How to turn off automatic OneDrive backups in Windows 11

(I.e. How to Stop OneDrive from Automatically Saving Your Files

OneDrive in Windows 11 automatically saves your files online (in the "cloud"). While this can be useful to avoid losing your files, many users prefer to have their files only on their computer. In this article, we'll show you how to stop this easily and safely!

⚠️ Important before you start: Before disabling OneDrive, make sure you download all the important files you already have on OneDrive to your computer. That way you won't lose anything! Also, if you share files with others via OneDrive, this will stop working.

Step by step instructions

1 Find OneDrive on your screen

Look at the bottom right of your screen, next to the clock and date. You will see a blue icon that looks like a cloud - this is OneDrive. If you don't see it right away, click the little arrow (^) pointing up to show hidden icons.

2 Open the OneDrive menu

Right-click on the blue OneDrive cloud. A menu will appear. From this menu, click on the word "Settings" (or "Settings" if it's in English). If you don't see it, look for a gear icon.

3 Find the "Sync and Backup" tab

A window will open with several tabs at the top (like "folders"). Click on the tab that says "Sync and backup" ή "Sync and backup" (if it is in English). Sometimes it can be simply called "Backups".

4 Select "Manage backups"

Within this tab you will see an option that says "Backup Management" ή "Manage backup". Click it to continue. Here you can see which folders are automatically saved to OneDrive.

5 Stop autosave

Now you will see three main folders: "Desktop" (Desktop), "Documents" (Documents) and "Pictures" (Pictures). For each folder that you no longer want to automatically save to OneDrive, click the button "Stopping backup" ή "Stop backup" next to him.

6 Confirm your selection.

The system will ask you if you are sure about your decision. Read the message carefully and click on "Yes" ή "Confirm" to confirm. This will move the files from OneDrive back to your local computer - the process may take a few minutes depending on how many files you have.

7 Close and verify changes

Close all settings windows by clicking the "X" in the upper right corner. The changes will be applied automatically. To make sure everything went well, open one of the folders (e.g. Documents) and see if your files are there.

🌤️ Other options for online storage

If you want to use another online storage service instead of OneDrive, you have several free options:

Google Drive
15GB free space

Dropbox
2GB free space

Box
10GB free space

MEGA
20GB free space

All of these services work similarly to OneDrive - they store your files online and you can view them from any computer or mobile.

✅ What we achieved

Congratulations! You've just turned off OneDrive autosave in Windows 11. From now on, your files will only stay on your computer and won't automatically "upload" to the internet. You've also saved space on your OneDrive and have more control over your data.

Good to know: You can always re-enable this feature in the future if you change your mind. Follow the same steps and instead of "Stop Backup", select "Start Backup". Also, remember to regularly back up your important files to an external drive or USB so you never lose them!

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✍️ Evangelos
Its creator LoveForTechnology.net — an independent and trusted source for tech guides, tools, and practical solutions. Each article is based on personal testing, evidence-based research, and care for the average user. Here, technology is presented simply and clearly.

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