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Grey X on Files and Folders: What Does It Mean & How to Fix

Say goodbye to the grey X check mark

4 min. read

Updated onJuly 22, 2024

updated onJuly 22, 2024

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Have you ever had that nagging grey X on your files and folders and wondered what to do about it? This is something to be worried about as opposed to the green check mark.

A green check mark indicates that syncing withOneDrivewent well, but a grey X means something is wrong with syncing, and you risk losing your files.

What does a grey X on a file mean?

The cloud is an excellent place for storing files, but sometimes you may encounter errors when uploading your files. One common error is the grey X on OneDrive files.

Windows’ default cloud storage is the OneDrive which allows users to back up their files. However, when your file was uploaded and the grey X appeared, there was an error during the upload process, and your file could not be saved.

In the worst-case scenario, it means that the file is corrupted. Then, if you try to open it, you will get an error message.

Why is there a grey X on my files?

The most common reasons for this error are:

How can I get rid of a grey X on my files and folders?

First and foremost, before any advanced troubleshooting, check the following:

1. Launch the file using another application

This method only applies to single files and those that can be opened with alternative programs. For instance, if the grey X is on a word document icon, you can open it with Google Docs or a PDF reader.

2. Clear icon cache

3. Unblock the file

4. Disable inheritance

Inheritance refers to the ability of a folder to pass on its permissions and other settings to subfolders and files within it. If you disable inheritance on a folder, you prevent that folder from passing on its settings.

5. Pause OneDrive syncing

When you pause and resume OneDrive syncing, all of the files you have on your computer will be resynced. This way, if a problem is with damaged files, they can be synced afresh.

For users unable to resolve this issue,contacting OneDrive supportfor further assistance could be another option.

You may also encounter theOneDrive red X on folders, but we have an expert article that addresses how to maneuver around this issue.

If you feel that the OneDrive errors are too much to handle, you can opt for othercloud storage options.

Be sure to let us know any additional solutions you may have tried that worked for you in the comment section below.

Grey X on Files and Folders: What Does It Mean & How to Fix#

What does a grey X on a file mean?#

Why is there a grey X on my files?#

How can I get rid of a grey X on my files and folders?#

1. Launch the file using another application#

2. Clear icon cache#

3. Unblock the file#

4. Disable inheritance#

5. Pause OneDrive syncing#