OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix Red X OneDrive Icons After Copying Files

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve a synchronization error where OneDrive displays a red X icon on files or folders after copying them to the cloud.

How to Fix Red X Icons on OneDrive Files After Copying to the Cloud

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Uploading or copying local files and folders to Microsoft OneDrive via File Explorer.
Observed behavior: A white X inside a red circle appears on the file or folder icons in File Explorer, indicating that OneDrive cannot synchronize the items.

Before you start

Verify that you have a stable internet connection and ensure your Microsoft OneDrive account has sufficient available storage space before proceeding with these troubleshooting steps.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable File Indexing for the Affected Folder

Modifying the advanced properties to stop indexing the folder's contents can often resolve permission conflicts causing the red X sync error.

Sometimes Windows indexing services conflict with OneDrive's synchronization engine. Disabling this feature for the specific folder allows OneDrive to read and upload the files without interference.

Open folder properties

Right-click the affected folder displaying the red X icon in File Explorer and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

Access advanced attributes

Under the 'General' tab, locate and click on the 'Advanced...' button.

Disable indexing

Uncheck the box that says 'Allow files in this folder to have contents indexed in addition to file properties'.

Apply changes

Click 'OK' to close the Advanced Attributes window, then click 'Apply'. Choose to apply changes to all folders, subfolders, and files when prompted, and wait for OneDrive to sync.

Disable File Indexing for the Affected Folder

Sync Status: Once the changes are applied, the red X should turn into a blue syncing arrow, and eventually a green checkmark when the upload is complete.

Solution 2

Reset the OneDrive Application

Resetting OneDrive forces the application to perform a full synchronization and clears out temporary cache issues that might be blocking file uploads.

Solution 3

Unlink and Re-sign into Your PC

Disconnecting and reconnecting your account can refresh your login credentials and fix persistent synchronization errors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a red X appear on my OneDrive folders?

A red X indicates that OneDrive is unable to synchronize the folder or file to the cloud. This can be caused by a lack of cloud storage space, invalid characters in the file name, file size limits, or folder indexing conflicts on your local computer.

Does the red X mean my files are deleted?

No, your files are not deleted. The red X simply means the local copy on your computer has not successfully uploaded to the OneDrive cloud servers. Your local files remain perfectly intact on your hard drive.

How do I check if I have enough OneDrive storage?

Click on the OneDrive cloud icon in your Windows system tray. At the bottom of the menu, or by clicking the Settings gear icon and navigating to the 'Account' tab, you can view exactly how much cloud storage you have used out of your total available quota.

Can unsupported characters in file names cause the red X sync error?

Yes. If your file or folder name contains unsupported characters like " * : < > ? / \ | , OneDrive will fail to sync it and display a red X. Renaming the file to remove these characters will immediately fix the sync issue.

Document & File Issues