OneDrive Stuck on Preparing to Upload - 9 Tested Solutions

• User Case
• How to Fix OneDrive Stuck on Preparing to Upload Issue
• Best Alternative to Transfer Files from Another Cloud to OneDrive - MultCloud
• Conclusion
• FAQs

User Case

How to Fix OneDrive Stuck on Preparing to Upload Issue

There are different reasons for the "OneDrive preparing to upload stuck" issue. In this section, we will show 9 common reasons and their solutions. Check these 9 solutions and see if they can help you out.

Solution 1: Check the Status of OneDrive

Before all the steps, you can first check if there is any issue that affects the performance of your OneDrive. If you own a Microsoft 365 admin account, you can go to Microsoft 365 Health Dashboard and see the status of all your Microsoft 365 services including OneDrive.

Solution 2: Clear OneDrive Cache

Sometimes, the OneDrive cache may affect the syncing process and lead to stuck on preparing to upload. Due to this reason, you can clear the OneDrive cache to address the issue. To clear the OneDrive cache, you can choose to delete files in the cache folder or use the command prompt to entirely reset OneDrive.

Solution 3: Update Operating System

OneDrive does not support all operating systems so you can check your operating system first. If you are using Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or below, you are recommended to update your system since they are no longer supported by OneDrive desktop app since 2022.

Solution 4: Check OneDrive Storage

If you are a free OneDrive user, you have 5 GB of storage to store your files. When the 5 GB of free storage is run out, you can't save any file on OneDrive. Therefore, the "OneDrive stuck preparing to upload" issue may be caused by insufficient storage. You can delete duplicate photos or other useless files on OneDrive or purchase a paid plan to handle the problem.

Solution 5: Pause and Resume Syncing

The OneDrive glitches may also lead to "OneDrive stuck on preparing to upload". If you find the OneDrive storage is enough to contain more files and the operating system can meet the OneDrive desktop app's requirements, try to pause and resume syncing to fix the glitches.

Step 1: Click the OneDrive icon and sign in.

Step 2: Tap on the settings icon and choose "Pause syncing". Here you can choose to pause 2/8/25 hours. After waiting for a period, click "Resume syncing" and your OneDrive is reconnected with your computer. After that, you can try to upload files to OneDrive to see if this method works.

Solution 6: Unlink and Reset OneDrive

There might be some connection or setting problems between your computer and OneDrive. Due to this reason, you can unlink your Onedrive and the PC, and then reset the OneDrive.

Step 1: Click the OneDrive icon and sign in.

Step 2: Select the settings icon and choose "Settings".

Step 3: Navigate to the "Account" page, click "Unlink this PC", and tap on the "Unlink account" button. Then, follow the instructions in OneDrive's pop-up windows to reset this app.

Step 4: Restart the syncing with another location and check if OneDrive is still stuck on preparing to upload.

Solution 7: Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive Desktop App

Uninstalling and reinstalling can always solve many problems and this method is also useful for the "OneDrive stuck at preparing to upload" issue. You can uninstall the OneDrive desktop app and then download it again from the official site.

Solution 8: Check OneDrive Sync Restrictions

There are some limitations to OneDrive sync that may bring the "OneDrive upload stuck" issue. For example, the file path should not be too long and some restricted characters cannot be included in it. Also, the invalid files cannot be synced by OneDrive. Besides, OneDrive can not contain less than 100, 000 files.

Solution 9: Break Files to Upload

If the file is too large, it may not be able to upload to OneDrive. In this case, you can break this file into some smaller files and then sync them to OneDrive.

Best Alternative to Transfer Files from Another Cloud to OneDrive - MultCloud

If you also encounter the "OneDrive stuck on preparing to upload" when you are uploading files from another cloud to OneDrive, such as the user case shown Dropbox to OneDrive, it is a good idea to use another way to transfer files between the clouds. MultCloud can perfectly meet your transfer needs.

MultCloud is a free and professional cloud file transfer service that supports 30+ clouds, including OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Amazon S3, MEGA, pCloud, and so on. With Cloud Transfer, one of MultCloud's proud functions, you can directly move as many files as you want from another cloud to OneDrive without downloading and uploading. Moreover, MultCloud supports offline transfer. Therefore, when you have a lot of files to transfer, create a transfer task and just close the task window or even your computer, and the task can run still.

Step 1: Sign up for a MultCloud account.

Step 2: Click "Add Cloud" and the cloud icon to connect MultCloud with your cloud drives.

Step 3: Select "Cloud Transfer" and choose OneDrive and another cloud in the boxes. Finally, click "Transfer Now" to start this task.

Conclusion

Overcoming the frustrating "OneDrive stuck on preparing to upload" challenge is vital for seamless file management. This post has explored 9 practical solutions to resolve the issue. Additionally, users seeking a more advanced file transfer method can discover a seamless transition to OneDrive by MultCloud Cloud Transfer for efficient data migration.

What's more, you may try MultCloud Cloud Backup and Cloud Sync to sync or backup files between OneDrive and another cloud. Things like backing up OneDrive to Google Drive or syncing iCloud Drive files to OneDrive can be easily realized on MultCloud.

FAQs

Why does OneDrive take so long to upload?

OneDrive upload speed can be influenced by factors like internet connection, file size, and server load. Slow uploads may result from limited bandwidth, large files, or high demand on Microsoft's servers, impacting overall transfer times.

Why is OneDrive processing changes but not uploading?

OneDrive may be processing changes without uploading due to a slow or unstable internet connection, conflicting files, or synchronization errors. Check your network connection, resolve conflicts, and ensure that OneDrive is running and up-to-date to facilitate successful uploads.

How do I force a pending OneDrive to sync?

To force a pending OneDrive sync, right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, select "Settings," go to the "Account" tab, click "Unlink this PC," then relink and sign in. Alternatively, restart the OneDrive app or reboot your computer to initiate synchronization.