Fix 1: Remove OneDrive's Upload Throttle (The Main Fix)
OneDrive limits its own upload speed by default. To remove the limit:
- Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom right)
- Click the gear icon → Settings
- Go to the Sync and backup tab → Advanced settings
- Under Upload rate, select Don't limit
- Under Download rate, select Don't limit
This single change often doubles or triples OneDrive sync speed.
Fix 2: Check That OneDrive Isn't Paused
Right-click the OneDrive tray icon. If it shows Resume syncing, OneDrive is paused (manually or automatically after detecting a metered connection). Click Resume.
Fix 3: Pause and Resume to Unstick a Stalled Sync
If OneDrive shows "Processing changes" indefinitely, right-click the tray icon → Pause syncing → 2 hours, wait 30 seconds, then right-click again → Resume syncing. This often clears stalled file locks.
Fix 4: Confirm You're Not on a Metered Connection
Windows marks some Wi-Fi connections as "metered" (cellular hotspots and some Wi-Fi networks), and OneDrive reduces sync aggressively on metered connections. Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → your network → turn off Metered connection.
Fix 5: Check Upload Speed
Run a speed test and note your upload speed. OneDrive uploads are capped by your ISP's upload tier. A 10 Mbps upload connection will sync 10 GB of files in about 2.5 hours maximum — no setting will make it faster if upload is the ceiling.
Fix 6: Exclude Files Being Held Open
OneDrive can't sync files that another application has locked open (e.g., an open Excel file, an Outlook .pst). Look for the red X icon on files in your OneDrive folder. Close the relevant application or save and close the file.
Fix 7: Reset OneDrive
If sync is persistently broken, reset OneDrive: press Win + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, press Enter. OneDrive will restart and rebuild its sync state. Files are not deleted — sync just restarts from scratch.
OneDrive Sync Speed by Upload Connection
| Upload Speed | 1 GB | 10 GB | 100 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Mbps | 14 min | 2.3 hrs | 23 hrs |
| 50 Mbps | 3 min | 27 min | 4.5 hrs |
| 200 Mbps | 40 sec | 7 min | 67 min |
| 500 Mbps | 16 sec | 3 min | 27 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OneDrive syncing so slowly?
OneDrive throttles its own upload speed by default. Go to OneDrive Settings → Sync and backup → Advanced settings → Upload rate → Don't limit. This is the most common fix and often doubles sync speed immediately.
How do I stop OneDrive from limiting upload speed?
Click the OneDrive tray icon → gear → Settings → Sync and backup → Advanced settings → set Upload rate to 'Don't limit'. Apply and restart OneDrive.
Why is OneDrive stuck on 'Processing changes'?
This usually means a file is locked by another application or there's a database inconsistency. Try pausing sync for 2 hours then resuming. If it persists, reset OneDrive using the reset command in Run (Win+R).
Does OneDrive slow down on metered connections?
Yes — Windows marks some Wi-Fi connections as metered, and OneDrive backs off aggressively. Disable the metered connection setting in Windows Network settings for your Wi-Fi network.
Is OneDrive slower than Google Drive or Dropbox?
OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox all sync at similar speeds when properly configured. The default throttle in OneDrive makes it appear slower — removing the limit puts it on par with competitors.