Stop OneDrive from backing up files you choose

You can prevent OneDrive from backing up specific files and folders without turning off backup entirely. The method depends on whether you are using Files On-Demand (which stores files in the cloud and downloads them when you open them) or full sync (which keeps copies on your computer). Most Windows users have Files On-Demand turned on by default, and that is where you have the most control.

The fastest way is to mark files or folders as "cloud-only" in File Explorer. Right-click the file or folder, select Always keep on this device or Free up space depending on what you see, and OneDrive will stop syncing it to your computer while keeping it in your OneDrive account online. If you want to remove it from OneDrive entirely — not just from your computer — you delete it from the OneDrive folder, and it goes to the OneDrive recycle bin.

For folders you never want backed up at all, you can exclude them from sync before they upload. This is the method to use if you have a folder full of temporary files, large video projects, or anything else you want to keep local only.

Key Takeaways

  • Files marked as "cloud-only" stay in your OneDrive account but do not sync to your computer, freeing up local storage.
  • You can exclude entire folders from syncing through OneDrive settings before they upload, which is useful for temporary or work-in-progress files.
  • Deleting a file from your OneDrive folder removes it from backup, but it goes to the recycle bin first — you have 93 days to restore it.
  • The method you use depends on whether you want to keep the file in OneDrive (cloud-only) or remove it from backup entirely (exclude or delete).
  • OneDrive backs up your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders by default on Windows, but you can turn off backup for any of them in settings.

Mark files as cloud-only to stop syncing them to your computer

If a file is already in OneDrive and syncing to your computer, you can mark it as cloud-only so OneDrive keeps it online but does not read it to your device. Open File Explorer, navigate to your OneDrive folder, right-click the file or folder, and look for the option Free up space. Click it. The file stays in your OneDrive account and appears in File Explorer with a cloud icon, but it no longer takes up space on your hard drive.

If you change your mind and want the file on your computer again, right-click it and select Always keep on this device. OneDrive will read it again. This method is useful when you have large files you rarely open but want to keep in your OneDrive account for access from other devices or the web.

Exclude folders from syncing before they upload

If you have a folder you do not want OneDrive to back up at all, you can exclude it from sync. This stops OneDrive from uploading it in the first place. Open the OneDrive settings by clicking the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen on Windows), select Help & Settings, then Settings. Go to the Sync and backup tab.

You will see sections for Desktop, Documents, Pictures, and other folders. Click Manage backup next to the folder that contains the files you want to exclude. A window opens showing the folders inside. Uncheck the boxes next to any folders you do not want synced. When you click Save, OneDrive stops backing up those folders. Files already uploaded stay in your OneDrive account unless you delete them manually.

This approach works best for folders you know from the start you do not want backed up — for example, a Downloads folder full of installers, or a Projects folder with large video files you are still editing.

Turn off backup for Desktop, Documents, or Pictures entirely

Windows backs up your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive by default. If you do not want OneDrive backing up one of these folders at all, you can turn off backup for it. Open OneDrive settings, go to Sync and backup, and you will see toggles for each folder. Click the toggle next to Desktop, Documents, or Pictures to turn it off.

When you turn off backup for a folder, OneDrive stops syncing new files to it, but files already uploaded stay in your OneDrive account online. If you want to remove them from OneDrive as well, you have to delete them manually from the OneDrive website or from the OneDrive folder in File Explorer.

Delete files from OneDrive to remove them from backup

If you want to remove a file from OneDrive entirely, delete it from the OneDrive folder in File Explorer. Right-click the file and select Delete. It moves to the OneDrive recycle bin, where it stays for 93 days. During that time, you can restore it if you change your mind. After 93 days, OneDrive permanently deletes it.

You can also delete files from the OneDrive website. Go to OneDrive.com, sign in, find the file, right-click it, and select Delete. It goes to the recycle bin there as well. Deleting from either location removes the file from all your devices that sync with OneDrive.

What happens to files you stop backing up

The outcome depends on which method you use. If you mark a file as cloud-only, it stays in your OneDrive account but does not sync to your computer — you can still open it from the OneDrive website or from another device. If you exclude a folder from sync, new files do not upload, but files already in OneDrive stay there unless you delete them. If you delete a file, it goes to the recycle bin first, giving you a window to restore it before it is gone for good.

Files you stop backing up do not disappear from your other devices automatically. If you have OneDrive on your phone or tablet, those devices keep syncing until you make the same change there. If you want a file off all your devices, delete it rather than just marking it as cloud-only.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I mark a file as cloud-only, can I still open it?

Yes. Cloud-only files appear in File Explorer with a cloud icon. When you open one, OneDrive downloads it temporarily so you can use it, then may remove it from your computer afterward to save space. You can always open it again the same way.

Will excluding a folder delete files already in OneDrive?

No. Excluding a folder stops OneDrive from syncing new files to it, but files already uploaded stay in your OneDrive account. You have to delete them manually if you want them gone.

Can I recover a file I deleted from OneDrive?

Yes, for 93 days. Deleted files go to the OneDrive recycle bin. Sign in to OneDrive.com, click the recycle bin, find the file, and click Restore. After 93 days, the file is permanently deleted.

What if I turn off backup for my Documents folder?

OneDrive stops syncing new files to Documents, but files already in OneDrive stay there. Your local Documents folder is not affected — files on your computer remain. To remove them from OneDrive, delete them from the OneDrive folder or the OneDrive website.

Do I have to exclude a folder before files upload, or can I do it after?

You can do it either way. Excluding a folder before files upload prevents them from syncing in the first place. If files are already uploaded, you can still exclude the folder — it just stops new files from syncing — and delete the uploaded files manually if you want them out of OneDrive.