How to Unsync OneDrive Windows 10

Amy Dennis

Jan 24, 2024 • Filed to: Take Data Backup • Proven solutions

When you are dealing with OneDrive, there comes a functionality that is termed as automatic sync. This automatic syncing feature backs up all the changes made on the data in the connected device. The backup is then stored in OneDrive cloud. Most of the time, this syncing feature backs up unwanted files and folders. Moreover, the syncing process progresses very slowly and takes a long while. Wrong items may be presented for syncing. In all these conditions, the only solution is to unsync OneDrive. This article explains various solutions for how to unsync OneDrive windows 10.

OneDrive is best on its syncing feature, but sometimes, it is essential to unsync OneDrive. In this regard, there appears a question, i.e., how to unsync OneDrive from your computer. Before heading towards solutions for this question, here are some details related to OneDrive as an application. OneDrive is an internet-based storage platform powered by Microsoft. Anyone with a Microsoft account is eligible to use this storage space for saving data. It is associated with cloud storage and helps to share the data easily. The platform is highly suitable with windows 10. The platform facilitates for syncing and sharing data. OneDrive is also used for synchronizing synchronize system settings, visual customizations, themes, app settings, and even Microsoft Edge's tabs, browsing history, and saved passwords in Windows 10. You can access the data stored on OneDrive via a web browser, PC, and desktop/mobile application. It is compatible with iOS, Android, macOS, Xbox, and all Windows. While using the OneDrive synchronization feature, as mentioned above, sometimes, wrong data, non-functional data, unwanted syncs are created via OneDrive. To avoid this situation, one can unsync OneDrive. This article explains various methods and provides a satisfactory answer for, i.e., how to unsync OneDrive windows 10. Here are the topics that would be discussed in detail.

Part 1: How to Unsync OneDrive Windows 10?

When you intend to unsync OneDrive, it is advised to clear all the unwanted duplicates present on the cloud. Cleaning up the cloud means removing all the copies from the cloud and the locations they are saved on the device. Moreover, sometimes, for securing the data against breach consequences, the only solution left is to unsync the OneDrive. Here are four essential methods that can be used to unsync the OneDrive from your device.

Method 1. Uninstall OneDrive APP

Uninstalling the OneDrive is the foremost technique that can be employed. Once you uninstall the app, the OneDrive sync will stop permanently. The data stored on OneDrive can then be accessed directly via the browser. To answer the question, i.e., how to unsync OneDrive Windows 10, here is the stepwise procedure. Follow the steps and uninstall the application.

Step 1: Initiate the process by pressing Windows key + R to launch the run command prompt.

Step 2: Once the command prompt is launched, type appwiz.cpl, and click OK to continue.

Step 3: In the next window, you will enter in the OneDrive application. Otherwise, you can directly type OneDrive in the search box to launch the application.

Step 4: Now click the application, and in the drop-down menu, select the option of Uninstall. Click yes to proceed.

If any predate creators update or any earlier windows 10 is the case, you cannot use the steps mentioned above. Using a command prompt will help. Here are the steps to follow in this situation.

Step 1: Launch the cmd command prompt via the search box. As soon as the command prompt launch, select the option to run as administrator.

Step 2: In the next prompt, type taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe and click return to close OneDrive application.

Step 3: Enter the following command to uninstall OneDrive on a 64-bit Windows platform. Click return to complete the action.

Step 4: In the case of a 32-bit system, enter the following command and press enter. It will lead to the uninstallation of OneDrive.

Method 2. Unsync OneDrive with Group Policy Editor

If the task is to unsync OneDrive, you can use the group policy editor. Using this approach, you don't have to uninstall the application. If you are using windows ten pro, you can disable OneDrive sync via group policy editor. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Launch the command prompt or type gpedit in the search box to launch gpedit.msc.

Step 2: In the next window, select the option of Computer Configuration and Administrative Templates, present in the left pane.

Step 3: Now click on the Windows Components and OneDrive folders.

Step 4: Next step is to click on the option of i.e., prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage setting present in the right pane of the Group Policy Editor window.

Step 5: Now click on the Enabled radio button and hit OK to continue.

In case you want to switch on the sync option for OneDrive, all you have to do is click on the not configured radio button to change the 'prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage' settings.

Method 3. Select the Unlink Account Option

If you are not using windows 10 pro and do not have the group policy editor utility on the device, then unlinking the account can also serve the purpose. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: start the process by clicking the OneDrive application icon. Right-click the icon, and in the drop-down menu, select the option of settings.

Step 2: Settings window will pop up. Here you have to select the account tab.

Step 3: In this account tab, click on unlink this pc to launch the dialogue box.

Step 4: A pop will appear on the screen; click on unlink account. It will lead to the unsyncing of OneDrive.

Step 5: In the settings option, you can also uncheck the option of Start OneDrive automatically when I log in to Windows. Click OK to complete the action.

Method 4. Select Unsync Specific Folder

Apart from unsyncing the entire OneDrive, you can also unsync specific files and folders that show problems. It will also help to release some space on the hard drive to save the new data set. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Click on the OneDrive icon and select the option of settings in the drop-down menu.

Step 2: In the settings menu, click on the account tab, and in this tab, click the Choose folders button.

Step 3: Now, click the choose folder option to launch the list of OneDrive files and folders.

Step 4: In the next window, uncheck the box of option Sync all files and folders in my OneDrive.

Step 5: Nextly, uncheck all the boxes corresponding files and folders that you want to unsync. Click OK to complete the action and to close OneDrive.

Once the process is completed, now these files and folders won't get synced by OneDrive. This is how you can perform an unsync mechanism on OneDrive by excluding specific files and folders.

OneDrive is famous for its high-end synchronization functionality. When connected with a specific device, the platform syncs all the data and store the copy to the associated cloud. But sometimes, many unwanted, non-functional, or wrong files and folders get synced multiple times. This leaves a burden on the memory of the cloud. In other cases, synchronization, when performed on a device working on a network, it could lead to a security breach, and your data gets on stake. To avoid all these scenarios, it is advised to Unsync OneDrive. This article deals with all the insights regarding OneDrive. Its sync functionality and how to unsync OneDrive from your computer or how to unsync OneDrive windows 10. Four viable solutions to unsync OneDrive are presented with comprehensive stepwise approaches.