OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix a OneDrive Folder Taking 30 Seconds to Open in Windows

Nimra Malik Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user experiences a significant delay of approximately 30 seconds when attempting to open a OneDrive folder locally.

How to Fix a OneDrive Folder That Takes 30 Seconds to Open

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Accessing locally synced OneDrive folders via Windows File Explorer for daily document management.
Observed behavior: The folder takes about 30 seconds to open, and the delay persists even if the OneDrive application is completely closed or recently reinstalled.

Before you start

Ensure that your Windows operating system is fully updated and temporarily disable any third-party antivirus software, as background scanning can sometimes interfere with File Explorer operations.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the OneDrive Application

Resetting OneDrive clears its current settings and forces a fresh sync connection, which often resolves underlying application delays without deleting any of your files.

A common cause for folder access delays is a stalled or corrupted OneDrive synchronization cache. A reset clears this cache and restarts the service from a clean state.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows key + R simultaneously on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Execute the reset command

Type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset' into the box and press Enter.

Restart OneDrive

Wait for the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray to disappear and then reappear. If it does not reappear after a minute, manually launch OneDrive from the Start menu and test opening the folder.

Alternative Command: If you receive a 'Windows cannot find' error message, try using 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset' or 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset' instead.

Solution 2

Test with a New Local Windows Account

If resetting the application does not work, testing the folder access on a fresh Windows user profile helps determine if your current user profile is corrupted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does File Explorer lag when opening a OneDrive folder?

File Explorer may lag due to corrupted icon caches, aggressive third-party antivirus scanning, or an overloaded OneDrive sync queue trying to process metadata for un-synced files.

Will resetting OneDrive delete any of my synced files?

No, resetting the OneDrive application will not delete any of your personal files or data. It only resets the application's configuration settings and triggers a full re-sync of your existing files.

What should I do if the folder is still slow on a new Windows user profile?

If the problem occurs across multiple user profiles, it likely indicates a deeper issue with your Windows installation or File Explorer. You should run the System File Checker (SFC) tool by typing 'sfc /scannow' in an elevated Command Prompt to repair system files.

Document & File Issues