# 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: 2026-10-21  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/fix-sync-errors

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**

1. Is the computer online? **You are offline. Syncing resumes as soon as the network is back.**
2. Is sync paused? See [Pause and resume sync](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/pause-and-resume-sync).
3. Is your Drime storage full? **Drime storage quota exceeded**: see [Check and free up storage space](https://drime.cloud/support/drive/check-and-free-up-storage).

**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](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/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](https://drime.cloud/support/desktop/send-logs) from the Drime window.