OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Sync Stuck After Renaming a Word File

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a OneDrive synchronization issue where a Word document remains stuck in a syncing state after its file name is changed.

Product: Microsoft Word / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to sync, move, upload, or delete a Word document stored in OneDrive immediately after renaming the file.
Observed behavior: The synchronization process freezes, locking the file and preventing the user from moving, uploading, or deleting the document.

Before you start

Ensure that you have manually backed up or copied the content of any unsaved work to a separate location, as you will need to close all Office applications to clear the cache properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Office Document Cache and Reset OneDrive

Clearing the local Office document cache and resetting the OneDrive client resolves file conflicts and forces the sync engine to restart smoothly.

When a Word document is renamed while Office background processes are still locking it, the Office Document Cache can conflict with OneDrive's sync engine. Deleting these temporary cache files removes the lock and allows synchronization to resume.

Clear cache within Word settings

Open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > Options, and select the Save tab in the left pane. Scroll down to Cache Settings, select the option to delete cached files, and then close all open Microsoft Office applications entirely.

Delete the local OfficeFileCache folder

Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0' (without quotes) and press Enter. Locate the 'OfficeFileCache' folder and delete it.

Reset the OneDrive sync client

Press Win + R again, enter '%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset', and press Enter. The OneDrive icon in your system tray will disappear and reappear as the sync engine restarts.

Check AutoSave Settings: If the problem continues to happen every time you rename a file, check your AutoSave settings in Word to ensure it isn't triggering a continuous upload state during the rename action.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Synchronization

If you frequently encounter stuck file uploads and sync conflicts with Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight alternative with its own built-in, reliable cloud synchronization, saving you from frustrating file lock issues.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your device.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx files directly from your local drive or cloud storage without any loss of formatting.
3. Enable WPS Cloud Sync: Sign in to your free WPS account and turn on WPS Cloud to automatically save and synchronize your document edits without file-lock errors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx, .doc).Lightweight architecture that consumes fewer system resources and prevents heavy cache buildup.Built-in WPS Cloud provides stable, real-time file synchronization and easy backup.Familiar tabbed interface with zero learning curve for seamless migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does renaming a Word file cause OneDrive to get stuck?

When a file is currently open or recently cached by Microsoft Word, renaming it can create a mismatch between the local Office Document Cache and OneDrive's sync engine. This creates a file lock that prevents OneDrive from updating the server.

Will deleting the OfficeFileCache folder remove my actual documents?

No. Deleting the OfficeFileCache folder only removes temporary background synchronization files used by Microsoft Office. Your actual documents saved on your local hard drive or in the cloud remain perfectly safe.

How do I know if my OneDrive is permanently stuck?

You can tell OneDrive is stuck if the blue cloud icon in your system tray remains on 'Processing changes' for an extended period, or if you receive error messages when attempting to move, delete, or upload files within your synchronized folder.

Document & File Issues