How to Pause and Resume sync in OneDrive

Created On12 August, 2021

Last Updated On1 September, 2026

byOliver Norton

If you want to stop syncing OneDrive on your computer because you are on a metered or slow internet connection, you can Pause and Resume your sync.

Pausing and Resuming can also help if OneDrive status displays “Processing changes” for a long time.

Select the white or blue OneDrive cloud icon in the notification/menu area.
In the activity center, select More > Pause syncing…
Choose how long you wish to pause for: 2, 8 or 24 hours and check that the white or blue OneDrive cloud icons in the notification area show Paused.
Notes:
- If you have both OneDrive and OneDrive for Business, you can pause and resume them independently.
- OneDrive will automatically pause when a Windows PC enters battery saver mode.

Syncing will resume automatically after the Pause time has finished, or you can manually Resume syncing at any time.

Tap the paused OneDrive icon in the notification/menu area:
In the activity center, select More again and select Resume syncing or just tap the Pause button to get going again:

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