How to Stop Syncing with OneDrive

OneDrive syncs your files, folders, videos, and photos for quick access on your smartphone or other PCs. Sometimes OneDrive can sync documents folders, and photos non-stop, and pick up the ones you don’t want to keep. At that point, you might opt to stop it from Syncing.

This article will explain how to stop OneDrive from syncing using different approaches.

How You Can Disable OneDrive Syncing

You can use a number of techniques to turn off OneDrive Syncing. The methods shown below are easy to use on Windows 10 and 11.

Pause the Drive

One way to stop OneDrive temporarily is to pause it. It will pause even if it is in the middle of synching some files. You can choose the period of time you wish to stop the syncing action, including two, eight, or twenty-four hours. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Launch the app by clicking “Open.”
   
2. Choose the gear icon to view “Settings.” Press “Pause Synching” and choose for how long you want to stop the process.
   
3. After the pause period lapses, click on “Resume synching.”
   

Quit Using OneDrive

The next method you can use to stop OneDrive from synching folders and files is to switch it off.

1. Open OneDrive icon.
   
2. Move to “Help & Settings.”
   
3. Select “Quit OneDrive.”
   
4. Then, hit the “Close OneDrive” button.
   

 Stop OneDrive From Synching Folders

One issue with OneDrive is that it can sync all folders, including the ones you don’t want. Thankfully, you can limit the syncing process to the most valuable folders.

1. Click “OneDrive” icon on the bottom right corner.
   
2. Select the gear icon to see “Help & Settings.” Tap “Settings.”
   
3. Click “Choose folders” below the “Account” tab.
   
4. A pop-up window containing different folders will appear. Uncheck the boxes of the folders you want OneDrive to stop syncing.
   
5. Finish by clicking “OK.”
   

Stop OneDrive From Syncing Desktop Icons

The only way to stop OneDrive from syncing your desktop is to manage backup folders. This is what you need to do:

1. Click “OneDrive” icon and then the gear icon to access “Help & Settings.”
   
2. Choose “Settings” to trigger a Microsoft OneDrive window.
   
3. Click “Manage backup” below the “Backup” tab.
   
4. Uncheck the “Desktop Folder.”
   

Disable Automatically Sync a Folder

OneDrive can upload and save photos, videos, and screenshots automatically. If you want to stop that, do the following:

1. Click on the “Backup” tab and uncheck “Automatically save photos and videos to OneDrive whenever I connect a camera, phone, or other device to my PC.”
   
2. Also uncheck “Automatically save screenshots I capture to OneDrive.”
   

Unlink Your PC and Account Permanently

Another way to block OneDrive fully is to unlink the account. After that, OneDrive will no longer sync files, folders, desktop, and photos.

1. Open Microsoft OneDrive window.
   
2. Move to “Account” and hit “Unlink this PC.”
   
3.  Then, click on “Unlink account” under “Unlink account on this PC.”
   

Disconnect Microsoft Office Apps From Synching

OneDrive will sync even your office applications unless you restrict it. Here are the steps to stop it:

1. Go to Microsoft OneDrive Window and click settings icon.
2. Choose the “Office” tab.
3. uncheck “Use Office applications to sync Office files that I open.”
4. Click “OK” to save and finish.

Uninstall OneDrive From Windows PC

Another permanent way to block OneDrive from syncing is to uninstall it.

1. On the taskbar’s search box, type “control panel.”
   
2. Then click “Open” to launch the control Panel.
   
3. On the menu click “Programs”.
   
4. Click “Uninstall a program”.
   
5. On the “Organize” tab scroll down to where “Microsoft OneDrive” is and choose “Uninstall.”
   
6. Right click on it and click “Uninstall” and wait for the system to uninstall the program.
   

A shorter path entails pressing Win + 1 and then clicking on “Apps.” Choose “Apps & features” and find Microsoft OneDrive. Click “Uninstall” and wait for the process to end.

Turn On the Battery Mode

One of the activities that drain your computer RAM and battery is OneDrive syncing. If your battery is full, OneDrive will sync continually. Hence, enabling battery mode is a great way to stop OneDrive from syncing.

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open Windows “Settings” app.
   
2. Move to “System” and then choose “Power & Battery” in Windows 11 or “Battery” in Windows 10.
   
3. Turn battery mode on under the “Battery saver” tab. If you let your laptop battery charge to drop below 20%, battery mode will turn itself on.
   

Empty OneDrive Folder

A simple way to discontinue OneDrive syncing is to empty a critical file source that facilitates its work. This is called the local OneDrive folder. All files in the local OneDrive folder must enter the web-based cloud. It is crucial to prevent files from leaving this folder. If none of the files are important to you, delete all of them. Leaving local OneDrive empty leaves the cloud-based storage service without a syncing source.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on “This PC” on the desktop.
   
2. On the left pane of the Windows Explorer, select OneDrive.
   
   
3. An alternative path is clicking OneDrive directly on the taskbar. You can also search it on “Type here to search” on the taskbar. Then, click OneDrive icon and then “Open.”
   

Hide OneDrive if You Can’t Uninstall It

Windows operating systems vary widely, meaning that some won’t let you remove OneDrive. If your PC can’t uninstall OneDrive, you can hide it to stop it from working.

1. Open MS OneDrive and go to “Settings.”
   
2. Move to the “Account” and press “Choose folders.”
   
3. A window will pop up with folder boxes. Check and uncheck “Make all files available.” When you check this box, you’ll select all other folders. To de-select all these items, click the box to uncheck and click “OK”.
   
4.  From “Settings,” click on “Sync and backup.”
   
5. Choose the “Save photos and videos from devices” tab. Then, untick, “Automatically save photos and videos to OneDrive whenever I connect a camera, phone, or other device to my PC.” Uncheck “Automatically save screenshots I capture to OneDrive.”
   
   
6. Now go back to “Settings” and open the “Account” tab to “Unlink this PC.” This will discontinue the connection between OneDrive and your Windows PC.
   

Now to hide OneDrive will be a simple task:

1. Access OneDrive through Windows file explorer or desktop. Then, right-click it to choose “Properties.”
   
2. A “Properties” window will emerge. Beneath the “General” tab and check “Hidden.” and press “OK” to save changes.
   
3. Lastly, stop OneDrive indefinitely by quitting it.
   

FAQs

How can you stop OneDrive from syncing temporarily?

If your device stays offline most of the time, OneDrive won’t automatically upload and download files and folders. This is a temporary solution. OneDrive will resume syncing when you connect your device to the internet. You can also suspend OneDrive for a few hours.

What storage system can replace OneDrive after removing it?

This software is similar to OneDrive. They can back up folders, files, and applications and sync them to a different storage location for future retrieval. A good example is the MiniTool ShadowMaker.

Disable OneDrive Syncing

OneDrive backs up your crucial files, folders, and photos and transfers them to a cloud-based storage location. If you want to stop it from syncing files and folders, it’s a relatively simple process. When you’re ready to synch again, you’ll have no difficulty doing so either.

Have you stopped OneDrive from syncing before? If so, did you use the tricks and tips featured in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.