing problems preventing OneDrive from communicating with its sync servers.
Network instability or restrictive DNS configurations provided by your ISP often interrupt cloud service connections on macOS. Manually setting a public DNS helps re-establish a stable link.
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and select System Preferences (or System Settings). Click on Network and select your active Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection.
Click the Advanced button in the bottom right corner of the Network window, then navigate to the DNS tab at the top.
Click the '+' button under the DNS Servers list, type '8.8.8.8', and press Enter. Click OK, then click Apply to save the changes. Restart the OneDrive app to test the upload.
Check Microsoft Service Health and Upload Manually
Temporary server outages can halt desktop sync operations, requiring a manual web upload as an immediate workaround.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my OneDrive say 'Preparing to upload' for hours on my Mac?
This typically occurs due to an unstable internet connection, DNS resolution failures, or when attempting to sync a massive batch of files from an external drive at once. Updating your Mac's DNS to a public server like 8.8.8.8 often forces the connection to refresh and resume the upload.
Can I upload files to OneDrive if the Mac application is frozen?
Yes, you can easily bypass the desktop application by signing into OneDrive via your web browser. From there, you can use the manual 'Upload' button to add files or folders directly to your cloud storage.
How do I check if OneDrive's servers are currently down?
You can check the official Microsoft service health dashboard by navigating to portal.office.com/servicestatus in any web browser. This page will display live information regarding any ongoing outages affecting OneDrive and other Microsoft services.
