How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (2024)

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How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive

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If you want to stop a file or folder from syncing or backing up, you can pause the upload or download. See Stop syncing temporarily below for details.

If uploads or downloads with the OneDrive websiteare taking too long, or you selected the wrong files, theycan be cancelled. You can also cancel uploads and downloads on mobile devices.See Stop syncing some files below for details.

If you want to opt out of using OneDrive or you want to remove an account after you change job or graduate, you can unlink your Microsoft or work/school account. See Stop syncing everything below for details.

If syncing is slowing down your computer or internet connection, or it's just at a bad time for you, you can pause OneDrive and schedule the sync to resume later.

  1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

  2. Select Pause syncing then chooseeither 2 / 8 / 24 hours or selectQuit OneDrive.

  3. To restart, press the Windows key or open Mac Spotlight and type OneDrive, then select the OneDrive app.

Tip:The sync will resume automatically, but you can keep rescheduling so that the sync runs overnight.

Choose OneDrive folders

If you don't want to sync all of your folders in OneDrive to your computer, you can specify which folders you'd like to sync. Learn more about how to choose which OneDrive folders to sync to your computer.

To cancel an upload to the OneDrive website

  1. On the top toolbar, select How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (1) Uploading to show the Progress of each file.

  2. To cancel the entire upload, select How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (2) at the top of the list.

    Tip:You can also cancel individual files from the upload.

To stop a downloadfrom the OneDrive website

  1. Go to the download area of your browser (at the bottom of the browser window).

  2. Select the downloading file options and choose Cancel.

    How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (3)

To cancel a OneDrive upload on your mobile device

  1. Tap the X underneath the thumbnail of the file that's being uploaded.

To stop a OneDrive download on your mobile device

  1. Open your Download Manager notifications.

  2. Tap Cancel by the file download you want to stop.

To cancel opening a OneDrive file

When you use File Explorer to open a file marked as How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (4) Available when online, OneDrive will download it first. To stop this download follow these steps:

  1. Open OneDrive from the icon on the taskbar.

  2. Select the X next to the file currently downloading.

    How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (5)

If you made a mistake adding or uploading the file to your OneDrive folders

  1. Pause OneDrive.

  2. Delete itor move it out of your OneDrive folders.

    Tip:Files deleted from OneDrive.com go to your OneDrive recycle bin. Files deleted from your computer's OneDrive go to your computers Recycle Bin or Trash.

  3. Select the OneDrive icon on the taskbar or menu bar and select Resume How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (6).

If you accidentally marked a file or folder as "Always keep on this device"

  1. Close OneDrive by right-clicking the OneDrive taskbar or menu bar icon.

  2. Restart OneDrive from the Windows Start menu or Mac Finder.

  3. Mark the file or folder as Free up space.

  4. If you made a mistake adding or uploading the file to OneDrive, you can delete itor move it out of your OneDrive folders.

To cancel file deletion

If you accidentally deleted or moved a lot of files, and want to stop the deletion, the safest option is to let the action complete, then undo (CTRL/How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (7)+ Z) or restore the files.

  1. To restore files, go to the OneDrive website and open your Recycle bin.

  2. Select the file(s) that were deleted by mistake and select Restore.

Quit OneDrive

  1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

  2. Select Pause syncing then select Quit OneDrive.

Remove an account

If you want to stop using OneDrive or you want to remove an account after you change job or graduate, you can unlink your Microsoft or work/school account.

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon from the taskbar or menubar, select the gear iconthen selectSettingsorPreferences.

  2. Select then Settings again and go to the Account tab.

  3. Select Unlink this PC.

Remove OneDrive from Windows 10/11

If you want to uninstall OneDrive, follow the steps below.

  1. Open Settings to find the list of installed apps.
    Open Settings

  2. Scroll down to find Microsoft OneDrive, and then select and Uninstall.

Read turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive for help on removing OneDrive from other platforms.

Tip:You won't lose files or data by removing OneDrive fromyour computer. You can always access your files by signing in to OneDrive.com.

See also

How to Pause and Resume sync in OneDrive

Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive

Unlink and re-link OneDrive

Need more help?

How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (8)

Contact Support
For help with your Microsoft account andsubscriptions, visit.

For technical support, go to Contact Microsoft Support, enter your problem and select Get Help. If you still need help, selectContact Supportto be routed to the best support option.

How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (9)

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Admins should view Help for OneDrive Admins, the OneDrive Tech Community or contactMicrosoft 365 for business support.

