How to Fix OneDrive on Mac Asking to Restart to Continue Syncing
Question details
The user encounters a continuous prompt to restart the OneDrive application on a Mac in order to continue syncing files.
- Product
- OneDrive for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Syncing local desktop files to the cloud using the OneDrive macOS application.
- Observed behavior
- The OneDrive app repeatedly halts the synchronization process and displays an error message asking the user to restart the application to continue syncing.
Before making any changes to your app, locate any locally modified files that haven't synced yet and copy them to a separate local folder on your Mac to prevent permanent data loss during the reset.
Update OneDrive for Mac to the Latest Version
An outdated OneDrive build can cause recurring sync loops. Installing the latest update often resolves compatibility issues with the newest macOS updates.
Visit the official Microsoft download page and download the newest OneDrive sync application for Mac.
Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions to update your current OneDrive application.
Quit OneDrive completely from the Mac menu bar, then reopen it from your Applications folder to check if the error is resolved.
Reset the OneDrive Synchronization State
If updating doesn't work, resetting the app clears the damaged local sync database and forces OneDrive to perform a clean, full synchronization.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting OneDrive on my Mac delete my locally saved files?
No, resetting the OneDrive app only clears the local sync database and application settings. It does not delete your personal files. However, it is highly recommended to back up any unsynchronized files to a separate folder before running the reset command to be entirely safe.
Why does OneDrive keep asking me to restart to continue syncing?
This issue typically occurs due to a corrupted local sync database, an outdated or buggy OneDrive app version, or insufficient file permissions on your macOS system that prevent the app from updating the sync status.
How do I know if my files have synced successfully after a reset?
After completing the initial setup, check the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac's menu bar. It will display an 'Up to date' status when finished. You can also log into OneDrive via your web browser to verify that your most recent file versions are safely stored in the cloud.
