OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix File Explorer Hanging When Opening OneDrive Folders

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is looking for advanced troubleshooting steps to resolve an issue where Windows File Explorer hangs continuously when opening OneDrive folders, despite having already tried resetting the cache, running CHKDSK, and using SFC.

Product: Windows File Explorer and Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Browsing OneDrive folders when multiple OneDrive accounts are connected to the system.
Observed behavior: File Explorer freezes or keeps loading indefinitely when accessing OneDrive directories, whereas local folders function normally.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for all your connected OneDrive accounts ready, as you will need to sign in and out during the troubleshooting process.

Solution 1Recommended

Test with a New Local Administrator Account

Creating a fresh local Windows profile helps determine if the hanging issue is caused by corruption in your current user profile.

User profiles can sometimes develop registry or permission corruptions that interfere with cloud synchronization services like OneDrive. Testing in a pristine environment isolates the root cause.

Create a new account

Open Windows Settings, go to 'Accounts' > 'Family & other users', and click 'Add someone else to this PC' to create a new local administrator profile.

Sign in to the new profile

Log out of your current Windows session and log into the newly created local administrator account.

Connect OneDrive and test

Sign in to your OneDrive accounts within this new profile and open File Explorer to test whether the folders load normally without hanging.

Solution 2

Test Different OneDrive Account Sign-in Orders

If you have multiple OneDrive accounts, a specific account or the combination of them might be triggering the freeze.

Solution 3

Investigate Profile-Specific Settings

Based on the results of the new administrator account test, you can determine your next troubleshooting direction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does File Explorer only freeze on OneDrive folders?

This usually happens due to background synchronization conflicts, corrupted cache files, or broken user profile permissions when Windows attempts to read cloud-linked directories.

Will unlinking my OneDrive accounts delete my local files?

No, unlinking your OneDrive account only stops the background synchronization process. Your files will remain safely in the cloud, and any files already downloaded to your PC will stay in their local folders.

Can connecting multiple OneDrive accounts cause system instability?

Yes, running multiple OneDrive accounts simultaneously can sometimes create conflicting sync requests or overload the File Explorer integration, leading to endless loading loops or crashes.

What should I do if SFC and CHKDSK scans don't fix the issue?

If system file and disk checks fail to resolve the problem, the issue is likely tied to your specific Windows user profile rather than general OS corruption. Testing with a new local administrator account is the best next step.

Document & File Issues