How do I disable OneDrive automatic folder backup in Windows 11

To disable automatic folder backup in OneDrive after the latest Windows 11 update, follow these steps:

Solution 1: Use Group Policy (for Pro/Enterprise)

1. Press Win + R, type “gpedit.msc“
2. Navigate: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive
3. Double-click “Prevent OneDrive from generating network traffic until the user signs in“
4. Select “Enabled” > Apply > OK

Solution 2: Turn off active folders upload

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Taskbar.
2. Click on Settings.
3. Select the Sync and backup option.
4. Click the Manage backup button.
5. Turn off each of the active folders uploading to the cloud by clicking on the toggle next to each folder.
6. Click the Stop backup button for each folder you want to stop backing up.
7. Finally, click the Close button to exit the settings.

Note: If you have older OneDrive version with classic tabbed interface, go to Backup tab and click Manage Backup > Stop backup > Stop backup..

These steps will prevent your known folders such as Desktop, Pictures, Documents, Music, and Videos from being automatically uploaded to OneDrive. Remember, this won’t delete the files that have already been uploaded; you would need to remove those manually if desired. If you wish to completely remove OneDrive from your system, you can uninstall it via the Installed apps section in the Settings app.

Solution 3: Disable individual folder backup via Settings

1. Click on the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen). If you don’t see it, you can search for “OneDrive” in the Start menu and open it from there.
2. In the OneDrive window that opens, click on your profile picture or initials at the top-right corner, then select “Settings” from the dropdown menu.
3. In the OneDrive Settings window, go to the “Backup” tab. This is where you manage the folders that are automatically backed up to OneDrive.
4. Under the “Folders” section, you will see a list of folders that are currently being backed up automatically to OneDrive.
5. To stop a folder from being backed up automatically, click on the folder you want to disable backup for. Then, click the “Stop backup” button that appears next to it. This will turn off automatic backup for that specific folder.
6. If there are any confirmation dialogs or prompts, follow the instructions to confirm that you want to stop backing up the selected folder.
7. If you have multiple folders set up for automatic backup and you want to disable backup for more folders, repeat steps 4 to 6 for each folder you wish to stop backing up.
8. Once you have disabled backup for all the folders you want to, you can close the OneDrive Settings window.

These steps should stop automatic folder backup. Remember, disabling backups might risk data loss. Consider alternative backup methods for critical files. By following these steps, you can effectively disable automatic folder backup in OneDrive after the latest Windows 11 update.