Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word for Mac Running Slow When Editing OneDrive or SharePoint Files

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience severe lagging and slow performance in Word for Mac when editing complex documents synced via OneDrive or SharePoint.

How to Fix Word for Mac Running Slow with OneDrive or SharePoint Files

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Typing, scrolling, or editing large documents containing tables that are stored in OneDrive for Business or a SharePoint-synced folder.
Observed behavior: Word becomes extremely slow and unresponsive during edits. Performance significantly improves when the same file is moved to a local folder, indicating a sync integration issue.

Before you start

Ensure your Mac has a fast and stable internet connection, as editing cloud-hosted files relies heavily on continuous network synchronization.

Solution 1Recommended

Open the Document Directly from OneDrive Web

Bypass the local macOS OneDrive sync client and let the Word desktop app handle synchronization directly.

When you open a file from a locally synced OneDrive folder, the OneDrive sync client handles the data transfer, which can conflict with Word's native AutoSave feature. Opening the file from the web browser forces the Office app to handle the sync itself, often resolving performance lags.

Access OneDrive online

Open your preferred web browser and log in to your OneDrive or SharePoint account.

Locate the document

Navigate to the folder containing the slow Word document and click to view it in the browser.

Open in Desktop App

Click the 'Editing' or 'Viewing' menu at the top of the web interface, then select 'Open in Desktop App'. The file will launch in your local Word for Mac application.

Open the Document Directly from OneDrive Web

AutoSave Retained: Using this method retains the AutoSave functionality and cloud storage benefits without the heavy local sync lag.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft 365 and OneDrive Apps

Install the latest bug fixes and performance patches for both Word and OneDrive.

Solution 3

Temporarily Move the File to Local Storage

Edit the document completely offline to prevent background synchronization from slowing down your Mac.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Fast and Smooth Document Editing with WPS Office

If Word for Mac continues to struggle with cloud-synced files and integration bugs, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fast, and familiar alternative for Mac users without the heavy background synchronization lag.

1. Download and install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install it in seconds.
2. Open your files: Open your existing .docx files directly in WPS Writer without losing formatting.
3. Edit smoothly: Enjoy lag-free editing, even with large documents containing complex tables.

Lightweight architecture ensures fast typing and scrolling on macOSFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel, and PowerPoint formatsBuilt-in seamless cloud integration without background freezingFree to download with a familiar user interface for easy migration

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word for Mac lag only with OneDrive or SharePoint files?

When files are stored in a locally synced OneDrive folder, both the OneDrive macOS sync client and Word's built-in AutoSave feature try to manage the file simultaneously. This overlap can cause resource exhaustion, leading to severe typing and scrolling lag.

Will I lose AutoSave if I move my document to a local folder?

Yes, Microsoft's AutoSave feature strictly requires the file to be actively hosted in OneDrive or SharePoint. If you move the file to your local Mac storage, you must rely on standard manual saving or traditional AutoRecover.

What should I do if the issue persists after updating Word and OneDrive?

If performance does not improve after updating and using the web-app workaround, you should report the problem directly to Microsoft. In Word for Mac, click 'Help' > 'Feedback' to submit your diagnostic logs to the development team.

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