OneDrive keeps uploading your Desktop, Documents, or Pictures while folder backup is enabled. You can stop backup for individual folders and keep using OneDrive for everything else. Start with Manage backup, where you choose whether your files stay on your computer or in OneDrive.
Turn off folder backup in OneDrive
Enabled folder backup keeps your Windows folders syncing with OneDrive.
Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
Open Help & Settings > Settings.
Go to Sync and backup > Manage backup.
Turn off the folder you no longer want backed up.
Choose where to keep your files. Keep the files only on my PC retains the computer copy and removes the OneDrive copy. Keep the files only in OneDrive retains the cloud copy and removes the computer copy.
If OneDrive prompts you about cloud-only files, select Always keep on this device for those files.
Wait for downloading to finish before completing the change.
Repeat for each unwanted folder. The available folders depend on your setup.
That file-location choice matters: folder backup is synchronization. Moving or deleting synced files affects their synced copies, including those in the cloud and on other devices. Use Manage backup before moving files out of a backed-up Desktop, Documents, or Pictures folder.
Change backup through Windows Settings
You can also change folder backup from Windows Settings, which is where Microsoft directs you to modify an existing Windows Backup configuration.
On Windows 11, go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
Open OneDrive folder synching.
Select Manage sync settings.
Turn off the unwanted folder.
Choose Keep the files only on my PC or Keep the files only in OneDrive to complete the change.
On Windows 10, go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > Back up files.
Turn off the unwanted folder.
Complete the same choice between Keep the files only on my PC and Keep the files only in OneDrive.
The separate Remember my apps and Remember my preferences switches do not stop OneDrive folder backup.
Stop Desktop and Documents backup on Mac
Mac folder backup covers Desktop and Documents. Microsoft specifies the standalone OneDrive app for this feature, rather than the Mac App Store edition.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar.
Open the three-dot menu.
Select Preferences.
Go to Backup > Manage backup.
Select Stop backup for the folder.
Confirm the change when prompted. Existing files remain in OneDrive.
Open Where are my files to find them.
Move the files you want back into the local folder.
If this does not stop syncing, try Unlink this Mac using the account controls below. If your organization has locked the backup settings, contact your administrator.
Keep an ordinary folder outside OneDrive
Moving an ordinary folder out of OneDrive keeps it local and removes its cloud copy when syncing resumes.
- 1.For cloud-only files you need locally, select Always keep on this device and wait for downloading to finish.
- 2.Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon, or Control-click it on Mac, then select Pause syncing and choose 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours.
- 3.Move the unwanted folder out of OneDrive into a local location that is not backed up. For Desktop, Documents, or Pictures under folder backup, use Manage backup first.
- 4.Select Resume to restart syncing.
Unlink your computer to stop all account syncing
Unlink your computer when you want to stop syncing an entire OneDrive account. Cloud files stay online, but unlinking does not guarantee that your original local folder paths are restored.
Before disconnecting, select Always keep on this device for any cloud-only files you need on the computer.
Wait for the downloads to finish.
On Windows, open the OneDrive cloud icon > Help & Settings > Settings > Account.
Select Unlink this PC.
Confirm with Unlink account.
On Mac, open the OneDrive cloud icon > Help & Settings > Preferences > Account.
Select Unlink this Mac.
Repeat for any other OneDrive accounts you want to disconnect on that computer.
Keep syncing from returning after a pause
A temporary pause expires automatically, so syncing starts again while folder backup remains enabled.
For a short break, right-click the OneDrive cloud icon, or Control-click it on Mac.
Open Pause syncing.
Choose 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours.
Repeat separately for any personal and work or school accounts you want to pause.
To stop syncing until the app launches again, select Pause syncing > Quit OneDrive. Your folder-backup configuration stays enabled.
To prevent automatic launch on Windows, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Startup.
Set Microsoft OneDrive to Off if it appears in the startup-app list.
Quit the currently running app through Pause syncing > Quit OneDrive. Changing its startup setting does not stop the current session.
Opening OneDrive manually lets syncing start again. To stop selected folder backups permanently, return to Manage backup and turn off those folders.
Ask IT to unlock managed backup controls
On a work or school device, your organization can enforce folder backup and block changes in Manage backup. An administrator must change that restriction before you can stop backup.
Contact your IT administrator and name the affected folders. Ask them to allow you to stop backup or return the folders to local storage, and tell them whether you need OneDrive for other files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Choose folders to stop backing up Documents?
No. Choose folders controls which OneDrive folders appear locally; unchecked folders remain online. Microsoft excludes Desktop, Documents, Pictures, and Personal Vault from being unchecked. Use Manage backup for backed-up Windows folders.
Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my online files?
No. Cloud files remain online after uninstalling OneDrive. Download any cloud-only files you need on your computer before removing the app. Uninstalling does not guarantee that your original local folder paths are restored.
Does stopping computer folder backup stop phone photo uploads?
No. Phone photo uploads have separate controls. On Android, open OneDrive and tap your account image. Go to Settings > Camera backup. Turn Camera backup off for the selected account. On iPhone or iPad, open OneDrive and tap your account image. Go to Settings > Camera Upload. Turn off the account’s upload toggle.