To reset OneDrive on Windows, run %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, then reopen the OneDrive desktop app. A reset rebuilds the app’s sync state and can help when several files remain stuck, but it will not fix a full account, missing permissions, or a damaged document.
Resetting does not delete your files. Before starting, save a separate copy of important files that have not uploaded, and allow time for OneDrive to check your folders again afterward.
Before you reset: check what is actually stuck
Open OneDrive in a browser and confirm that your important documents are present and current. A file sitting in the local OneDrive folder is not necessarily uploaded; check its contents or modified date online.
If only one document fails, try another small file in the same folder. When the second file syncs normally, investigate the original file’s name, permissions, or availability instead of rebuilding every sync connection. The OneDrive error 0x80070185 guide covers isolating failed cloud-file downloads.
For widespread syncing problems, first resume paused syncing, check the internet connection and account storage, and restart OneDrive. A reset becomes useful when those checks do not resolve the desktop app’s behavior.
Run the reset on Windows 11 or Windows 10
Microsoft’s reset instructions begin with a Microsoft Store cache reset, followed by the OneDrive sync-app reset if the problem remains:
- Press Windows + R, enter
wsreset.exe, and select OK. A blank window may briefly appear, followed by Microsoft Store. Close the Store and test OneDrive. - If syncing is still stuck, reopen Run and enter the command below.
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /resetIf Windows cannot find that executable, try these installation paths separately. Use the next one only when the previous path is not found:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe" /reset"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe" /resetThe quotes keep a path containing spaces together. The /reset argument belongs outside them. Do not run all three commands repeatedly after one succeeds.
Afterward, open Start, search for OneDrive, and launch the desktop app if it has not restarted. The notification-area cloud icon may disappear temporarily during the reset.
What to expect when OneDrive starts again
OneDrive performs a full sync check. That can produce temporary sync arrows and additional disk or network activity while the app compares local files with the cloud. A large library may take longer than a small one, so judge progress from the app’s activity rather than expecting an immediate “Up to date” message.
Resetting disconnects sync connections, including personal and work or school accounts. Review the accounts and libraries afterward, and follow any setup prompts. If you previously synchronized only selected folders, check OneDrive Settings > Account > Choose folders and restore your preferences once syncing completes.
Do not move or delete folders simply because their status icons are changing. If you need an independent copy of a cloud document, use How to Download Files From OneDrive.
Reset, unlink, reinstall, and restore do different jobs
Reset rebuilds the desktop app’s sync state. Unlink this PC disconnects an account so you can set it up again. Reinstall replaces the application itself when it is missing or damaged. None of those actions restores an earlier version of a deleted or overwritten cloud file.
Restore your OneDrive is a separate recovery feature for eligible accounts. Do not confuse the similar names: this article resets the sync application, not the contents of your cloud storage.
When the reset fails or the same error returns
A “Windows cannot find” message means the command did not locate OneDrive at that path. Check whether the desktop sync app is installed; resetting a Microsoft Store app from App settings is a different procedure.
If the app opens but still reports an error, record the exact message. Check cloud storage capacity, local free space, sign-in prompts, and whether the failure affects every folder or one shared library. Work or school restrictions may require the administrator to intervene.
For OneDrive error 0x80070194, investigate why the cloud provider keeps exiting rather than resetting indefinitely. A successful reset should lead to stable syncing. Once OneDrive reports that it is up to date, upload a small test file and confirm it appears online before trusting the connection with your next important document.
