OneDrive File Issues

How to Stop a Large SharePoint Shared Folder from Syncing in OneDrive

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to stop a massive read-only SharePoint folder containing tens of thousands of online-only files from continuously syncing in the background.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to halt an ongoing background sync of a massive shared directory that is draining system resources.
Observed behavior: The shared folder syncs continuously, causing high CPU consumption, slowing down other OneDrive file uploads, and potentially leading to application crashes, even after selecting Stop Sync in settings.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials ready, as you may be prompted to log back into your account after resetting the OneDrive application.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the OneDrive Sync Client

Resetting OneDrive forces the application to restart its sync engine and clear stuck operations, without deleting your actual local or cloud files.

This is often the most effective way to clear stuck syncing loops for large SharePoint directories when the standard 'Stop sync' option fails to respond.

Open the Run dialog box

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard simultaneously to open the Run window.

Execute the reset command

Copy and paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset into the dialog box and press Enter.

Try alternative path if needed

If you receive a 'Windows cannot find...' error message, copy and paste %programfiles(x86)%\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset instead.

Wait for OneDrive to restart

Watch your system tray (bottom right corner). The OneDrive cloud icon will disappear and reappear after a few minutes, indicating the reset is complete.

Warning About File Deletion: Do not attempt to manually delete the local SharePoint folder while the sync connection is still active or in an unknown state, as this may inadvertently delete files for everyone on the shared SharePoint server.

Solution 2

Stop Syncing via OneDrive Settings

The standard method to manually disconnect a specific SharePoint folder from your active OneDrive sync list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting OneDrive delete my SharePoint files?

No, resetting OneDrive only resets the sync client's application settings and cache. It does not delete any of your actual files from your local hard drive or the SharePoint cloud server.

Why does my large SharePoint folder keep syncing indefinitely?

Large folders with tens of thousands of online-only files can overwhelm the OneDrive sync engine. The software struggles to index all the metadata simultaneously, which often causes infinite sync loops, high CPU usage, and application freezing.

What should I do if the 'Stop Sync' button in settings doesn't work?

If clicking 'Stop Sync' fails to halt the process or the application freezes, perform a full reset of the OneDrive desktop application using the Run command, and then try reconfiguring your folder sync settings once the app restarts.

Can I just delete the local SharePoint folder to stop the CPU usage?

No, it is highly recommended to avoid deleting the local folder until you have successfully and permanently stopped the sync connection. Deleting files while connected might accidentally delete those shared files for all your colleagues on the SharePoint server.

Document & File Issues