OneDrive Slow Down Computer!

OneDrive is a powerful cloud storage service offered by Microsoft that provides various features and benefits, that allow you to access files anywhere and anytime. However, there are instances where users have reported experiencing a slowdown in computer performance while using OneDrive. Does OneDrive slow down computer? Sometimes.

OneDrive Slow Down Computer
OneDrive Slow Down Computer

OenDrive slowing down computers and how to solve this problem? First of all, you have a clear idea about why OneDrive slows down computers and how so that you can fix it quickly.

Why OneDrive Slow Down Computer?

Typically speaking, people use OneDrive to sync files between servers and multiple devices to keep files safe. However, the way OneDrive works has some impact on your computer due to the following common factors:

  • Syncing and Indexing: OneDrive constantly monitors file changes and syncs them between the local device and the cloud. This process involves indexing files, which can consume system resources like CPU, memory, and disk I/O, so OneDrive impacts computer performance, especially if there are a large number of files or large files.
  • Network Bandwidth: OneDrive relies on an internet connection for syncing operations. If the network bandwidth is limited or unstable, the syncing process can consume significant bandwidth, leading to a slowdown in other internet-dependent activities and affecting overall computer performance.
  • Conflicts with Antivirus or Firewall Software: In some cases, conflicts between OneDrive and certain antivirus or firewall software can cause performance issues. Security software might scan files during the syncing process, leading to increased resource usage and a slowdown in computer performance.

If OneDrive slowing down your computer with Windows 10, or Windows 11 seriously, try the following solutions to quickly fix it.

How to Stop OneDrive from Slowing Down My Computer? 12 Ways

Way 1. Restart OneDrive

Sometimes, OneDrive slowing down file explorer can be fixed by restarting OneDrive, here is how it works to restart OneDrive:

1. Please tap the OneDrive icon on the system tray.

2. Click the Help & Settings icon > Quit OneDrive.

Quit OneDrive
Quit OneDrive

3. Tap OneDrive in the Windows search box, and click OneDrive to open it.

Now check whether your OneDrive slows down the computer or not. Try the following solutions if OneDrive still slows down your computer.

Way 2. Check Internet Connection

To speed up OneDrive sync, you have to check your Internet connection, you might need to connect to another stable Internet connection. Then check whether OneDrive sync slows down your computer or not.

Way 3. Disable OneDrive from Startup Programs

If OneDrive takes up so many system resources, like CPU, you can try to disable the OneDrive desktop app on your startup programs. Startup programs will use many resources from the beginning once you start your computer. So, try to disable OneDrive from the Startup programs like this:

1. Please right-click your Taskbar on your computer, and choose Task Manager.

2. Select the Startup tab, scroll down to find Microsoft OneDrive, select it, and hit Disable (Or right-click Microsoft OneDrive, then choose Disable).

Disable OneDrive in Task Manager
Disable OneDrive in Task Manager

After that, check if your computer has been sped up.

Way 4. Sync Files on Idle

If you have tried other solutions for OneDrive slowing down the computer, and didn't work, you can try syncing files on idle time, like at midnight, or another time range to sync files to OneDrive.

Way 5. Unlink OneDrive

Unlink OneDrive can fix your problem with OneDrive slowing down your computer according to feedback. Here is how it works:

1. Click the OneDrive icon from your notification area, and choose the Help & Settings icon > Settings.

2. Click Account > Unlink this PC > Unlink account.

Unlink This PC
Unlink This PC

3. Then sign in to your OneDrive desktop app with your account.

Then OneDrive slow-down computer should be fixed. Unlink OneDrive only interrupts the transfer between the computer and the cloud, your files still stay safe. Your files need to be synced will be synced again after linking your OneDrive account.

Way 6. Reinstall OneDrive

Sometimes, your OneDrive desktop app is not the latest version so some bugs in OneDrive slow down your computer. Therefore, uninstalling OneDrive and installing the latest version of the OneDrive app on your computer can fix it.

1. Please go to Start > Settings > Apps.

2. Find and click Microsoft OneDrive, and hit Uninstall.

Uninstall OneDrive
Uninstall OneDrive

3. Download the latest version of OneDrive, and install it, then sign in to your OneDrive account.

Your computer should run normally right now.

