OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Adding MacBook-Pro to File Names and Not Syncing Office Files

Phi Hung Vo Oct 14, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a synchronization error where OneDrive appends 'MacBook-Pro' to filenames, and Microsoft Office files fail to save or take a very long time to upload.

Fix OneDrive Adding 'MacBook-Pro' to File Names and Failing to Sync Office Files

Product: OneDrive and Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Mac (M3 MacBook)
Scenario: Editing and saving Excel, Word, or PowerPoint files to a local OneDrive sync folder on a new Mac.
Observed behavior: Standard files like PNGs sync immediately, but Office files hang during upload, report that they cannot save, or generate duplicate files with 'MacBook-Pro' added to the filename.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac has a stable internet connection and verify that your OneDrive account has sufficient storage space before proceeding with these troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Check for File Conflicts and Rename the Local Copy

Manually resolving file conflicts can clear the sync queue and stop OneDrive from creating duplicate files with your device name.

When OneDrive encounters a problem merging changes from an Office app on Mac, it creates a duplicate file appended with the device name (e.g., MacBook-Pro) to prevent data loss. Clearing these conflicts locally can restore normal syncing.

Save a copy to your Desktop

Open the problematic Excel or Word file and use 'Save As' to save a new copy directly to your Mac's Desktop, entirely outside of the OneDrive folder.

Rename the file

Locate the file on your Desktop and rename it to something simple, ensuring you remove the 'MacBook-Pro' suffix and any special characters.

Move back to OneDrive

Drag the newly renamed file from your Desktop back into the OneDrive sync folder and wait a few seconds to see if the status icon changes to a green checkmark.

Check for File Conflicts and Rename the Local Copy

Check File Extensions: Ensure your files are saved in standard modern Office formats, such as .xlsx for Excel or .docx for Word, as older formats (.xls) can sometimes trigger cloud sync issues.

Solution 2

Update Office Applications and OneDrive

Software bugs in older versions of Office for Mac or the OneDrive client can cause file-locking issues that prevent syncing.

Solution 3

Isolate the Issue Using Office for the Web

Testing the file online helps determine if the issue is with the local Office application's cache or the file itself.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Reliable File Management on Mac

If Microsoft Office applications continue to struggle with OneDrive sync on your M3 MacBook, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that saves files cleanly, ensuring seamless synchronization with cloud drives like OneDrive without unexpected renaming or sync delays.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the WPS Office application for Mac from the official website.
2. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .xlsx, .docx, or .pptx files directly from your OneDrive folder.
3. Edit and save seamlessly: Edit your documents and click Save. WPS Office writes files securely without triggering Office-specific caching errors in OneDrive.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), Word (.docx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Lightweight architecture optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs.Saves standard file formats that sync instantly to OneDrive just like regular image or text files.Free to use with a familiar user interface, requiring zero learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive add my Mac's name (MacBook-Pro) to my files?

This happens when OneDrive detects a sync conflict. If a file is modified on multiple devices simultaneously, or if the local cache fails to communicate properly with the cloud, OneDrive creates a duplicate and appends the device name (like MacBook-Pro) to prevent your data from being overwritten or lost.

Why do PNG files sync instantly but Excel files fail?

Microsoft Office applications use complex temporary background processes when saving directly to a synced folder. If the Office upload center or local cache encounters a permissions glitch on your Mac, Office files will hang while standard independent files like PNGs or PDFs sync normally.

How do I force OneDrive to sync a stuck file on my Mac?

You can temporarily pause and then resume syncing from the OneDrive menu bar icon. Alternatively, dragging the stuck file out of the OneDrive folder to your Desktop, and then dragging it back in, will often bypass the cache and force a fresh, successful upload.

Document & File Issues