Unlink the computer and OneDrive stops syncing for good: open Help and Settings from the cloud symbol, then Settings, the Account tab, Unlink this PC and Unlink account. Nothing gets deleted, and everything's waiting at OneDrive.com. Need a breather and nothing more? Pause it for a short time, or drop a single folder or file.
There isn't one off switch here. There are five different ways of stopping sync, and they don't do the same job, so pick the narrowest one that solves your problem.
| Option | Where you find it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Pause sync | The taskbar or menu bar icon, under Pause syncing | Holds off for two, eight or twenty-four hours |
| Stop one file | The website's Uploading list, or the X beside it in the app | Cancels that one transfer |
| Take one folder off this computer | Account tab, Choose folders | Takes that folder off the machine |
| Unlink this PC or Mac | The app's Account tab | Ends syncing on that machine, with your data still online |
| Hide and quit | File Explorer, once you've unlinked | Hides the folder and ends the sync process where removal isn't an option |
If the computer shouldn't be connected any more, unlink it. If you've only got one folder or file causing trouble, leave the link alone and use the narrow option. And if sync has stalled and you'd rather have it working than off, go to our fixes for OneDrive not syncing first.
Unlink this PC on Windows 10 or 11
This is the full stop, and Microsoft's clear you won't lose files or data.
- Select the cloud icon in the notification area.
- Select the Help and Settings icon.
- Select Settings.
- Go to the Account tab.
- Select Unlink this PC.
- Select Unlink account.
That last click matters. Selecting Unlink this PC isn't the end of it, so don't close the window until you've selected Unlink account as well.
Unlink a Mac from the menu bar
The route is similar on a Mac, but the icon lives somewhere else and one label changes.
- Click the cloud icon in the menu bar.
- Open Help and Settings.
- Select Preferences.
- Go to the Account tab.
- Select Unlink this Mac.
You're looking for Preferences here, where a Windows PC says Settings. Everything about your files stays the same: they remain online and you can reach them by signing in.
Pause syncing for a few hours
A pause leaves the computer connected and stops the syncing for a set time. It's the one to use on a metered or slow connection, and pausing then resuming can also help if the status has said Processing changes for a long time.
- Right-click the cloud icon on the taskbar, or CTRL-click it in the menu bar on a Mac.
- Select Pause syncing.
- Choose two, eight or twenty-four hours.
- Check that the cloud icon in the notification area now shows Paused.
Syncing starts again by itself when the time's up. To restart it sooner, select the paused icon and then, in the activity center, select the resume icon or the yellow box. Want it stopped until you say otherwise? Pick Quit OneDrive from that same menu, then bring it back by pressing the Windows key, or opening Spotlight on a Mac, typing OneDrive and selecting the app.
Sometimes it pauses without you asking. Microsoft says that happens when your PC enters battery saver mode or you're on a metered network. If you've got OneDrive for Business alongside the personal version, each one can be paused and resumed separately.
Keep one folder off this computer
Unchecking a folder removes it from the computer, but the folder and everything in it stays available online.
Choosing folders on Windows
- Select the cloud icon in the notification area.
- From the Help and Settings icon, choose Settings.
- Go to the Account tab.
- Select Choose folders.
- Uncheck any folders you don't want on this computer and select OK.
Choosing folders on a Mac
- Click the cloud icon in the menu bar, open the menu and select Preferences.
- Go to the Account tab.
- Select Choose Folders.
- Uncheck any folders you don't want on this Mac and select OK.
You can only check or uncheck folders already held in your account, and certain folders important to the PC can't be unchecked, including Documents, Desktop, Pictures and your Personal Vault. Your choices apply to that computer and that account only, and you'll still see every folder on the web and in the mobile app.
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Stop a single file mid-transfer
What you do depends on where the file's moving.
- Uploading on the website. Select Uploading on the top toolbar to see each file's progress, then cancel that file from the list. The cancel icon at the top of the list stops the whole upload.
- Downloading from the website. Go to your browser's download area, select the file's options and choose Cancel.
- A file marked Available when online. File Explorer downloads it before it opens, so open the app from the taskbar icon and select the X next to the file.
- On your phone. For an upload, tap the X underneath the file's thumbnail. For a download, open your Download Manager notifications and tap Cancel by the file.
Added the wrong file in the first place? Pause syncing, then delete it or move it out of your synced folders. Anything deleted from OneDrive.com goes to the recycle bin there.
Where the app is built in, unlink, hide and quit
This is the part most people don't expect. Some versions of Windows ship with OneDrive as part of the system and won't let you uninstall it, so stopping sync for good means unlinking, hiding and quitting. Microsoft's sequence is three stages, and the order counts:
- Unlink the computer, using the Windows steps above.
- In File Explorer, right-click OneDrive and select Properties.
- Tick Hidden.
- Quit OneDrive from the notification area.
Do all of that and the folder is out of your way and the sync process has stopped, even though the software is still on the machine. If you're on a version that does allow removal and you want it gone altogether, that's a separate job, and our uninstall walkthrough covers it. For the wider question of switching the app off, see how to turn it off.
Mistakes that make stopping sync harder
- Unlinking the whole computer because of one bad file. There's a separate route for a single file and another for a single folder, and neither touches the link.
- Reaching for unlink when you only need a breather. A pause is Microsoft's answer for a short stop, and it leaves the computer connected.
- Hiding the folder and calling it done. Hidden is only one stage of the sequence; unlinking comes before it and quitting comes after.
- Unlinking when you don't know your sign-in. Your files are safe online, but signing in is how you get back to them, so check you've got those details first.
- Hunting for Settings on a Mac. It's Preferences, and the final button reads Unlink this Mac.
- Assuming every copy of Windows can drop the app. Where it's built in, that option isn't there, so don't waste an afternoon looking for it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still open my files after unlinking?
Yes. Sign in to OneDrive.com and they're there, because unlinking only disconnects the computer.
Does pausing do the same thing as unlinking?
No. One's temporary and you can resume it, the other ends the connection between the machine and your account.
How do I cancel sync for a single file?
Cancel it where it's moving: the Uploading list on the website, or the X next to it once you've opened the app from the taskbar. If it shouldn't be in there at all, pause first, then delete it or move it out.
Can I take one folder off my laptop?
Yes. Uncheck it under Choose folders on the Account tab and it leaves the laptop while staying available online. You don't need to unlink for this.
Why is there no way to uninstall it on my PC?
Your version of the system includes it as standard, so removal isn't on offer. Unlink, hide and quit is the route you've got.
Will ticking Hidden stop sync by itself?
Don't count on it. Microsoft lists Hidden as the middle of a sequence that starts with unlinking and ends with quitting from the notification area.
