How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive

If syncing is slowing down your computer or internet connection, or it's just at a bad time for you, you can pause OneDrive and schedule the sync to resume later.

1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

2. Select Pause syncing then choose either 2 / 8 / 24 hours or select Quit OneDrive.

3. To restart, press the Windows key or open Mac Spotlight and type OneDrive, then select the OneDrive app. 

Choose OneDrive folders

If you don't want to sync all of your folders in OneDrive to your computer, you can specify which folders you'd like to sync. Learn more about how to choose which OneDrive folders to sync to your computer.

To cancel an upload to the OneDrive website

1. On the top toolbar, select Uploading to show the Progress of each file.

2. To cancel the entire upload, select at the top of the list.

   Tip: You can also cancel individual files from the upload.

To stop a download from the OneDrive website

1. Go to the download area of your browser (at the bottom of the browser window).

2. Select the downloading file options and choose Cancel.
   
   

To cancel a OneDrive upload on your mobile device

1. Tap the X underneath the thumbnail of the file that's being uploaded.

To stop a OneDrive download on your mobile device

1. Open your Download Manager notifications.

2. Tap Cancel by the file download you want to stop.

To cancel opening a OneDrive file

When you use File Explorer to open a file marked as Available when online, OneDrive will download it first. To stop this download follow these steps:

1. Open OneDrive from the icon on the taskbar.

2. Select the X next to the file currently downloading.
   
   

If you made a mistake adding or uploading the file to your OneDrive folders

1. Pause OneDrive.

2. Delete it or move it out of your OneDrive folders.

   Tip: Files deleted from OneDrive.com go to your OneDrive recycle bin. Files deleted from your computer's OneDrive go to your computers Recycle Bin or Trash.

3. Select the OneDrive icon on the taskbar or menu bar and select Resume .

If you accidentally marked a file or folder as "Always keep on this device"

1. Close OneDrive by right-clicking the OneDrive taskbar or menu bar icon.

2. Restart OneDrive from the Windows Start menu or Mac Finder.

3. Mark the file or folder as Free up space.

4. If you made a mistake adding or uploading the file to OneDrive, you can delete it or move it out of your OneDrive folders.

To cancel file deletion

If you accidentally deleted or moved a lot of files, and want to stop the deletion, the safest option is to let the action complete, then undo (CTRL/+ Z)  or restore the files.

1. To restore files, go to the OneDrive website and open your Recycle bin.

2. Select the file(s) that were deleted by mistake and select Restore.

Quit OneDrive

1. Right-click (or CTRL-click in Mac) the OneDrive icon on the taskbar.

2. Select Pause syncing then select Quit OneDrive.

Remove an account

If you want to stop using OneDrive or you want to remove an account after you change job or graduate, you can unlink your Microsoft or work/school account.

1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon from the taskbar or menubar, select the gear icon  then select Settings or Preferences.

2. Select then Settings again and go to the Account tab.

3. Select Unlink this PC.

Remove OneDrive from Windows 10/11

If you want to uninstall OneDrive, follow the steps below.

1. Open Settings to find the list of installed apps.
   Open Settings

2. Scroll down to find Microsoft OneDrive, and then select and Uninstall.

Read turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive for help on removing OneDrive from other platforms.