Turning OneDrive backup off and on

Question

Turning OneDrive backup off and on

QLad 0

I use Windows 11 on a PC. I synced my computer to OneDrive to backup my files. However, I want to access my files locally (i.e., on my computer) rather than via the OneDrive>Name Personal path so that I can work on files even when offline. Yet right now, I can't find any documents on my computer; all are accessed vial that OneDrive path. So here are my questions:

When I turn off the Desktop folder in Manage Backup (within the OneDrive Settings menu), for example, I get a pop-up box that asks "Stop backing up Desktop folder?" and then gives me two options: 1) Continue backing up (recommended) and 2) Stop backup and choose where to keep files.

So, my two questions:

If I want to access my files locally instead of always through the OneDrive>Name Personal path, where would I choose to keep the files if I selected option 2 above?
Could I periodically turn the folder back on in Manage Backup in order to have new/updated files backed up and, if so, would OneDrive back up ONLY those files, or would it start from scratch and backup everything in the folder (including files that have already been backed up)?

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Craig Long 18,645

If you want to back up everything across multiple devices, think of OneDrive as your main file repository to reduce the chance of mistakes.

In my opinion, the answer to number 2 is NO; you will probably get duplicates, since you can't "sync" new file versions with much older file versions. However, you can always "back up" files with the same name by putting them in uniquely named folders.

Answer to number 1: If you don't intend to use OneDrive, and with folder backup OFF, your new files will go to the default location going forward. The new path names would bypass the OneDrive folder, such as:

C:\Users\username\Documents instead of C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Documents.

QLad 0 Reputation points

2026-10-04T21:03:05.7666667+00:00

Thanks. My plan is to use OneDrive so my files would be backed up. I didn't realize it basically took control of my files. :-) So I guess if I want to create a document that does NOT go into the Cloud, I have to create and store it on a thumb drive?
Craig Long 18,645 Reputation points

2026-10-04T22:35:05.12+00:00

You can store it on a thumb drive, or you can avoid the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders.

Create a folder as suggested in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXgyrsqraE

Answer 2

Craig Long 18,645

Cloud files may take precedence when syncing to OneDrive, although I haven't seen any documentation about this. Outdated cloud files may overwrite local versions with the same name. I've seen forum complaints about this happening.

My suggestion is that if you work on a file without internet access, either:

Remove the file from OneDrive to work on it, or
Give the most recent file version a unique name before re-entering it in OneDrive, or
Delete the older file in OneDrive before entering the updated version.

I would feel safer doing it this way. I don't suggest turning off folder backup unless you intend not to use OneDrive.

If you keep files on a drive other than the (C:) drive and then periodically back them up to OneDrive using unique names, then that would work. Only files on the (C:) drive can automatically back up to OneDrive.

I hope this information helps.

Craig

Craig Long 18,645 Reputation points

2026-10-04T20:33:00.02+00:00

I edited my last comment.
QLad 0 Reputation points

2026-10-04T21:07:06.3833333+00:00

OK, this will show my lack of techspertise: If I'm working offline (e.g., because of no internet access), how do I access OneDrive to add or delete a file in OneDrive?
QLad 0 Reputation points

2026-10-04T21:13:59.05+00:00

I'm very new to OneDrive, so thanks for your answers.
Craig Long 18,645 Reputation points

2026-10-04T21:17:52.2433333+00:00

You're welcome.

When you're offline, you can't do anything in OneDrive. If you often work offline, I suggest you turn off folder backup in the Manage Backup settings. Then you can back up your files periodically when online by copying the Documents, Desktop, and Pictures folders into your PC's OneDrive folder.

Where to turn off automatic folder backup: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/back-up-your-folders-with-onedrive
QLad 0 Reputation points

2026-10-05T15:53:31.32+00:00
Thanks for the solution to the thumb drive question. Regarding times when working offline, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/back-up-your-folders-with-onedrive says if I turn off folder backup, my files will be removed from either my computer or from OneDrive, with the latter being the case if I wish to access my files locally:

stop-backup choices are:

Keep the files only in OneDrive, which removes them from the computer, or

Keep the files only on my PC, which removes them from OneDrive.

If the goal is local access through normal PC folders instead of the OneDrive... path, choose Keep the files only on my PC.

So the only option for periodically backing up files after turning folder backup off would be to go through the whole syncing process again for every file in the folder? (Since those files would've been removed from OneDrive.) I must be missing something here. :-)

Answer 3

If Stop backup and choose where to keep files is selected, the files can be kept only on the PC instead of in OneDrive. In OneDrive folder backup settings, the stop-backup choices are:
- Keep the files only in OneDrive, which removes them from the computer, or
- Keep the files only on my PC, which removes them from OneDrive.
If the goal is local access through normal PC folders instead of the OneDrive\... path, choose Keep the files only on my PC. Important details:
- If a folder contains cloud-only files, they must be downloaded first by changing them to Always keep on this device.
- If files were already backed up and the folder is no longer being backed up, they do not automatically return to the original device folder in every case. Files may need to be moved manually from the OneDrive folder back to the local device folder.
The context confirms that folder backup can be turned on again later from OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup by selecting a folder that is Not backed up and saving the change. The context does not state whether turning backup back on later uploads only new or changed files versus re-backing up the entire folder from scratch.

References:

Back up your folders with OneDrive