OneDrive is a cloud storage platform offered by Microsoft that empowers users to save and open their documents from any location. Yet, there may arise situations where you may need to disconnect OneDrive from your computer, for instance, to clear up memory or stop automatic synchronization of files. This article will walk you through the steps of disconnecting OneDrive from your computer.
Step 1: Open File Explorer
To begin with, open File Explorer on your computer. You can do this by clicking on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar or by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
Step 2: Navigate to OneDrive Folder
Once you have opened File Explorer, navigate to the OneDrive folder. This is usually located in the root directory of your computer’s hard drive. If you are unsure where it is, you can search for “OneDrive” in the search bar at the top of File Explorer.
Step 3: Right-click on OneDrive Folder
Once you have located the OneDrive folder, right-click on it and select “Properties” from the context menu. This will open a dialog box with various properties of the OneDrive folder.
Step 4: Uncheck “Always keep on this device”
In the Properties dialog box, you will see an option called “Always keep on this device”. This option is responsible for keeping the OneDrive folder synced with your computer. To disconnect OneDrive from your computer, uncheck this option.
Step 5: Click “Apply” and “OK”
After unchecking the “Always keep on this device” option, click on the “Apply” button to save the changes. Then, click on the “OK” button to close the Properties dialog box.
Step 6: Wait for OneDrive to Disconnect
Once you have unchecked the “Always keep on this device” option and closed the Properties dialog box, OneDrive will begin disconnecting from your computer. This process may take a few minutes depending on the size of your OneDrive folder and the speed of your internet connection.
Step 7: Confirm Disconnection
After waiting for OneDrive to disconnect, you can confirm that it has been successfully disconnected by checking the OneDrive icon in the taskbar. If the icon is no longer present or if it shows a red “X” symbol, then OneDrive has been successfully disconnected from your computer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, disconnecting OneDrive from your computer is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily disconnect OneDrive from your computer and free up space or prevent automatic syncing of files.