how to delink two PCs on the same microsoft account

Question

I just bought a new PC and used the same microsoft account as my existing laptop computer (both Windows 11). I discovered that all my desktop files from my laptop were copied to my new computer. I don't want this. I want to treat the two machines as autonomous and independent, with no file sharing. How do I fix this?

Answer 1

To delink two PCs using the same Microsoft account and prevent file sharing, you can follow these steps:

1. Unlink OneDrive: If your files are syncing through OneDrive, you can unlink OneDrive from one of the PCs. To do this:
   • Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.
   • Go to Help & Settings > Settings.
   • On the Account tab, select Unlink this PC.
2. Disable Sync Settings: You can also disable sync settings to prevent other settings from being shared between the two devices:
   • Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings.
   • Turn off the toggle for Sync settings.
3. Create Separate User Accounts: If you want to keep the PCs completely independent, consider creating a new Microsoft account for one of the PCs. This way, they will not share any files or settings.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your two PCs operate independently without sharing files or settings.