Some Files Could Not Be Synced
Google Drive Software
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Google Drive for Desktop shows 'Some files could not be synced' when at least one file in your sync set failed to upload or download — and the rest are syncing fine.
Click the message to see the list of affected files.
Causes are usually a forbidden filename, a file open in another app, a path that's too long, or a Workspace policy blocking that file type.
Affected Models
- Google Drive for Desktop on Windows
- Google Drive for Desktop on macOS
- Both Workspace and personal Google accounts
Common Causes
- Filename or path contains characters Drive doesn't accept
- Path longer than Windows' 260-character limit
- File locked open by Word, Excel, Photoshop, or another app
- File type blocked by Workspace admin (executables, archives in some setups)
- File over the 5 TB upload limit (rare but possible for video files)
- Workspace shared drive at its file count limit (400,000 files per shared drive)
How to Fix It
-
Click the message to see the list.
The Drive Desktop tray icon shows a yellow exclamation mark when files have failed.
Click it.
The panel shows which specific files couldn't sync, with the reason for each one.
Don't skip this — the right fix depends on the reason listed. -
Close any apps that have the file open.
Word, Excel, Photoshop, even Quick Look on Mac can hold a file lock.
Close every app that's editing or previewing the file.
Drive retries automatically every minute or so — give it 60 seconds and refresh the error list. -
Check the filename.
Google Drive doesn't sync files with these characters: / \ : * ? " < > | or filenames that start or end with a dot.
Files saved by some apps include colons or pipes — rename to remove them.
Common offenders: timestamps like '2026-04-09 14:32:00.png' (the colons) or cmd output redirected to files. -
Shorten long paths.
On Windows, the full path can't exceed 260 characters by default.
Deeply-nested folders inside Drive often hit this.
Move the file or folder closer to the Drive root, or rename parent folders shorter.
Mac doesn't have this limit but the file still won't sync to Drive web for any peer who's on Windows. -
Ask your admin if it's a Workspace policy.
If you're on a work account and the error mentions 'blocked by your administrator' or 'cannot be uploaded', it's a policy decision — not something you can fix on your end.
Common blocks: .exe, .bat, .ps1, .zip with executables inside.
Send the file via approved channels or ask IT for an exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the file eventually sync if I just wait?
No — Drive doesn't auto-resolve the underlying cause.
It retries the upload, but if the file has a forbidden character or is too long, every retry fails for the same reason.
You have to fix the file or path.
Files over 5 TB or in shared drives at file-count limits also need active intervention.