Fix desktop sync errors

A file won't sync with Drime Desktop? The most common errors on Windows, what each one means and how to fix it.

Updated October 21, 2026Windows

When files cannot sync, the Drime icon shows a sync problem. Open the Drime window, then the account menu > Issues to see each file and its reason. A notification can also offer View problems.

#The Issues window

Filters: All issues, To resolve, Auto-fixable, Action required and Resolved.
Each issue shows its type, for example Name conflict, File locked, Permission denied, File too large, Invalid characters, Path too long, Disk full, File not found, Network error or Hard link.
On a row: Fix applies the automatic correction, Retry tries the sync again, Ignore leaves the file out of sync, Show in folder opens it on your computer and Open on drime.cloud opens it on the web. Retry all retries every issue.

Issue fixed with Sync is resuming. confirms a fix. Fix failed means the automatic fix did not work: rename the file manually or click Ignore to exclude it from sync.

Checks

Is the computer online? You are offline. Syncing resumes as soon as the network is back.
Is sync paused? See Pause and resume sync.
Is your Drime storage full? Drime storage quota exceeded: see Check and free up storage space.

How to fix it

#The file is locked by another program

Close the program that has the file open, then retry.

#The file path is too long

Windows limits paths to 260 characters. Drime shows how many items are blocked and offers Enable long paths: accept it, which needs an administrator's approval. Long paths enabled then means the blocked items sync on the next pass. Not enabled means the administrator confirmation was cancelled; Could not enable long paths means Windows refused: ask an administrator to enable long paths, then restart Drime. You can also shorten the folder or file names, or move the item closer to the root.

#The name contains characters Windows does not allow

Names with \ / : * ? " < > |, ending with a dot or a space, or reserved by Windows (such as CON or NUL) cannot exist on Windows. Click Rename on Drime on the issue: Drime gives the item a Windows-compatible name on Drime, then syncs it. You can also rename it yourself on the web.

#A file with the same name (different case) already exists

Windows does not tell apart Report.pdf and report.pdf. Rename one of them on Drime.

#Not enough disk space

Free up space on your computer, or make files online-only: see Online-only and offline files.

#The file has several hard links

Windows can't sync a file that has several hard links. Replace the link with a copy of the file.

#Access denied, check the file permissions

Check that your Windows account can read and write the file or folder.

#Sync engine error, sync stopped

The sync engine stopped after a problem. Wait a few seconds: it restarts on its own. If it keeps stopping, send your logs (see below).

#Server temporarily unavailable, or paused after repeated errors

Drime retries on its own. Wait a few minutes.

Still stuck?

If an error stays, send your desktop logs to support from the Drime window.

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