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Stop OneDrive backing up Desktop and Documents on Windows and Mac

By LookedApp · Published

Microsoft OneDrive icon

Open OneDrive's Manage backup screen and switch the folder off. On Windows, OneDrive asks whether to keep the files only in OneDrive or only on your PC. On a Mac, files already backed up stay in OneDrive and disappear from the local folder until you drag them back.

Windows

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, then Help & Settings > Settings.
  2. Go to Sync and backup and select Manage backup.
  3. Switch the folder's toggle off.
  4. Choose one: Keep the files only in OneDrive, removing them from your computer, or Keep the files only on my PC, removing them from OneDrive.

If the folder holds cloud-only files (placeholders that aren't downloaded), you get "Some files couldn't be moved. Download them first by changing their state to Always keep on this device." Do that, then try again. Open files can't be moved either, so save and close them first.

Mac

Stopping doesn't bring files back: files already backed up "stay in the OneDrive folder, and will no longer appear in your device folder."

  1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar, then the three dots > Preferences.
  2. Go to the Backup tab and select Manage backup.
  3. Select Stop backup for the folder and confirm.
  4. In the folder, open the "Where are my files" shortcut. It opens the folder in OneDrive.
  5. Select the files and drag them back to the local folder.

New files you add after stopping aren't backed up.

OneNote notebooks

If a folder contains OneNote notebooks, stopping backup fails with "OneNote notebooks can't be moved." Notebooks are cloud-based files and can't be moved to your computer.

Stopping everything instead

Unlinking OneDrive from a computer loses no files, and they stay available at OneDrive.com. On Windows it's Settings > Account > Unlink this PC. On a Mac it's Preferences > Account > Unlink this Mac.

Uninstalling loses no files either. On Windows 10 and 11 it's in Add or remove programs. On Windows 8.1, OneDrive can't be uninstalled, only hidden.

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