[Fixed] OneDrive Stuck on Preparing to Upload

This passage tells you six methods to fix “OneDrive preparing to upload” and how to upload files to OneDrive faster.

Jonna

by Jonna Lasted Updated April 10, 2024

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Preparing to upload on OneDrive stuck

 

I am trying to upload some small files and OneDrive hangs on preparing to upload, and uploading at 0.0 kb/s for about 2 hours. Does anyone else have this OneDrive preparing to upload taking forever problem?

OneDrive Preparing to Upload

Various types of sync issues like sync stopped, sync interrupted, and upload stuck are the most common issues with any cloud storage service. OneDrive is no exception, and most users have the same complaints. Here today, we are going to discuss how to solve OneDrive says preparing to upload for a long time.

Why is OneDrive stuck on preparing to upload?

There can be many reasons why OneDrive is stuck on preparing to upload. We have listed some of the more common ones:

🧵Internet problem

Network outage or poor network connection is the most common cause of OneDrive sync slow or OneDrive failed upload.

🧨OneDrive limits

OneDrive storage space limit and OneDrive file limit can make file uploads get stuck.

🎊Your file has been opened by another program

When the file you are uploading is being used by another program, the file upload may be stuck.

🪀You are running an outdated OneDrive version

When OneDrive is updated, the older versions may have issues such as files not being uploaded smoothly.

How to fix OneDrive preparing to upload is taking forever

Now, you can try the solutions beneath to resolve “OneDrive preparing to upload on Windows 10/8/7 and Mac” with ease.

Way 1. Pause and resume OneDrive sync

Pausing and then resuming syncing helps reconnect OneDrive, making file uploads work properly.

Step 1. Click on the OneDrive icon on the Taskbar.

Step 2. Hit Help & Settings, click Pause syncing, and select a pause option.

Pause SSyncing

Step 3. Wait a few moments for OneDrive sync to stop, tap OneDrive Help & Settings, and click Resume syncing to start OneDrive uploading.

Resume Syncing

Way 2. Check if file name is too long

If you are syncing multiple files, check that your file names do not contain invalid characters or that the file names are too long (less than 255 characters). Besides, when your OneDrive upload exceeds the limit, it may also cause the file upload to get stuck. This is one of the most effective but overlooked tips to help resolve OneDrive not uploading files issues.

  • Invalid characters in file/folder name: " * : < > ? / \ | are not allowed in file and folder names in OneDrive for home, OneDrive for work or school.
  • Invalid file types: ~ " # % & * : < > ? / \ { | }. are not allowed in file and folder names in OneDrive for work or school.
  • Upload limit per day: Maximum file upload size updated to 250 GB on OneDrive in 2021.

Way 3. Manage your OneDrive/local storage

If you don't have enough space on OneDrive, you may encounter OneDrive constantly preparing to upload issues. You can go to the OneDrive Manage Storage page to check what is taking up your space and free up OneDrive space by emptying Recycle Bin.

OneDrive Manage Storage

Simultaneously, you should make sure that there is sufficient free space on your hard drive so that OneDrive can run properly. You can right-click the hard drive, choose Properties, click Disk cleanup on the General page, and delete redundant files to make room.

Disk Cleanup Drive C

Way 4. Uncheck files on demand on OneDrive

According to OneDrive users, if your OneDrive preparing to upload on Mac takes a long time, unchecking OneDrive Files on Demand is a very helpful method. This can avoid files opening online.

Step 1. Access the OneDrive desktop settings, and select the Settings tab.

Step 2. Deselect Save space and download files as you use them under File on Demand, and click OK.

Enable Files on Demand

Step 3. Head to the OneDrive folder, right-click the folders/files you are uploading and choose Always keep on this device.

Always Keep On This Device Min

Way 5. Update OneDrive

If you are running an old version of OneDrive, chances are that you might face plenty of setbacks while uploading data. Many users find that after updating their OneDrive, they are able to fix OneDrive preparing to upload stuck, and synchronize files properly.

Step 1. Uninstall the current OneDrive by clicking Start > Settings > Apps > Microsoft OneDrive > Uninstall.

Microsoft OneDrive Uninstall

Step 2. Download the latest OneDrive client, and run it on your PC.

Way 6. Reset OneDrive

If nothing above works, please try manually resetting OneDrive to resolve issues related to file upload.

Step 1. Press the Windows and R keys at the same time to open the Run prompt.

Step 2. Enter the command %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, and click Enter.

Run Reset Command

Step 3. After resetting, open the Run prompt again, and input %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe to set up OneDrive and re-establish the connection.

Lanuch OneDrive

How to upload faster to OneDrive without errors

In fact, OneDrive upload stuck is a problem that happens from time to time, and you may find that OneDrive uploads slowly for large files. If you want to avoid any upload issues and quickly upload large files to OneDrive, you can switch to a better cloud backup service, CBackup, which allows you to sync files to OneDrive without any limitations.

✍ It can easily synchronize files and folders to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and multiple cloud storage.
✍ It provides automatic sync to help you upload changes to clouds frequently.
✍ It is capable of uploading data to clouds without size and speed restrictions, and you could run sync tasks in the background, even if you turn off your computer and the OneDrive program.
✍ Besides sync, it offers many other powerful functions, like backing up hard drive to OneDrive, Google Drive, CBackup Cloud, etc. & file restore, backup files between clouds, and so on.

Please download and launch CBackup, and follow the steps below to synchronize data to OneDrive fast:

Download CBackupWin 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP
Secure Download

Step 1. Register an account for CBackup and sign in to it.

Step 2. Click Storage on the left panel and select OneDrive to permit CBackup access to the cloud.

Select OneDrive

Step 3. Switch to the Sync tab, and click on Sync PC to Public Cloud.

Choose PC to Public Cloud

Step 4. Choose files/folders/hard drives that you wish to upload to OneDrive, and select a OneDrive folder to save them.

Step 5. Tap on Start Sync to begin the synchronization process.

Sync Files to OneDrive

In the end

To fix “OneDrive preparing to upload” on Windows and Mac, you could resume sync, check file names, manage storage, reset OneDrive, etc. If you don't want to spend a lot of time solving OneDrive upload problems every time, CBackup is a better cloud backup tool that helps you backup/sync files to OneDrive faster and easier.

What’s more, this freeware enables you to merge multiple cloud accounts to get unlimited OneDrive storage for free.

Jonna
Jonna · Editor
Jonna becomes a professional in the areas of cloud backup and restoration, data protection, etc. after years of learning and researching. She maintains a keen eye for the latest technology trends, ensuring that the information provided is always in step with industry developments.

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