Way 7. Use Files On-Demand

OneDrive sync of a large number of files can cause your computer to run slowly, so you can sync only the needed files to speed up your computer. Files On-Demand is a useful feature for you to sync only selected files between the device and the cloud. So, enabling Files On-Demand can fix your problem:

1. Please tap the OneDrive icon and select the Help & Settings icon > Settings.

2. Select Sync and backup > Advanced settings > Turn on Files On-Demand. OneDrive will restart.

3. Choose Free up disk space under Files On-Demand.

Free Up Disk Space
Free Up Disk Space

After that, your devices only download the files from the cloud when you open them for the first time. OneDrive slow down computer will be released.

Way 8. Turn Off Antivirus and Firewall Software

To avoid OneDrive slow down computer problems, Antivirus and Firewall software should be closed temporarily. Just turn them off, and check if the problem persists.

Way 9. Delete Some AppData Files

OneDrive has some temporary and cached files that might cause the slowing down your computer, so you have to delete the unnecessary files to speed up your computer and OneDrive.

1. Please open Task Manager, and find Microsoft OneDrive (Setup).

2. Click it and choose End Task.

3. Then go to the folder C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\setup\logs, and delete the two files: UserTelemetryCache.otc and UserTelemetryCache.otc.session.

Delete OneDrive Cache Files
Delete OneDrive Cache Files

4. After that, go to C:\Users\your username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive to find the OneDriveSetup file, and install it.

Then check if your OneDrive slow-down computer is solved or not.

Way 10. Check OneDrive Network Settings

Please check your OneDrive Network settings to don’t limit, and check if the problem is fixed.

1. Please tap the OneDrive icon and select the Help & Settings icon > Settings.

2. Go to Sync and backup, and expand the Advanced settings.

3. Turn off the Limit download rate and Limit upload rate.

Turn Off Upload And Download Limit
Turn Off Upload And Download Limit

Way 11. Reset OneDrive

Reset will clean up all settings in your OneDrive, so please make sure you reset OneDrive to fix this problem, here is how it works:

1. Please hit the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog.

2. Input "%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset" and press "Enter".

Reset OneDrive
Reset OneDrive

Tip: You can input "C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset" or "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset" to reset if you see a "Windows cannot find..." message.

Way 12. Try OneDrive Website to Sync

If the above ways still cannot fix your problem, it’s advised to uninstall the OneDrive app and sync files with the web version of OneDrive.

Tip: Turn to Another Cloud for Help Instead of OneDrive

OneDrive slowing down your computer still bothers you a lot after all of this, it’s advised you use other clouds, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or other clouds to avoid this issue. However, there is no built-in direct way to migrate OneDrive to Google Drive, or other clouds, what should you do? Fortunately, you can migrate OneDrive to Google Drive with the powerful web-based multi-cloud manager - MultCloud.

  • It permits you to sync, transfer, or backup files between any two of the clouds you have.
  • 30+ clouds are supported, including OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Workspace, OneDrive for Business, Dropbox Business, iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, MEGA, MediaFire, Box, Box for Business, and many more, just move files smoothly.
  • Manage all cloud drive files with one login and you don't need to switch accounts frequently.

Here are the simple steps to sync files from OneDrive to Google Drive with MultCloud:

1. Please sign up for a MultCloud account and log in.

2. Tap Add Cloud to add OneDrive and Google Drive in order.

Add OneDrive And Google Drive
Add OneDrive And Google Drive

3. Click Cloud Sync on the left menu, then hit From to choose OneDrive, click To to select Google Drive.

Sync OneDrive to Google Drive
Sync OneDrive to Google Drive

4. Pitch on the Sync Now button to migrate OneDrive to Google Drive directly.

Tips: Before the migration, you're able to configure the below useful settings:

  • In Options, set up Sync Modes, like One-way sync (7 modes), Two-way sync, and real-time sync (2 modes); enable email alert when completing the task, and use Filter to sync only the file types you like.
  • In Schedule, you’re able to perform the sync task daily, weekly, or even monthly, which is very useful to perform the task regularly to generate the changes. Enjoy it after upgrading to the MultCloud Subscription plan, then get faster sync speed as well as all advanced features.
  • Smart: Easily share cloud files via public, private, or source mode.
  • Efficient: One-key data transfer, sync, and backup between clouds.
  • Safe: Full-time 256-bit AES and OAuth authorization protections.
  • Easy: Access and manage all clouds in one place with one login.
  • Extensive: 30+ clouds and on-premise services are supported.

Sum It Up

After knowing why is OneDrive so slow, you have mastered the solutions to fix the OneDrive slow-down computer issue, follow the above solutions to solve it. If the problem still persists after all of the solutions, or OneDrive is not syncing files, migrating OneDrive to Google Drive or other clouds could be the last shot to avoid the OneDrive problems.

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