What does the red “X” on Windows folders mean?

Do you see a red circle with a white cross to the left of your files, folders, or Windows drives? If so, it means OneDrive is out of sync and the folders affected by this issue are not syncing properly.

Other possible causes of this problem include misconfigured OneDrive settings, issues with Windows File Explorer, or corrupted icons. If you're sick of seeing these icons, this article will show you how to get rid of them.

Before we begin…

First, perform the following preliminary checks, as they may help you get to the root of the problem:

• Make sure the problem is not temporary by restarting the device once.
• If you are having this problem on a specific folder, check to see if any files in that folder are corrupted. You can repair corrupted files using built-in Windows tools.
• Make sure no storage or sync applications are currently open on Windows.
• If OneDrive is open on the web, close it.
• If you're using a Microsoft OneDrive premium plan, make sure it hasn't expired.

If the above checks do not help determine the cause, apply the remaining fixes.

Removes the red “X” mark on Windows folders

1. Sign in to OneDrive and start syncing

Look for the OneDrive icon at the far right end of your taskbar, also known as the notification area or system tray. Seeing a red slash or horizontal line over the OneDrive icon means you're no longer signed in to OneDrive and your files aren't syncing. So you'll need to sign in again to start syncing. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the system tray and click the OneDrive icon.

2. Click the Sign in button .

3. Enter the email address associated with your Microsoft account and click Sign in . If you want to sync your data with a OneDrive account created with the same Microsoft account you're using on your device, you won't have to enter a password.

4. Select a OneDrive folder location, or click Next to use the default location.

5. Then, follow some on-screen instructions to sign in to OneDrive.

After signing in, restart your device. Hopefully a fresh sync will resolve the folder icon issue. If not, move on to the next method.

2. Relink your OneDrive account

If your account is signed in to OneDrive but you are experiencing this issue, there may be a problem with syncing. Therefore, unlink the linked account and then link it again. Follow the steps below to do that:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray.

2. Click the gear icon in the upper right corner.

3. Select Settings from the menu.

4. Go to the Account tab in the OneDrive Settings window .

5. Then click Unlink this PC .

6. In the confirmation window, click Unlink account .

7. After unlinking the account, open Windows File Explorer or the folder where you see the red circle with a white cross.

8. Right-click to display the context menu, then click Refresh.

Hopefully unlinking your OneDrive account will fix the problem. If so, sign back into OneDrive by following the instructions in the first fix.

3. Change OneDrive settings

If you see crossed-out red circles next to files or folders when you're using Metered Connection or battery saver mode, you may have OneDrive configured not to sync files in these situations. You should change these settings if that's the case. Follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer .

2. On the left sidebar, right-click OneDrive and click Show more options .

3. Select Settings from the context menu.

4. Go to the Sync and backup tab in the OneDrive Settings window .

5. In the Preferences settings , turn off the buttons next to Pause syncing when this device is in battery saver mode and Pause syncing when this device is on a metered connection .

When you turn these two options off, OneDrive sync won't stop when your device is connected via Metered Connection or set to power saving mode.

4. Make sure OneDrive has enough free space

The issue discussed can also occur if there is not enough space in OneDrive to sync additional data. Therefore, if you are not successful in resolving the issue with the above fixes, you should check the free space in your OneDrive account.

To check, go to the OneDrive sign-in page. Then, enter your login information to access OneDrive. Once signed in, click the gear icon in the upper right corner and go to Options . Here, you'll see how much storage you have.

In case your OneDrive storage is full, you will need to delete some of your data stored there or you will need to uncheck some folders in OneDrive to prevent them from syncing. Furthermore, if you are on the free plan with 5GB of free storage, which is not enough to hold your data, then you should consider upgrading.

If you have enough free storage space in OneDrive, meaning low storage isn't an issue, then you can move on to the next step.

5. Restart the Windows Explorer process

Restarting the Windows Explorer process will fix most visual issues on a Windows PC, so if you haven’t already, you should do it now. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, check out our guide on how to restart File Explorer .

6. Reinstall OneDrive

If the problem persists despite applying the fixes above, you should reinstall OneDrive. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Settings .

2. Go to the Apps tab on the left.

3. Navigate to Installed apps or Apps and Features from the right.

4. In the Search apps field , type OneDrive.

5. Then click on the three horizontal dots next to Microsoft OneDrive and click Uninstall .

6. Then go to the OneDrive download page or the following link to download OneDrive again.

7. Then run the setup file and wait for it to finish installing.

8. Restart your device after the installation is complete.

9. Then, log back in to start syncing.

Seeing red circles on Windows folders gives the impression that your computer is having serious problems. Hopefully, now you understand why these annoying signs appear on folders. Besides, the fixes discussed in the article will help you solve this annoying problem.