Computer

Prevent Windows from sharing your saved data with other devices

In this way, if we have different computers with the same operating system where we use the same Microsoft user account, the operating system is in charge of synchronizing them between them so that we have the same configurations in all of them. However, this option may not be to the liking of all users, so we must know that it is possible to deactivate it.

What are they and why delete the synchronization data

Every time we sign in to our computer with a Microsoft account, data relating to our personal settings such as passwords, preferences, themes, languages, Wi-Fi profiles, Edge favorites, etc., are stored by default in the OneDrive cloud, which is provided by the Microsoft account by default. This saved data is used to synchronize the associated account when reinstalling Windows on the same computer or if we register other devices with the same account, as long as the synchronization options are activated.

This functionality, which many users are unaware of, was first introduced in Windows 8 and is still used in Windows 11. Keep in mind that, although updating our data and settings, they are synchronized with the cloud, it may be that, when use multiple devices with the same accountit can cause this synchronization function to be out of date and not finish displaying correctly on all devices with the same account.

And it is that, although it can be useful, it may be the case that at some point we need delete all cloud content and start fresh with new syncs that only have the most up-to-date data. The best time for this is if we are performing a clean install of Windows by setting up our PC account for the first time.

If we do not want our previous configuration to be synchronized with our new equipment or installation, we just have to follow a few simple steps to disable it

Turn off sync

If we want to deactivate the synchronization between devices, we will have to carry out a few simple steps. On Windows 10, if sync “Settings” is turned on, Windows will set the settings you choose on all your Windows 10 devices where you’re signed in with your Microsoft account.

For Windows 11, when Windows Backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose on all Windows 11 devices that you’re signed in to with your Microsoft account.

That is why we are going to see how we can deactivate it in both cases.

Disable in Windows 10

If we don’t want our Microsoft settings to sync with our new device, we can remove them from Microsoft servers. This will allow us to log in to the new device with the system default settings. Next, we are going to see how to delete the synchronized data of our Microsoft account in Windows 10.

Settings Accounts Windows 10

The first thing we are going to do before deleting the synced data is to turn off the sync settings feature. To do this, it will be necessary to access the “Settings” menu, for which we can use the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Later we click on the “Accounts” section and on the new screen we click on the “Synchronize settings” option, which we find in the menu on the left. Now in the right panel, we deactivate the option of “Sync Settings”.

Sync settings in Windows 10

Disable in Windows 11

To stop synchronizing the configuration and remove them from the cloud, we must deactivate the synchronized configuration on our Windows 11 computer. To do this, we must access the Configuration section, pressing the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Then click on the “Accounts” section in the left panel and click on “Windows Backups” in the right panel.

Windows 11 backups

This will take us to a new page, where we find the following elements:

  • OneDrive folder sync: Activate OneDrive folder synchronization to start the backup of our files and folders directly from Settings.
  • remember my apps: Windows will remind us of the applications that we have installed and will help us to restore them from the Microsoft Store on our new devices.
  • remember my preferences: We may back up your preferences, including passwords, language, and other system settings. If we activate the Other Windows settings section, the operating system also synchronizes some device settings (mouse and printer options, etc.), file explorer settings and notification preferences.

Windows 11 Remember my preferences

That is why this is where we must deactivate the «Remember my preferences»which are accessible from all our devices and which are made up of Passwords, Language Preferences and Other Windows settings, as we can see in the image.

Remove synced settings from OneDrive

Once this is done, to stop synchronizing the configuration and remove them from the cloud we must access the Devices page. From here, we must log in with the details of our Microsoft account. In the event that we have more than one Microsoft account, we must ensure that we sign in with the same account from which we wish to delete the synchronized data.

Later we move to the bottom of the screen where we will find the button “Put off”. We click on it and then on the “Yes” button in the confirmation box to delete the synchronized data from the Microsoft OneDrive account.

Remove personal settings from Windows

You should then see a message that your personal settings have been removed from the cloud, although all settings may not be removed from Microsoft servers immediately. These data will be deleted when the next cleaning process is done programmed on Microsoft servers. In addition, we can activate the synchronization configuration again at the time we want to use it again.

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