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How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive (2024)

FAQs

How do I cancel OneDrive Sync? ›

Stop syncing a library
  1. Select the OneDrive for work or school icon. in the Windows notification area at the bottom of your screen, and then select the Settings icon. ...
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Select Account and then select Choose folder.​​​​​​​
  4. Select the folder you want to stop syncing, and then select OK.

How do I unsync files from OneDrive? ›

Open OneDrive settings (select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area, and then select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon then Settings.) Go to the Account tab. Select Choose folders. In the Choose Folders dialog box, uncheck any folders you don't want to sync to your computer and select OK.

How do I stop OneDrive from syncing folders without deleting files? ›

Step 1: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray or menu bar. Step 2: Head to Settings > Account > Choose folders. Step 3: Uncheck the folders you want to un-sync while keeping others checked. Step 4: Click OK to apply the changes.

How do I stop OneDrive from doing anything? ›

Windows 10/11
  1. Select the OneDrive cloud in your notification area to show the OneDrive pop-up.
  2. Select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon then select Settings.
  3. Go to the Account tab.
  4. Select Unlink this PC.

How do I deactivate sync? ›

  1. On your Android device, open Chrome .
  2. On the right of the address bar, tap More Settings.
  3. Tap your name.
  4. Tap Sign out and turn off sync. When you turn off sync and sign out, you're also signed out of other Google services, like Gmail. You can sign in again without the need to turn on sync.

Can you cancel sync? ›

If you no longer want to continue using Sync you can cancel anytime from the Sync.com web panel. Closing your account will permanently delete all account data, including all file data stored in the cloud. This action cannot be undone.

What happens if I turn off OneDrive? ›

You won't lose files or data by disabling or uninstalling OneDrive on your computer. You can always access your files by signing in to OneDrive.com. In Windows 10, OneDrive is the default save location for your files and documents.

What happens if I unlink OneDrive? ›

Note: No data will be lost by unlinking and re-linking your OneDrive, your local folders are just disconnected from the cloud for a short while. Any changes made while you're unlinked will be synced once re-linking is complete.

How do I stop OneDrive from saving everything? ›

Go to the OneDrive cloud icon on the taskbar > Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup and turn OFF the syncing of your folders. That will stop folders from backing up to OneDrive.

How do I delete OneDrive folders but keep on my computer? ›

Delete from your OneDrive but not your computer

If you want to keep a file, photo, or folder on your computer, but not on OneDrive, use File Explorer or Mac Finder to move the file outside your OneDrive folder to a different folder on your computer.

Can I block one file syncing with OneDrive? ›

Go to the "Account" tab and click on "Choose folders." 4. Uncheck the folders that you do not want to sync with OneDrive.

How do I free up space on OneDrive? ›

One of the fastest ways to free up OneDrive space is to remove large files you don't need. Find these files by opening your OneDrive folder and sorting by size. Oust some old files. If you want to see which files you use least, sort your OneDrive folder by Date modified in ascending order.

How to make OneDrive stop syncing? ›

Stop syncing everything

Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar. Select Pause syncing then select Quit OneDrive.

How do I unsync my OneDrive folder? ›

Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of the screen) and select "Settings". In the "Account" tab, click on "Choose folders". Uncheck the box next to the folder(s) you don't want to sync to OneDrive. Click "OK" to save the changes.

What happens to my files if I cancel OneDrive? ›

If you explicitly delete a subscription, it skips the Expired and Disabled statuses and SharePoint Online data and content, including OneDrive, is immediately deleted.

How do I cancel Microsoft OneDrive? ›

Replies (1) 
  1. Go to the Manage subscription page and if prompted, sign in with the same Microsoft account you used to purchase your Microsoft 365 subscription.
  2. Select Cancel subscription (it might say Upgrade or cancel).
  3. See the Please review section at the top of the cancel page.
May 12, 2024

How do I stop files from automatically saving to OneDrive? ›

How to Disable Windows 10 from using OneDrive as the default save location
  1. Right-click on the 'Start' button in the bottom left corner of your screen and click on 'System. '
  2. Click on 'Storage. '
  3. Click on 'Change where new content is saved. '
  4. Change all the categories you want to move from OneDrive to your C: drive.
Dec 13, 2023

How do I dismiss OneDrive sync issue? ›

Common Fixes To OneDrive Sync Problem
  1. Re-establish the sync. ...
  2. View online. ...
  3. Check and install windows updates. ...
  4. Unlink OneDrive and run the OneDrive set-up again. ...
  5. Move file/s out of the sync folder. ...
  6. Turn-Off Office Upload. ...
  7. Make sure you have enough space. ...
  8. Update, repair, or reinstall office.

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