Why did OneDrive suddenly start to sync everything? How can I delete this?

Question

I didn't have OneDrive signed in (I think?) but when I signed into my Outlook account on Microsoft Edge the syncing started and all my pictures, documents and folders started to have ugly icons next to them and trouble opening.

Every time I tried to open OneDrive or click something to stop it it just kept loading. Now it says that my OneDrive account is full and that I need to buy more storage!

I tried to find something to turn this off. What can I do?

Will I lose all my files from my computer if I try to log off or uninstall OneDrive?

I don't want this back up!!!!!!!!

I can't find any help on Microsoft or my settings.

Answer 1

It sounds like your OneDrive is syncing files automatically after you signed into your Outlook account. This can happen if OneDrive is set to start syncing your files when you log in to a Microsoft account. Here are some steps you can take to stop the syncing and manage your OneDrive settings:

1. Stop Syncing: You can stop syncing a library by following these steps:
   • Right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
   • Select Settings.
   • Go to the Account tab and click on Choose folders.
   • Uncheck the folders you do not want to sync.
2. Unlink OneDrive: If you want to completely stop OneDrive from syncing:
   • Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
   • Go to Settings > Account > Unlink this PC. This will stop syncing and remove the connection to your OneDrive account.
3. Uninstall OneDrive: If you prefer to uninstall OneDrive:
   • Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
   • Find OneDrive in the list and select Uninstall.
   • Note that uninstalling OneDrive will not delete the files stored locally on your computer, but it will remove the sync functionality.
4. Check Your Files: After unlinking or uninstalling, your files will remain on your computer. However, they will no longer be backed up to OneDrive. Make sure you have copies of important files stored elsewhere if you decide to remove OneDrive.
5. Storage Management: If you are concerned about your OneDrive account being full, you can manage your storage by deleting unnecessary files from your OneDrive account online or by adjusting which folders sync to your PC.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to stop OneDrive from syncing your files and manage your storage effectively without losing your local files.

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References:

• Troubleshooting OneDrive for work or school sync issues
• The OneDrive sync status icon incorrectly shows "syncing" in File Explorer

Answer 2

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

If the Files-on-Demand feature is turned ON, some of your files may exist only in the cloud and they not be fully downloaded to your Computer. Open OneDrive in File Explorer and check for any folders with cloud icons. If you unlink the account from OneDrive, the files will disappear.

In this situation, right-click the OneDrive icon on the taskbar > Select Sync and backup > Scroll down to Advanced settings > Under File on demand, select Download all files.

Once you see a green check mark on all the files, you can sign out of OneDrive. But it is always recommended to have a backup copy in another folder before deleting it from OneDrive.

To free up space: go to https://onedrive.live.com/?v=managestorage and sign in.
Select Free up space in OneDrive.

Delete all of your files.

It may take 2-4 hours for the storage to reflect in your account.

Let me know if you still need more help.