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How to Force OneDrive to Resynchronize iPhone Camera Roll
Question details
The user needs to force OneDrive to resynchronize and upload older iPhone photos after accidentally deleting the Camera Roll folder and emptying the cloud recycle bin.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- iOS (iPhone)
- Scenario
- Attempting to restore and resync older iPhone photos to OneDrive after deleting the destination folder.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive only uploads new photos and fails to reprocess or upload older photos that were previously synced and deleted, even after reinstalling the iOS app.
Ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and has sufficient battery life, as uploading large batches of media can consume significant battery and data.
Reset Camera Upload Settings in OneDrive
Toggle the camera upload feature to prompt OneDrive to scan for local media.
In many cases, resetting the synchronization feature directly within the OneDrive app forces the system to re-evaluate the local iPhone Camera Roll. Note that because the folder was permanently deleted from the cloud, OneDrive might still default to only syncing newly taken photos.
Open the OneDrive app on your iPhone, tap your profile icon at the top left, and select 'Settings'.
Tap 'Camera Upload' and turn the switch off. Wait a few moments, then turn the switch back on.
Ensure that the option to include videos is selected if needed, and check if OneDrive begins to scan and process the older photos.
Manually Upload Older Photos to OneDrive
Bypass the automatic synchronization limits by manually selecting and uploading the missing photos.
Manage Your Documents and Cloud Files Easily with WPS Office
While troubleshooting OneDrive sync issues on your iPhone, consider switching to WPS Office for your document needs. It is a free, lightweight, and fully compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that integrates seamlessly with major cloud storage services.
- 1. Download the App: Download WPS Office from the App Store and open it on your device.
- 2. Connect Cloud Storage: Navigate to the 'Cloud' tab and sign in to your preferred cloud drive (like OneDrive or Google Drive).
- 3. Edit Seamlessly: Tap on any document stored in the cloud to open, edit, and automatically save changes back to your cloud storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't OneDrive syncing my old iPhone photos after I reinstalled the app?
When a synced folder is deleted from OneDrive, the service's synchronization mechanism often registers those old local files as successfully processed in the past. Re-enabling the feature usually tells OneDrive to resume uploading only new photos taken from that point forward, requiring manual uploads for older files.
Does deleting the Camera Roll folder in OneDrive delete photos from my iPhone?
No, deleting the Camera Roll folder inside the OneDrive app only removes the backup copies stored in the cloud. Your original photos remain safely on your iPhone's local storage unless you manually delete them using the Apple Photos app.
How can I keep OneDrive uploading photos in the background on iOS?
Apple's iOS heavily restricts background app activity to save battery. To keep OneDrive uploading a large batch of photos, you must keep the app open on your screen, or ensure 'Background App Refresh' is enabled for OneDrive in your iPhone settings while the device is plugged into a power source.
