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Why does OneDrive back up when it is turned off?

Emily Lawton 30 Reputation points
2026-06-11T07:41:18.67+00:00

I do NOT use O365; I use a stand-alone version of Office 2021. I have a Lenovo ThinkStation running Win11. Every time there is an update, or perhaps when Windows gets bored, OneDrive starts backing up my data, even though it is off. I don't want my email or proprietary data in the cloud. That's why it's turned off. OneDrive doesn't care - it backs up then nags me because it tries to back up more than 5gb. Can I turn it off and keep it off, or will it keep coming back like a bad penny?

Capros

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. John Jefferson Doyon 72,945 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-06-11T08:20:30.01+00:00

    Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

    As to why this happens, OneDrive itself is built into Windows and is closely tied to Windows Backup. As long as your PC is still linked to a OneDrive account, OneDrive may continue to sync files or prompt you about backups. If you do not want to use OneDrive, try to unlink it, see steps below, that removes the connection between the PC and OneDrive and stops syncing.

    Are your files showing a cloud icon, green check, or solid green circle in File Explorer?

    If some files show a cloud icon, they are only online. Download them first:

    • Open File Explorer. > Click OneDrive on the left.
    • Select the folders/files you want to keep. > Right-click them.
    • Click "Always keep on this device". > Wait until the icons turn to a green check.

    Important: If Desktop, Documents, or Pictures are backed up to OneDrive, turn that off first:

    - OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup > Stop backup

    After that, move them out of OneDrive:

    • Create a new folder on your PC (for example: Documents or Desktop).
    • Drag the files from the OneDrive folder to that new folder.

    Once everything is moved, you can disconnect OneDrive:

    • Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar. > Click Settings.
    • Go to Account. > Click Unlink this PC.

    If all is resolved, feel free to mark the answer for this thread. Otherwise, please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-06-11T07:41:37.6333333+00:00

    Yes, OneDrive can be turned off and kept off, but it requires more than just stopping backup. Use a combination of disabling folder backup, unlinking the PC, and (optionally) uninstalling or hiding OneDrive.

    1. Stop OneDrive folder backup (Desktop/Documents/Pictures) This prevents Windows/OneDrive from repeatedly re-enabling “PC folder backup.”
      • Open OneDrive.
      • Go to Help & Settings > Settings.
      • In the backup section, turn off backup for each folder (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, etc.).
      • After turning backup off, if needed, move any files that were redirected back from the OneDrive folders to local folders on the PC.
      Details on stopping folder backup are in the OneDrive backup article: when folder backup is turned off, new files added to those folders on the PC will no longer back up to OneDrive.
    2. Unlink OneDrive from the computer (recommended if OneDrive keeps coming back) Unlinking stops sync entirely for that PC while keeping cloud data intact in the account.
      • Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
      • Select Help & Settings > Settings.
      • Go to the Account tab.
      • Select Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.
      After unlinking, OneDrive will not sync or back up files from that machine. Files already in OneDrive remain accessible only via OneDrive.com.
    3. (Optional) Hide or uninstall OneDrive so it cannot auto-start If the goal is to prevent OneDrive from running at all on that PC: Option A – Uninstall OneDrive (Windows 10/11)
      • Select Start, type Programs, choose Add or remove programs.
      • Under Apps & features, find Microsoft OneDrive.
      • Select Uninstall and confirm.
      This removes the sync client from the PC. Files in the cloud are not deleted and remain available via the web. Option B – Hide OneDrive (if uninstall is not desired or available)
      • First, unlink OneDrive as above.
      • Open File Explorer, right‑click OneDrive > Properties.
      • On the General tab, under Attributes, check Hidden to hide it from File Explorer.
      • In the notification area, open the OneDrive menu and choose Quit OneDrive to remove the tray icon.
    4. Avoid using the standard “Desktop/Documents/Pictures” as cloud-backed locations Windows and OneDrive are designed to offer backup for these standard folders. If backup keeps reappearing, store sensitive/proprietary data in custom folders or a separate partition that is not configured for OneDrive backup, and keep OneDrive unlinked or uninstalled.

    With folder backup disabled, the PC unlinked, and (optionally) OneDrive uninstalled or hidden, OneDrive will not continue backing up data from that Windows 11 machine.

    References:

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  3. Craig Long 18,055 Reputation points
    2026-06-11T09:09:42.41+00:00

    If you don't want to use OneDrive, avoid the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders as much as possible.

    Files on a separate data partition or external drive will avoid OneDrive completely. The same applies to files in folders located at ThisPC>C:\Users\username.

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