How can I stop my files from saving to OneDrive?

Question

How can I stop my files from saving to OneDrive?

Anonymous

My computer is brand new and automatically saves files to OneDrive. I don't like this because my computer has more than 400gb of data, but I have some files, apps, programs etc. that are 1-5gb such as some computer games I play in my spare time. I downloaded them and my OneDrive is only 5gb on the freeplan is now overflowing. I am getting warning messages in the app and online saying I will no longer be able to send or receive emails because I have no space.

I do not need cloud storage, I just need my files to save locally because I (like 99% of people) have non need for cloud storage on a computer thats intended for general personal use and where the local storage outnumbers OneDrive storage 100 to 1.

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Answer accepted by question author

Rodrigo Queiroz 78,595 Independent Advisor

Hi,

I'm Rodrigo and I'll help you.

Disable the OneDrive feature and unlink your account to stop this issue.

Right-click the OneDrive icon on the right side of the taskbar (cloud icon) > Settings > Sync and Backup > Manage Backup > Turn off all options.

This will disable the OneDrive Backup Feature and restore the default location of the folders. Your files may "disappear" but they are stored in the OneDrive folder, you can move the files from there to your folders.

After you move your files from the OneDrive folder to the current folders, you can unlink your account on OneDrive Settings > Account > Unlink this PC > Unlink account.

If you need to free up space on your OneDrive account, you can delete files by accessing OneDrive from the browser on https://onedrive.live.com/

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4 additional answers

Answer 1

IMHO, there is no need to unlink the PC from the account. As long as all folders in Settings > Sync and Backup > Manage backup page are disabled, (assuming you want to) you can use the OneDrive as a normal cloud storage location where the files are separate from your local files.

Any folders/files you have created in the OneDrive - Personal location in the Explorer Navigation pane (or the default location C:\Users\user\OneDrive) will be shown in the Settings > Account > Manage Folders. You can select or deselect the folders you want to sync with other systems linked in your account.

(Please correct me if I've gotten any of this incorrect.)

Answer 2

Anonymous

Thank you this worked. I do not know why anyone would want to default to saving on one drive for personal use when the space is dwarfed by any standard local storage. Very appreciated.

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Answer 3

Great! I'm glad it worked

Why disable the whole drive if you only want to keep one file off OneDrive?

"Disable the OneDrive feature and unlink your account to stop this issue.
Right-click the OneDrive icon on the right side of the taskbar (cloud icon) > Settings > Sync and Backup > Manage Backup > Turn off all options.

This will disable the OneDrive Backup Feature and restore the default location of the folders. Your files may "disappear" but they are stored in the OneDrive folder, you can move the files from there to your folders.

After you move your files from the OneDrive folder to the current folders, you can unlink your account on OneDrive Settings > Account > Unlink this PC > Unlink account."

Thanks!

Answer 4

Rodrigo Queiroz 78,595 Independent Advisor

Great! I'm glad it worked

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