How to quickly pause and resume OneDrive file syncing on Windows 10

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Do you need to stop syncing files to OneDrive temporarily? Here's how on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, when your device enters in battery saver mode, or you're setting a network connection as metered or enabling Airplane mode, OneDrive will automatically pause file syncing.

However, you can also pause and resume file syncing manually without interfering with other features when you're connected to a slow or capped internet connection, or you're trying to fix problems, such as the "Processing changes" message that stays for a long time, or any other reason.

In this Windows 10 guide, you'll learn the easy steps to pause and resume file syncing on OneDrive.

How to pause file syncing on OneDrive

To pause OneDrive file syncing on Windows 10, use these steps:

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon.
  2. Click the More button.
  3. Click the Pause syncing menu.

  1. Select the range of hours that you want to prevent file syncing. Option available include, 2, 8, and 24 hours.

Once you complete the steps, files will stop uploading or downloading to OneDrive for the time range that you have specified. You'll know that data isn't syncing to the cloud because the OneDrive icon will include a "paused" badge.

Pausing OneDrive file syncing until the next reboot

Alternatively, you can also prevent files from syncing to your OneDrive account by closing the sync client with these steps:

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon.
  2. Click the More button.
  3. Click the Close button.

  1. Click the Close button again.

After you complete the steps, the OneDrive client will close, and files will stop syncing to the cloud until the next reboot or until you re-launch the app.

How to resume file syncing on OneDrive

If you want to resume syncing files immediately, use these steps:

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon.
  2. Click the More button.
  3. Click the Resume syncing button. Or you can click the Pause button that will appear at the top of the OneDrive interface.

After you complete the steps, files will resume syncing to and from your OneDrive account.

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Mauro Huculak
Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.