How to Fix OneDrive Syncing Hundreds of Thousands of Files on Mac Startup
Question details
The user needs to stop OneDrive from repeatedly scanning and attempting to sync hundreds of thousands of files every time their Mac reboots.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Starting up the Mac or relaunching the OneDrive application.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive continuously attempts to synchronize hundreds of thousands of files and hundreds of gigabytes of data upon startup, causing performance slowdowns and failing to complete the sync efficiently.
Before attempting a fix, ensure you have a stable internet connection and avoid force-quitting the OneDrive application, as sudden interruptions can further corrupt the syncing index.
Reconnect the Library from OneDrive on the Web
Verify your files online and trigger a fresh sync connection directly from the Microsoft 365 web portal to resolve local syncing loops.
When OneDrive gets stuck in a continuous sync loop on a Mac, re-establishing the connection from the web server can often force the local client to properly verify and correct its index without downloading everything from scratch.
Open your preferred web browser, navigate to the Microsoft 365 or Office portal, and log in with your Microsoft account credentials.
Open the OneDrive web application from your dashboard to confirm that all your files and folders are safely stored and visible online.
Click the 'Sync' button located on the top menu bar of the OneDrive web interface to force a new connection to your local Mac library.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive keep syncing the same files on my Mac startup?
This typically occurs if the OneDrive sync index becomes corrupted, if there are file permission conflicts within macOS, or if a previous synchronization process was interrupted by a sudden shutdown.
How do I check my current OneDrive version on a Mac?
Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac menu bar, select the gear icon to open 'Preferences' or 'Settings', and navigate to the 'About' tab to view your installed version number.
Can I temporarily pause OneDrive syncing on my Mac?
Yes, you can click the OneDrive icon in the Mac menu bar, select the gear icon for 'Help & Settings', and click 'Pause syncing' to choose a specific duration to temporarily halt the process.
