How to Turn Off OneDrive Backup (2026)
OneDrive’s folder backup (formerly “Known Folder Move”) quietly redirects your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures into OneDrive so they sync to the cloud. It’s useful — until you don’t want it, and suddenly your desktop files live in OneDrive instead of on your PC. Here’s how to turn it off cleanly, without losing anything or ending up confused about where your files are.
Turn Off Folder Backup (Windows)
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar (bottom-right; click the up-arrow if hidden).
- Click the gear icon > Settings.
- Open the Sync and backup tab.
- Click Manage backup.
- Toggle off any folder you don’t want backed up — Desktop, Documents, Pictures (and Music/Videos on some builds).
- Click Stop backup and confirm.
OneDrive stops syncing those folders going forward.
What Happens to Your Files
This is the part that trips people up. When you stop backup:
- The files already in OneDrive stay in OneDrive (in the OneDrive\Desktop, OneDrive\Documents, etc. folders).
- A new, empty local Desktop/Documents/Pictures folder is created in your user profile.
- Windows may leave a shortcut in the empty folder pointing to where the files now live.
So your files aren’t deleted — they’re just still in OneDrive. If you want them back on your local PC (off the cloud), you have to move them.
Move Files Back to Your Local PC
After turning off backup, to get files out of OneDrive and back onto the computer:
- Open File Explorer > OneDrive > Desktop (or Documents/Pictures).
- Select everything (
Ctrl + A). - Cut (
Ctrl + X). - Navigate to your local folder:
C:\Users\<YourName>\Desktop. - Paste (
Ctrl + V).
Tip: If files are online-only (cloud icon), right-click and Always keep on this device first so you move the real files, not placeholders. See OneDrive Files On-Demand.
Turn Off Backup on Mac
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar > gear > Preferences.
- Go to the Backup tab.
- Click Manage backup and stop backup for the folders you want.
Stop OneDrive From Asking to Back Up
If you keep getting the “Set up OneDrive backup” prompt:
- OneDrive icon > gear > Settings > Sync and backup.
- Under Preferences (or Notifications), turn off prompts to back up folders.
Turning Off Backup vs. Stopping Sync vs. Removing OneDrive
These are three different things:
- Turn off backup (this guide) — stops Desktop/Documents/Pictures from syncing, leaves the rest of OneDrive working.
- Stop syncing — pauses or unlinks all OneDrive syncing.
- Remove OneDrive — uninstalls or hides OneDrive entirely.
Troubleshooting
My desktop files disappeared after stopping backup
They’re in OneDrive\Desktop, not deleted. Move them back to your local Desktop (steps above).
”Stop backup” greyed out
Folder backup may be enforced by your organization’s policy. Contact your admin — personal accounts can always toggle it.
I have two Documents folders now
That’s expected — the OneDrive one (with your files) and a new empty local one. Move the files into the local one and you can ignore the OneDrive copy.
Backup turned itself back on after an update
Re-open Manage backup and toggle the folders off again. Windows updates sometimes re-prompt; decline the setup.
Quick Reference
| Goal | Steps |
|---|---|
| Stop folder backup | Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup > toggle off |
| Find backed-up files | OneDrive\Desktop, \Documents, \Pictures |
| Move files local | Cut from OneDrive, paste to C:\Users\You\Desktop |
| Stop backup prompts | Sync and backup > turn off notifications |
| Stop all syncing | See the stop-syncing guide |
Related OneDrive guides: How to stop OneDrive from syncing · How to remove OneDrive from your PC · How to free up space in OneDrive · What is OneDrive Files On-Demand? · How to fix OneDrive sync issues
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