Explanation of the OneDrive icons for Windows and Mac.
What do the OneDrive icons tell you?
The OneDrive icons in the notification area and File Explorer tell you the sync state of the file or folder, as follows:
Blue cloud icon
A blue cloud icon next to your OneDrive files or folders indicates that the file is only available online. Online-only files don’t take up space on your computer.
People icon next to a file or folder
If you see a “people” icon next to your OneDrive files or folders, this indicates the file or folder has been shared with other people.
Green tick icons
When you open an online-only file, it downloads to your device and becomes a locally available file. You can open a locally available file anytime, even without Internet access.
If you need more space, you can change the file back to online only. Just right-click the file and select “Free up space.”
Solid green circle with the white check mark
Files that you mark as “Always keep on this device” have the green circle with the white check mark.
These always available files download to your device and take up space, but they’re always there for you even when you’re offline.
Padlock icon
OneDrive will show a padlock icon next to the sync status if the file or folder has settings which prevent it from syncing.
Three little blue lines
The glimmer marks (three little blue lines) seen next to a file or folder indicate that the file is new. You’ll see this only when using OneDrive.com online.
Red circle with white cross
A red circle with a white cross means that a file or folder cannot be synced. You’ll see this in File Explorer or on the OneDrive notification area icons.
Click the OneDrive icon in the notification area to learn more about the problem.
Gray OneDrive icon
A grayed-out OneDrive icon in the taskbar means you’re not signed in, or OneDrive setup hasn’t completed.
OneDrive paused icon
The paused symbol over the OneDrive icon means your files are not currently syncing.
To resume syncing, select the OneDrive icon in the notification area, select More and then Resume syncing.
OneDrive icon with sync pending arrows
The circular arrows over the OneDrive notification icons signify that sync is in progress. This includes when you are uploading files, or OneDrive is syncing new files from the cloud to your PC.
Red with white bar OneDrive icon
If you see a red “no entry” style icon over your OneDrive icon, it means your account is blocked.
Yellow exclamation mark OneDrive icon
If you see a yellow warning triangle over your OneDrive icon, it means your account needs attention. Select the icon to see the warning message displayed in the activity center.