No cloud icon on desktop. How do I stop onedrive from syncing with one specific folder.

Question

When I start Onedrive, it crashes when trying to sync with one specific folder. I want to stop Onedrive from ever trying to sync with that folder. After doing many searches, all available advice starts with "Click the cloud icon in your system tray to access settings...." I cannot do this because the aforementioned crash causes Onedrive to stop and the cloud icon to disappear.

Things I do not want to do:

• Remove Onedrive or stop it from syncing at all. I just want to stop it from syncing one folder.
• Remove/change the contents of the folder. Other people in my organization use it.

Answer 1

Dear @Rob,

Thanks for providing the details about the behavior you're seeing. I understand how inconvenient this situation is.  
Below are the recommended options based on how the folder was added to your OneDrive: 

Option 1: If the problem folder is a shared folder added as a shortcut 

If this folder was added using “Add shortcut to My files”, removing the shortcut from OneDrive on the web is the safest and cleanest solution. This only removes the shortcut from your own OneDrive and from your PC’s sync scope. It doesn't delete or modify the original folder, and it doesn't affect your colleagues’ access. 

Note: This option applies only if the folder is a shared shortcut. If the folder doesn't show a shortcut icon or you are unsure how it was added, consider Option 2. 

• Open a web browser and go to https://onedrive.live.com/
• Sign in with your account.
• Open My files.
• Locate the shared folder that was added as a shortcut.
• Select the folder and choose Remove shortcut or Remove shortcut from My files.

• After this, OneDrive on your computer will no longer attempt to sync that folder and the crash should stop.

Option 2: Reset OneDrive and exclude only that folder using Selective Sync 

If the folder is part of your own OneDrive, or if it is unclear whether it is a shared shortcut, resetting the OneDrive client allows you to reconfigure sync before the problematic folder is included again. Resetting OneDrive doesn't delete any files stored online. 

• Step 1: Reset the OneDrive client: This article provides further guidance on the topic: Reset OneDrive - Microsoft Support 
• Step 2: Start OneDrive again: Open Start > Type OneDrive > Select OneDrive to launch it. 

• Step 3: Exclude the problematic folder 

Once OneDrive starts successfully, open OneDrive Settings. 

Go to the Account tab > Select Choose folders > Uncheck the specific folder that causes the crash. 

Confirm the change. 

This removes the folder from your local computer only. The folder remains available online and continues to work normally for you and everyone else in your organization. 

Option 3: Reinstall OneDrive 

If the issue continues, you may consider uninstalling OneDrive: Right-click the Start icon > Install apps > Uninstall OneDrive. 

After that, you can reinstall OneDrive by downloading the latest version from the official Microsoft website. Once OneDrive is set up again, please follow the appropriate option above to remove the folder from sync based on how it was added to your OneDrive. 

As community moderators, we kindly ask for your understanding that our access to internal development details is limited. Our primary role is to guide users toward the appropriate resources and support channels. While we may not have visibility into performing deeper backend analysis, we’ll continue doing our best to support you within the scope of our responsibilities.  

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any questions or need further support, please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

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Answer 2

Use OneDrive’s sync settings to stop syncing just that folder or the entire affected site/library, without uninstalling OneDrive or deleting the folder contents.

Because the tray icon disappears when OneDrive crashes, first ensure OneDrive is running long enough to change settings (for example, start it and immediately open Settings). Once the OneDrive sync client is open:

1. Select the blue OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar notification area.
   • If it is hidden, select the Show hidden icons arrow to find it.
   • If the icon does not appear, start OneDrive from Start → search for OneDrive.
2. Select the Help & Settings (gear) icon, then choose Settings.
3. Go to the Account tab. This shows all OneDrive and SharePoint/Teams locations currently syncing.
4. For the site or library that contains the problematic folder:
   • To stop syncing the entire site/library (and therefore that folder), select Stop sync next to that site. Local copies of the files remain on the computer and can be deleted manually if desired.
   • If the folder is part of the personal OneDrive (not a separate SharePoint/Teams library), select Choose folders for that OneDrive location, then in the Choose Folders dialog box uncheck the specific folder so it is no longer synced to the computer, and select OK.

If OneDrive crashes too quickly to reach Settings, temporarily move or rename the local copy of just that problematic folder (on the PC only) so OneDrive can start without hitting the error, change the sync settings as above, and then restore the folder name/location after sync has been disabled for that folder or site. The cloud copy and other users’ access are not affected by changing only the local folder on the device.

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References:

• Sync SharePoint and Teams files with your computer
• Choose which OneDrive folders you want to sync on Windows or macOS
• How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive