After renaming a SharePoint site, the OneDrive sync client may stop syncing files and show a sync error. This happens because the sync client stores a reference to the original site URL, and renaming the site changes the URL path. The sync client does not automatically update its stored reference. This article explains why the sync breaks and provides a step-by-step fix to restore syncing without data loss.
Key Takeaways: Fix OneDrive Sync After Site Rename
- OneDrive Settings > Account > Stop sync: Removes the old sync connection for the renamed site.
- OneDrive Settings > Account > Add a PC or folder: Reconnects the renamed site to OneDrive sync.
- File Explorer > Local folder: Contains previously synced files that remain intact after stopping sync.
Why Site Rename Breaks OneDrive Sync
When you rename a SharePoint site, the site URL changes. For example, https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/oldname becomes https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/newname. The OneDrive sync client stores the original URL in its configuration. After the rename, the sync client tries to connect to the old URL, which no longer exists. This results in a sync error with the message “We can’t sync this folder right now” or a red circle with a white X in the system tray.
The sync client does not detect the URL change automatically. SharePoint does not send a redirect to the new URL for sync connections. The sync client only checks the stored URL and fails when it cannot reach the old site. The fix requires stopping the old sync relationship and creating a new one using the updated site URL.
Steps to Restore OneDrive Sync After Site Rename
Follow these steps on each computer where the site was synced. The steps assume you have the renamed SharePoint site URL available.
- Open OneDrive settings
Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray and select Settings. Go to the Account tab. - Stop syncing the renamed site
Under Choose folders, locate the renamed site. Click Stop sync next to the site name. Confirm the action when prompted. This removes the sync connection but does not delete your local files. - Open the local folder and verify files
Open File Explorer and navigate to the OneDrive folder. Find the folder that previously synced the site. All files should still be present. If you want to keep a local backup, copy the folder to another location before proceeding. - Add the renamed site to OneDrive sync
In OneDrive Settings > Account, click Add a PC or Add a folder (the label varies by OneDrive version). Paste the new URL of the renamed site. Click Sync. - Choose folders to sync
In the sync setup dialog, select the libraries and folders you want to sync. Click OK to start syncing. OneDrive downloads the files from the renamed site to your local OneDrive folder. - Merge local files if needed
If you kept a backup of the old local folder, copy its contents into the new synced folder. Allow OneDrive to upload any new or changed files to the renamed site.
If OneDrive Sync Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
OneDrive Shows “This folder is already synced”
This error appears if the old sync connection was not fully removed. Go back to OneDrive Settings > Account and verify the renamed site no longer appears under Choose folders. If it still appears, run Stop sync again and restart OneDrive. Then repeat the steps to add the new site.
Files are missing from the local folder after stopping sync
Stopping sync does not delete local files by default. If files are missing, check the Recycle Bin on your computer. Also check the SharePoint site Recycle Bin for any files that were deleted during the rename process. Restore any missing files from either location before re-syncing.
Multiple users report sync errors after site rename
This is expected because each user must stop and restart sync individually. There is no admin option to push a sync update to all users. Send a communication to all site members with the steps in this article. Consider using a SharePoint news post to share the new site URL and instructions.
Stop Sync vs Unlink PC: Differences for Site Rename
| Item | Stop Sync | Unlink PC |
|---|---|---|
| Effect on local files | Files remain in OneDrive folder | Files remain in OneDrive folder |
| Effect on other synced sites | Only the selected site stops syncing | All sites and OneDrive personal stop syncing |
| Steps to reconnect | Add the renamed site only | Re-add all sites and OneDrive personal |
| Recommended after site rename | Yes | No, use Stop sync to minimize disruption |
After a site rename, use Stop sync rather than Unlink this PC. Unlinking removes all sync connections and requires reconfiguring each one individually. Stop sync only affects the renamed site and saves time.
You can now restore OneDrive sync after a SharePoint site rename using the Stop sync and Add a folder method. The fix takes about five minutes per computer. To avoid future disruptions, plan site renames during off-peak hours and notify users in advance. For large sites with many synced users, consider using a SharePoint migration tool instead of renaming the site, as the tool handles URL updates automatically.