How can I stop OneDrive from backing up my entire laptop?
Asked by
MellowPine47
OneDrive is signed in on both my laptop and desktop using the same account. After a recent update, my laptop keeps re-enabling OneDrive and attempting to sync or back up large portions of my PC whenever I restart it, even after I turn the feature off. This creates heavy disk and network usage, and I have had to remove unwanted files several times. I only need the laptop for work, creative apps, calls, and a few smaller games; my desktop handles most of my other files and applications. I would like to keep the shared login for convenience but prevent the laptop from backing up its Desktop, Documents, Pictures, or other folders. What settings should I change, and should I unlink or uninstall OneDrive?
Answers
If you do not need OneDrive on the laptop at all, make sure any files you want are fully downloaded and available locally first. Then unlink that computer from the OneDrive account, disable OneDrive in Task Manager's Startup apps, and uninstall it if necessary. Unlinking the laptop will not remove the account from your desktop, but be careful not to delete cloud files when Windows asks where to keep them.
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There may be two separate things happening: normal folder syncing and Windows' automatic folder backup. Turning off startup only stops the app from launching automatically; it does not undo folder backup. Disable the folders in OneDrive's backup controls, then verify that the laptop's Desktop and Documents paths no longer point to a OneDrive folder before restarting.
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Check OneDrive's backup settings rather than only its general sync settings. Open OneDrive settings, go to Sync and backup, choose Manage backup, and turn off Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. When prompted, choose to keep the files on the computer if you do not want them moved into OneDrive. Also check the OneDrive account and Backup sections for any folders that were added during the update.
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Setting the laptop's Wi-Fi connection as metered can slow or pause OneDrive, but that is only a workaround. It will not stop the backup from being enabled again, so I would use it temporarily while changing the folder-backup or unlink settings.
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