Msosync.exe is an essential component of Microsoft Office that manages document caching and synchronization. While it’s designed to improve your Office experience, it can sometimes cause errors or high CPU usage. This article will guide you through several methods to fix Msosync.exe-related issues on your Windows computer.
What is Msosync.exe?
Msosync.exe, short for Microsoft Office Synchronization, is a process that handles document caching for various Office applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive. It’s typically located in the Microsoft Office installation folder, such as “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OfficeX”, where X represents your Office version number.
The primary function of Msosync.exe is to create a local cache of your Office documents, enabling faster access and improved performance when working with files stored in cloud services like OneDrive or SharePoint.
Common Msosync.exe Issues
Users may encounter several problems related to Msosync.exe:
- High CPU usage, even when the system is idle.
- Application errors, such as “MSOSYNC.EXE – Application Error”.
- “Msosync.exe – Bad Image” errors.
- Slow system performance due to excessive resource consumption.
How to Fix Msosync.exe Errors and High CPU Usage
Follow these methods to resolve Msosync.exe-related issues on your Windows computer:
Method 1: Update Microsoft Office
Step 1: Open any Office application like Word or Excel.
Step 2: Click on the “File” menu, then select “Account”.
Step 3: Click on the “Update Options” dropdown and select “Update Now”.
Step 4: Wait for the updates to install, then restart your computer.
Updating Office can often resolve compatibility issues and bugs that may be causing Msosync.exe errors or high CPU usage.
Method 2: Perform a System File Checker (SFC) Scan
Step 1: Press Windows key + X and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin)”.
Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Step 3: Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your computer.
The SFC scan checks for and repairs corrupted system files, which may be causing Msosync.exe to malfunction.
Method 3: Disable and Re-enable Office Upload Center
Step 1: Open any Office application and go to File > Options.
Step 2: Click on “Trust Center”, then “Trust Center Settings”.
Step 3: Select “Privacy Options” and uncheck “Allow Office to connect to the Internet”.
Step 4: Click “OK” to save changes, then restart your computer.
Step 5: After restarting, re-enable the option you disabled in Step 3.
This process can reset the Upload Center and potentially resolve synchronization issues causing Msosync.exe errors.
Method 4: Repair Microsoft Office
Step 1: Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Go to “Apps” > “Apps & features”.
Step 3: Find Microsoft Office in the list, click on it, and select “Modify”.
Step 4: Choose “Online Repair” for a thorough fix, or “Quick Repair” for a faster option.
Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the repair process.
Repairing Office can fix corrupted files or settings that may be causing Msosync.exe to behave erratically.
Method 5: Reset OneDrive
Step 1: Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
Step 2: Type one of the following commands based on your OneDrive location:
%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
or
C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
or
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
Step 3: Press Enter to execute the command.
Step 4: Wait for OneDrive to restart, which may take a few minutes.
Resetting OneDrive can resolve synchronization issues that may be causing Msosync.exe to consume excessive resources.
Method 6: Temporarily Disable Msosync.exe
Step 1: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Step 2: Find “Msosync.exe” in the Processes tab.
Step 3: Right-click on it and select “End task”.
While this is a temporary solution, it can provide immediate relief from high CPU usage. However, be aware that this may affect Office document synchronization until you restart your computer or the process starts again.
If you’ve tried all these methods and still experience issues with Msosync.exe, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance. They may be able to provide more specific guidance based on your Office version and system configuration.