OneDrive red X sync issue

Dear @Matthew,

Based on your description and my research, this issue is most likely related to permission mismatches, SharePoint library configuration, or OneDrive sync‑client behavior, even though the affected users are members of the site (which typically grants Edit permissions). Since resetting OneDrive only provides temporary relief, this strongly suggests a deeper configuration or cache‑related issue rather than a simple permissions problem.

You’ve already tried the basic troubleshooting steps, so below is a structured escalation path based on similar reported cases. Please test one step at a time, and restart OneDrive or File Explorer after each change.

1.Verify Effective Permissions in SharePoint (Rule Out Hidden Restrictions)

Although Site Members normally have Edit access, item‑level permissions, broken inheritance, or library‑specific settings can override this.

• Log in to the SharePoint site as an admin or owner.
• Navigate to the problematic library/folder/file.
• Select the item > ... (ellipsis) > Manage access > ... > Advanced settings
• In the permissions page, click Check Permissions (ribbon or top menu).
• Enter the affected user's name/email > Check Now.
• Confirm it shows at least "Edit" or "Contribute" (not just View/Read). If lower, grant Edit permissions directly or via the group.
• Also check for unique permissions: On the same page, if "This library inherits permissions from its parent" is false, click Stop Inheriting Permissions > reset to inherit if needed, then re-apply group access.

If permissions are confirmed as correct and the issue persists, the problem is likely related to how the OneDrive sync client interprets the library configuration.

2.Check and Adjust SharePoint Library Settings

Certain configs force read-only behavior during sync.

• In SharePoint, go to sharepoint site > Settings(gear icon) > Library settings > More library settings
• Select Versioning settings:
• Set Require content approval to No.
• Set Require documents to be checked out to No (this prevents edit locks).

3.Update OneDrive and Run a Full Repair

• Right-click OneDrive icon > Help & Settings > About > Check version (should be 26.x or later).
• If outdated, download/install the latest from OneDrive release notes - Microsoft Support
• After update: Settings > Account > Add an account (if needed), or run repair:
• Press Win + R > Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset > Enter.
• Wait 2-3 min, then relaunch OneDrive.
• If that fails, uninstall/reinstall OneDrive via Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft OneDrive > Uninstall, then reinstall.

If none of the above solutions work, let me know in the comments for further investigation. Please note that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'm looking forward to your reply. 

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it.

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

A red circle with a white cross on OneDrive items in File Explorer means those files or folders cannot be synced. In this scenario, the OneDrive client is reporting that the items are read-only and require edit permissions to sync.

Key points and actions:

1. Understand the red X indicator
   • A red circle with a white cross on a file or folder indicates that OneDrive cannot sync that item. This is shown either on the item in File Explorer or on the OneDrive icon in the notification area.
   • Clicking the OneDrive icon in the notification area will show more detail about the error, which in this case is the read-only/permissions message.
2. Check permissions on the SharePoint library
   • Because the folder is a shortcut to a shared SharePoint location, the users must have edit permissions on that SharePoint library or folder to allow full sync operations (including changes that OneDrive may need to make during sync).
   • If they only have read permission, OneDrive will flag these items as not syncable and show the red X.
   • Confirm in SharePoint that the affected users have at least edit permissions on the shared folder/library. If not, update their permissions and then let OneDrive resync.
3. Use OneDrive’s built-in error details
   • Click the blue or white OneDrive icon in the notification area.
   • Review the listed sync problems for the specific files/folders with the red X to confirm they are all reporting the read-only/permissions issue.
4. If specific files still fail
   • For any items that continue to show a red X after permissions are corrected, check for other restrictions (unsupported characters, strings, or other sync limitations) and rename or adjust those files as needed.
   • OneDrive for work or school has restrictions on file names and paths; if a file violates those, it will also fail to sync and show a red X.
5. When a file cannot be synced
   • If an item remains unsyncable (for example, intentionally read-only content), it will continue to show the red X. In that case, users can still access the content directly in SharePoint/OneDrive on the web, but it will not behave as a fully synced, editable local file.

These steps focus on resolving the underlying cause (insufficient edit permissions or file restrictions) rather than repeatedly resetting the OneDrive client, which only provides temporary relief if the permission issue remains.

References:

• What do the OneDrive icons mean?
• Troubleshoot file upload issues with OneDrive