How to Update OneDrive on Windows 10?
Last updated
Last updated
OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service, provides users with a secure and efficient way to store, access, and share files from anywhere. With OneDrive, you can keep your important files backed up and synchronized across multiple devices. However, to take full advantage of new features, security enhancements, and bug fixes, it’s crucial to keep OneDrive updated. In this article, we will walk you through the process of updating OneDrive on Windows 10, covering automatic updates, manual updates, troubleshooting, and much more.
Before diving into the update process, let’s take a moment to understand why keeping OneDrive up-to-date is important:
New Features: OneDrive regularly introduces new features that improve functionality, such as enhanced file-sharing options, more seamless integrations with Microsoft 365, and more.
Security Improvements: OneDrive updates often contain security patches to protect your files from vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. These security enhancements are crucial in safeguarding your data from potential breaches.
Bug Fixes and Stability: Like any software, OneDrive may experience bugs that hinder its performance. Updates typically resolve these issues, ensuring that OneDrive operates smoothly and with minimal interruptions.
Performance Enhancements: Updates can help OneDrive perform better, whether by improving syncing speeds, reducing crashes, or optimizing the user experience.
Compatibility with New Windows Features: As Windows 10 is updated, OneDrive may require updates to maintain compatibility with the latest Windows features. Regular updates ensure that OneDrive runs smoothly on the latest version of the operating system.
By default, OneDrive is designed to update automatically on Windows 10. OneDrive updates typically happen behind the scenes and are integrated with the Windows Update process. However, there are occasions when updates may not be installed automatically, or you may want to check manually to ensure that your version of OneDrive is up-to-date.
As mentioned, OneDrive updates are generally automatic. To ensure that this process works seamlessly, you need to confirm that automatic updates are enabled. Windows 10 automatically handles OneDrive updates as part of the system’s update settings. Here’s how to ensure that automatic updates for OneDrive are enabled:
Step 1: Check Windows Update Settings
OneDrive updates are pushed through Windows Update, so you need to make sure your Windows Update settings are configured to automatically download and install updates.
Open Windows Settings: Click on the Start menu (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of your screen, and select Settings (the gear icon).
Navigate to Update & Security: In the Settings window, click on Update & Security. This section manages Windows updates, including updates for OneDrive.
Check for Updates: Under the Windows Update section, click on Check for updates. This will allow Windows to search for available updates for the system, including OneDrive.
Install Updates: If there are updates available for OneDrive (or any other system updates), Windows will automatically download and install them. You may need to restart your computer to complete the installation.
Step 2: Verify That Automatic Updates Are Enabled
To ensure automatic updates for OneDrive, follow these steps:
Open Settings again by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings.
Go to Update & Security, and click on Windows Update.
Click on Advanced options to open a new window.
Make sure that Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows is enabled. This ensures that OneDrive will automatically receive updates alongside Windows updates.
Although OneDrive typically updates automatically through Windows Update, there may be times when you want to manually check for and install updates. Here’s how you can manually update OneDrive on Windows 10:
Step 1: Check for Updates from the OneDrive Application
Open OneDrive: Click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of the screen). If the OneDrive icon isn’t visible, you may need to click the small upward arrow to reveal hidden icons.
Open OneDrive Settings: Right-click on the OneDrive icon, and in the drop-down menu, select Settings.
Check for Updates: In the Settings window, go to the About tab. You should see an option to Check for updates. Click on this option to check for any available updates.
Update OneDrive: If an update is available, OneDrive will begin downloading and installing the update. You may need to wait for the process to complete. Once the update is installed, you’ll be running the latest version of OneDrive.
Step 2: Reinstall OneDrive (if Needed)
If the above steps don’t work or if you’re experiencing issues with OneDrive updates, reinstalling OneDrive is another way to ensure you’re using the latest version. Here’s how to reinstall OneDrive on Windows 10:
Uninstall OneDrive:
Open the Start menu and go to Settings.
Select Apps.
Under Apps & features, scroll down to find Microsoft OneDrive, and click on it.
Click Uninstall, and follow the on-screen instructions to remove OneDrive from your computer.
Reinstall OneDrive:
After uninstalling, you can reinstall OneDrive by going to the Microsoft Store or downloading it directly from the OneDrive website.
Once installed, launch OneDrive and sign in with your Microsoft account to sync your files again.
After updating OneDrive, it’s a good idea to confirm that you’re using the latest version. Here’s how to check the current version of OneDrive on your Windows 10 PC:
Open OneDrive Settings: Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Settings.
Go to the About Tab: In the Settings window, click on the About tab. Here, you will see the current version number of OneDrive installed on your system.
Compare Version Numbers: You can compare this version with the latest version available by visiting Microsoft’s website or by searching for version release notes to verify that you're using the most current version.
While updating OneDrive is usually a smooth process, there are occasions when users may encounter problems. If OneDrive fails to update or you run into issues, here are some troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
OneDrive requires a stable internet connection to download and install updates. If you have a slow or intermittent connection, the update may fail to download. Ensure that your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection is working properly.
2. Check for Pending Windows Updates
Sometimes, OneDrive updates are delivered as part of Windows Updates. If there are pending updates for your operating system, install those updates first, as they may include important updates for OneDrive.
Open Settings, go to Update & Security, and click on Check for updates. Install any available updates and restart your PC.
3. Restart the OneDrive Process
If OneDrive isn’t updating, try restarting the OneDrive process to resolve minor glitches:
Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Look for OneDrive under the Processes tab, right-click it, and select End task.
After OneDrive has been closed, click the Start menu and search for OneDrive to relaunch the app. The app will attempt to sync your files and may check for updates.
4. Clear OneDrive Cache
Corrupted cache files can sometimes prevent OneDrive from updating. You can clear the cache to fix update issues:
Close OneDrive by right-clicking the icon in the system tray and selecting Close OneDrive.
Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\ and hit Enter.
In the folder that opens, delete all the files and folders. Restart OneDrive and check if the issue persists.
5. Reinstall OneDrive
If none of the above steps work, reinstalling OneDrive is often the most effective solution. Follow the steps outlined earlier in this guide to uninstall and then reinstall OneDrive.
Keeping OneDrive updated on Windows 10 ensures that you benefit from the latest features, security improvements, and bug fixes. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily update OneDrive either automatically or manually. If you encounter any issues with the update process, troubleshooting steps such as checking your internet connection, restarting OneDrive, or reinstalling the app can help resolve the problem.