why would my OneDrive suddenly be processing over 40,000 changes?

This thread is 100% about endlessly processing (hundred) of thousands files to process. And I do see the files processing with a rate of ~1 file/sec. This should be a thread that people should respond to with the same disastrous situation.

I am having the same issue. I have made very few changes to any of my one drive files. It is taking hours to process these files. Why should we create a new thread if we are all having similar issues?

I have tried resetting OneDrive as suggested (needed to do the first two windows key R run time steps in the post). At first the OneDrive tray icon told me it is processing 23k changes now it is back up to 214k changes just like it was when I first noticed this problem. I have not changed any files or folders in fact I have not used my computer for 5 days (it is now 2/10/2025). What I do find alarming is the notification in the Windows Explorer right-hand sidebar telling me don't worry you can keep working while we copy files to your hard drive and the cloud......UH HOLD ON A MINUTE, please. When I put a file on OneDrive I want it on the cloud not my hard drive. Do you mean to tell me all the files and folders that I have designated as Cloud only are going to need to be re-designated as Cloud only again????? And that the Resetting process is going to be CLOGGING UP MY LAPTOP HARD DRIVE while resetting? I hope not.

The same thing is happening on all my machines, so I suspect it must be an issue with the latest OneDrive update. I have this version:

Do other users have the same issue in the same version?

The OneDrive release notes do not even mention this version yet:
OneDrive release notes - Microsoft Support

Dear MalcolmPerfect,

Good day to you!

I hope you are doing well. Thank you for reaching out to us. We genuinely want to assist you in resolving the issue you’re experiencing.

As community moderators, we have limited resources for in-depth troubleshooting, and unfortunately, we are unable to take remote sessions. However, we can share some general troubleshooting steps that may help resolve the issue.

May I ask if you have tried resetting OneDrive during this issue? If not, I highly recommend resetting OneDrive, as it often resolves unexpected syncing or functionality problems. For your convenience, here is the official Microsoft article with detailed steps on how to reset OneDrive: Reset OneDrive - Microsoft Support.

Additionally, I suggest clearing both Office and OneDrive-related cache from your computer, as cached data can sometimes cause issues.

I would like to acknowledge that my initial response may not resolve your current situation immediately. However, with your input and some additional specific details, we can work together to identify a clear solution for your current challenge.

Thank you for your understanding. Your cooperation and contributions are greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Nahid Sultan