OneDrive for Business shared library sync stays pending for Mac users: Fix Guide

When you add a shared library in OneDrive for Business on your Mac, the sync status often shows “Pending” and never completes. This prevents you from accessing the library files offline and can block file updates from other team members. The root cause is usually a conflict between the local OneDrive cache and the shared library’s metadata, often triggered by macOS permissions or stale credentials. This guide explains why the pending state occurs and provides four proven methods to restore full sync.

Why OneDrive Shared Library Sync Gets Stuck on Pending for Mac

OneDrive for Business uses a local cache folder at ~/Library/CloudStorage/ to store synced files. When you add a shared library, OneDrive must download the library’s metadata and file structure into this cache. If the cache already contains stale or conflicting metadata from a previous library sync, OneDrive cannot complete the initial download and shows “Pending” indefinitely.

macOS privacy controls further complicate this. Starting with macOS Catalina, apps need explicit permission to access files in certain folders. If OneDrive does not have full disk access or if the cache folder has incorrect permissions, the sync engine cannot write new data and remains in a pending state.

A second common cause is an expired or revoked OAuth token. OneDrive for Business authenticates using Azure Active Directory tokens stored in the macOS Keychain. If the token has expired because the user changed their password, or if the token was revoked by an admin policy, OneDrive cannot validate the shared library membership and stays pending.

Methods to Fix OneDrive Shared Library Pending Sync on Mac

Each method below targets a specific root cause. Start with Method 1 because it resolves the majority of pending sync issues without affecting other settings.

Method 1: Unlink and Relink OneDrive on Mac

Unlinking removes the local cache and forces OneDrive to rebuild its metadata from scratch. This clears any corrupted cache files that cause the pending state.

1. Open OneDrive Preferences
   Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar. Click the gear icon and select Preferences.
2. Go to the Account tab
   In the Preferences window, click the Account tab at the top.
3. Unlink this Mac
   Under your account name, click Unlink this Mac. Confirm the action when prompted. OneDrive will close automatically.
4. Restart OneDrive and sign in again
   Open OneDrive from the Applications folder. Sign in with your work or school account. After sign-in, go to Preferences > Account and click Add a shared library. Re-add the library that was pending.

Method 2: Clear OneDrive Credentials from Keychain

If the pending state persists after unlinking, the stored OAuth token may be invalid. Deleting it forces OneDrive to request a fresh token.

1. Open Keychain Access
   Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.
2. Search for OneDrive entries
   In the search field, type OneDrive. A list of items appears, including entries named OneDrive, Microsoft Office, and com.microsoft.OneDrive.
3. Delete all OneDrive-related entries
   Right-click each entry and select Delete. Confirm deletion. Delete every item that contains “OneDrive” or “Microsoft” in its name.
4. Restart OneDrive
   Quit OneDrive completely using Activity Monitor. Open OneDrive again and sign in. Re-add the shared library.

Method 3: Grant Full Disk Access to OneDrive on macOS

macOS privacy settings can block OneDrive from writing to the cache folder. Granting Full Disk Access resolves this.

1. Open System Settings
   Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Go to Privacy and Security
   In the sidebar, click Privacy and Security.
3. Select Full Disk Access
   Scroll down and click Full Disk Access. Click the lock icon and enter your Mac password to make changes.
4. Add OneDrive
   Click the plus (+) button. Navigate to Applications and select OneDrive.app. Click Open. Ensure the checkbox next to OneDrive is enabled.
5. Restart OneDrive
   Quit and reopen OneDrive. The shared library should now sync normally.

Method 4: Reset OneDrive Cache via Terminal

This method removes the local cache folder directly and is useful when the cache is corrupted but unlinking did not work.

1. Quit OneDrive
   Right-click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar and select Quit. Confirm if asked.
2. Open Terminal
   Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
3. Run the cache removal command
   Type the following command and press Enter:
   rm -rf ~/Library/CloudStorage/OneDrive-
   This deletes all OneDrive cache folders for your account.
4. Restart OneDrive
   Open OneDrive from the Applications folder. Sign in and re-add the shared library. OneDrive will rebuild the cache from scratch.

If OneDrive Still Shows Pending After the Main Fixes

OneDrive Shared Library Shows Pending After MacOS Update

macOS updates often reset privacy permissions. After updating to macOS Sonoma or Sequoia, OneDrive may lose Full Disk Access. Reapply Method 3 to restore access. If the issue persists, run the Terminal command in Method 4 to clear the cache and then reapply Full Disk Access.

OneDrive Shared Library Pending with Error Code 0x8004de40

This error indicates a network connectivity problem. Open System Settings > Network and verify your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. If the connection is stable, the error may be caused by a proxy or VPN blocking OneDrive traffic. Temporarily disable any VPN or proxy and restart OneDrive. If the library syncs, configure the VPN to exclude onedrive.com and all subdomains.

OneDrive Shared Library Pending Only for Specific Libraries

If only one shared library shows pending while others sync normally, the library may have a broken permission inheritance. Open a browser, go to the SharePoint site that hosts the library, and check the library permissions. Ensure your account has at least Read access. If the library is set to Everyone except external users, confirm your account is not an external guest. If permissions look correct, ask the library owner to remove and re-add you as a member.

Unlink vs Keychain Clear vs Full Disk Access: Key Differences

Item	Unlink and Relink	Clear Keychain Credentials	Grant Full Disk Access
What it fixes	Corrupted local cache and metadata	Expired or invalid OAuth tokens	macOS privacy blocks on cache folder
Time required	5–10 minutes	2–3 minutes	2–3 minutes
Risk of data loss	None; files remain on OneDrive cloud	None; tokens are recreated on sign-in	None
Does it affect other apps	No	May affect other Microsoft apps until they re-authenticate	No
When to use	First attempt for any pending sync	If unlink did not work or after password change	If pending occurs after macOS update

You can now resolve the pending shared library sync on your Mac using unlinking, Keychain cleanup, or Full Disk Access. Start with unlinking because it fixes the widest range of issues. After the sync completes, verify that Files On-Demand is enabled in OneDrive Preferences > Sync and backup > Advanced settings to save local disk space. If the problem returns after a macOS update, reapply Full Disk Access as a preventive step.