As you must have noticed, OneDrive has a default tendency to automatically startup with the computer and immediately start the process of backing up the files located on your computer to Microsoft’s cloud storage service.
While this auto-upload feature in OneDrive, ensures that almost all the files located on your computer are automatically backed up to Microsoft’s cloud storage service, there are many users who do not like the idea of files being automatically uploaded to OneDrive and prefer to manually upload selected files to OneDrive.
Hence, we are providing below the different options to prevent files from your computer being automatically saved to OneDrive.
Stop Auto Save to OneDrive in Windows 11/10
An easy way of preventing OneDrive from automatically saving files from computer to Microsoft’s cloud storage service is to remain signed-out of your OneDrive Account.
However, this option is not suitable if you are likely to sign-in to your OneDrive account; in which case OneDrive can surprise you with the furious speed with which it can upload files from your computer to Microsoft’s Cloud storage service.
Hence, the Settings Menu in OneDrive App provides the option to disable files located on the Desktop and in Documents, Pictures & Videos Folders from being automatically uploaded to OneDrive.
1. Disable OneDrive Folder Backup
This option is suitable and recommended, if you want to keep OneDrive installed and usable on your computer, but want to prevent OneDrive from automatically saving files from your computer to Microsoft’s cloud storage service.
1. Click on the cloud-shaped OneDrive icon located on the taskbar > click on Gear Icon and select Settings in the menu that appears.
Note: If you do not see OneDrive Icon, open the Overflow pane by clicking on the Up Arrow icon.
2. On OneDrive Settings screen, select Sync and Backup in the left-pane and click on Manage Backup button, located in the right-pane.
3. On the next screen, you can switch off Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and other Folders that you do not want to be automatically saved to OneDrive.
4. Make sure that you click on the Save changes button to preserve these settings for the OneDrive App on your computer.
2. Prevent Screenshots from Being Uploaded to OneDrive
For most users, saving Screenshots to OneDrive is not necessary and enabling this feature can result in cluttering of your OneDrive Account with unwanted screenshots.
1. Click on OneDrive Cloud icon > select Gear Icon and click on Settings.
2. On the next screen, select Sync and Backup in the left-pane and move the slider next to Save screenshots I capture to OneDrive entry to OFF position.
From now on, any screenshots that you take on your computer will not be automatically saved to OneDrive.
3. Unlink Computer from OneDrive
If you are sure about not using OneDrive on a particular computer due to security or personal reasons, Microsoft provides the option to Unlink that particular computer from its OneDrive cloud storage service.
For the actual steps to unlink computer from OneDrive, you can refer to this guide: How to Disable or Uninstall OneDrive in Windows 11/10.