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How can I stop OneDrive syncing shortcuts?

Anonymous
2021-04-25T18:11:47+00:00

Hello everyone.

So I recently bought a Razer Blade Pro 17 to replace my Acer Aspire 5 as my daily-use laptop. However, my shortcuts are synced to the Razer (which is annoying because many of the apps aren't installed yet). How can I disable the icons and shortcuts syncing across each other?

I do have the "Sync Between Devices" off in Settings, however it didn't seem to make a change. I also was not able to unlink the Desktop on OneDrive from either desktops, so that's an issue.

It's really frustrating me. I just don't want it to sync my shortcuts, but want both devices to keep connected to OneDrive and keep syncing my actual files.

If anyone has a solution, PLEASE let me know.

Thanks a lot!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-07-22T09:25:54+00:00

    Hi there, appreciate this is an old(ish) thread, but wanted to provide one potential workaround for you.

    Working on the assumption that you have admin rights on both of your machines, you should be able to drop any shortcuts you don't want to sync in your OneDrive Desktop section in to the Public Desktop (C:\Users\Public\Desktop). Anything put in here will be available on your desktop (albeit it won't show in the Desktop folder in File Explorer) and won't sync to your OneDrive.

    You may already have come across this or found a better workaround, but wanted to make the suggestion in case it was of any use!

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-04-26T18:09:03+00:00

    Thank you so much Craiglong.

    However, as you mentioned earlier, having it in a folder just truly defeats the purpose and messes the desktop up.

    I know, for sure, that there's a way to create a shortcut without linking it from the Start menu (which backs it up to OneDrive). Do you have any idea?

    If you don't, I suppose I'll just live with it and install the apps on both so that the shortcuts will still exist.

    I just don't want shortcuts to sync. That's it. Microsoft should've thought of the chaos of having the desktop messed up because shortcuts get synced, let alone the layout. Requesting the feature to be added from Microsoft is a whole other deal, since you have a slim chance for them to listen to you and apply it. And, while Microsoft applies a solution, it'll be months away and I, obviously, will not be able to wait months to use my new laptop and have it have a proper desktop.

    I guess that's the only solution, you say?

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  2. Craig Long 17,825 Reputation points
    2021-04-26T06:37:26+00:00

    So you're telling me that there's no solution and that I'll have to mess up one desktop in favor of another?

    This is absolute nonsense. Why didn't Microsoft think of it earlier? It's really frustrating having to deal with each and how the shortcuts are managed on each.

    Isn't there ANY way to create new shortcuts that DO NOT sync to OneDrive? That's all I want.

    You can turn off the OneDrive PC Folder Backup for the Desktop and move folders and files that you want to remain in OneDrive into other OneDrive synced folders.

    How to turn ON/OFF the OneDrive PC Folder Backup:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/back-up-your-documents-pictures-and-desktop-folders-with-onedrive

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  3. Craig Long 17,825 Reputation points
    2021-04-26T04:20:39+00:00

    Hello Renzo,

    Thanks for the reply.

    It's really annoying seeing that I cannot disable syncing shortcuts. That's really frustrating and annoying.

    Perhaps there's a way to create app shortcuts without them getting synced to OneDrive?

    I really would like a solution, whatever way it is. I don't want to have blank shortcuts ruining my desktop and sitting uselessly there.

    Are you sure there isn't any solution to this problem whatsoever? It's seriously frustrating.

    Thanks a lot for replying again.

    Supposedly that is what the "pin to start menu" is all about.  The start menu shortcuts do not sync to OneDrive.  But I still like to see shortcuts on the desktop.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-04-25T20:01:39+00:00

    Dear MGuy.21,
    I am Renzo, as an Independent Advisor and Office user, I'll help you with your question.

    At this point is not possible to disable to sync .ink shortcuts files, basically is a limitation, but I suggest you to send your feedback to PG (product group) through the Microsoft OneDrive UserVoice, is the way to communicate with them, they always see ideas and suggestions from community users in order to improve the app.

    take a look at below suggestion:
    https://onedrive.uservoice.com/forums/913522-on...

    Any doubt, let me know and have a nice day.

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