- The “can’t add your folder right now” OneDrive error appears for varying reasons.
- Sometimes, a quick restart of your device may resolve it.
- Check your internet connection, too, as slow speeds or stuttering connections can interfere.
The “Can’t Add Your Folder Right Now” OneDrive error message sometimes shows up when you’re trying to sync your files or introduce a new folder to your OneDrive storage. It’s a pain, as it prevents the folder in question syncing correctly, and it’s not the easiest issue to fix, as it has multiple possible causes.
This guide explores how to fix “Can’t Add Your Folder Right Now” OneDriveerrors.
Fix 1. Turn Syncing Off and On Again
A quick, simple fix for this issue is to temporarily disable OneDrive syncing and then re-enable it. It only takes a matter of seconds to try this fix, so it’s worth attempting it before trying any of the more complicated ones.
Step 1. Right-click the OneDrive icon.
Step 2. Select “Pause syncing” and click any time – 2 hours is fine. You’ll then see a message that says your files aren’t syncing at the moment.
Step 3. Wait 30 seconds at least. Then click the pause message at the top of the screen to re-enable syncing, and try adding your folder again.
Fix 2. Try the OneDrive Troubleshooter
Windows has many handy troubleshooter tools to find and fix issues with its most popular programs, including OneDrive.
Step 1. Visit the online OneDrive troubleshooter web page .
Step 2. Click “Sync issues” and wait for the next steps to appear on-screen.
Step 3. Follow the various on-screen prompts and answer the questions to help the troubleshooter figure out what’s going wrong. It should provide you with some recommended fixes at the end, which you can then attempt to use.
Fix 3. Review the Folder Permissions
Sometimes, the specific folder you want to add to OneDrive is the cause of the drama. It might have conflicting permission settings that are preventing OneDrive from syncing with it. You can actually test this out by trying to add a different folder. If other folders work fine, but one of them doesn’t, then that’s most likely a specific problem with the folder in question. Here’s how to fix its permissions:
Step 1. Find the folder you want to work with in your File Explorer. Right-click on it and select “Properties.”
Step 2. Go to the “Security” tab. Check your account and see if it has all the relevant permissions over the folder. Ideally, you want to see check marks next to permissions like “Modify” and “Full control.” If you don’t have the right permissions, click the “Edit” button and adjust them.
Fix 4. Verify Your Storage Space
It’s possible that you just don’t have enough room left on OneDrive to add your folder, which is why you see the “Can’t Add Your Folder Right Now” OneDrive error.
Step 1. Open the OneDrive website and sign in or click the OneDrive icon in your toolbar and then go to the “Settings” page to see exactly how much storage you’re using and how much is left available.
Step 2. Check the size of the folder you want to add. You can do this in the File Explorer just by hovering your mouse over it or right-clicking and going to “Properties.”
Step 3. If the folder is too big, you’ll have to either cut it down to size or go into your OneDrive account and remove some things to clear room.
Fix 5. Reset OneDrive
Resetting OneDrive is one of the more complex fixes, but can be an effective last resort if all else fails.
Step 1. Press the “Windows” and “R” keys together. This should open the “Run” box. You can alternatively just type “Run” into the search bar and select the “Best Match.”
Step 2. Type in “wsreset.exe” to first reset the Windows Store, and click “OK.” Wait a moment while the process works, and you’ll see the Store app open up.
Step 3. You can try OneDrive again at this point. But if it’s still not working, open “Run” again and enter “%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset”. If that gives you an error, try “C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset” instead or “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset” – the right option varies from device to device.
Step 4. Restart OneDrive by finding it in your start menu and manually opening it.
