'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Stop OneDrive and SharePoint Sync to Save Local Storage
Question details
The user needs to prevent massive OneDrive and SharePoint synchronization from consuming terabytes of local disk space and tying up system resources, particularly after reinstalling the operating system.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Following a fresh Windows reinstallation, OneDrive attempts to perform a massive initial synchronization of terabytes of cloud data from SharePoint and personal drives.
- Observed behavior
- The initial synchronization process takes days to complete. Furthermore, online-only files either appear unavailable or unexpectedly consume significant local storage space despite showing 0 KB.
Before altering your synchronization settings, ensure your PC is connected to a stable internet connection and let any pending critical personal file uploads complete so you do not lose recent un-synced work.
Stop Syncing Specific SharePoint or OneDrive Folders
Use this method to select only essential folders for local synchronization, preventing massive cloud repositories from downloading to your hard drive.
By default, setting up OneDrive might trigger a full sync of previously connected SharePoint libraries. You can manually pause or completely sever the connection to non-essential libraries.
Click the blue or white OneDrive cloud icon located in the Windows system tray (bottom-right corner of the taskbar), click the Gear icon, and select 'Settings'.
Navigate to the 'Account' tab. Locate the specific SharePoint library or OneDrive folder that is downloading massive amounts of data, and click 'Stop sync' next to it.
For personal OneDrive folders, click 'Choose folders' under your account and uncheck the large directories that you only wish to access via the web browser.
Utilize Web Access and Files On-Demand
Rely on the browser for heavy SharePoint usage and enable Files On-Demand to see your files without downloading them locally.
Contact a Microsoft 365 Administrator for Sync Bugs
If synchronization remains stuck, resetting OneDrive triggers full downloads repeatedly, or online-only files consume space, escalate the issue for diagnostic support.
Experience a Lighter, Faster Office Suite with WPS Office
Tired of heavy background synchronizations slowing down your PC? Switch to WPS Office, a free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office. It offers seamless format compatibility and built-in cloud support without forcing massive background data downloads, keeping your system fast and responsive.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free, lightweight installer for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to install the suite in minutes.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your local or cloud-based files to start working without waiting for long syncs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do online-only OneDrive files consume local disk space after reinstalling Windows?
During a massive initial synchronization, OneDrive caches data temporarily to index and build the folder structure. Additionally, known bugs can occasionally cause 0 KB placeholder files to improperly allocate local storage space.
Can I access my SharePoint files without installing or syncing OneDrive?
Yes. You can access all your SharePoint and OneDrive files directly through your web browser by logging into the Microsoft 365 portal, entirely bypassing the need for local folder synchronization.
What happens when I click 'Stop sync' for a SharePoint folder?
The folder will stop communicating with the cloud. The files that were already downloaded will remain on your local hard drive as standard, disconnected files. You can delete these local copies to free up space, and the original files in SharePoint will remain safely untouched.
Why is my OneDrive sync stuck on 'Processing changes' for days?
When synchronizing terabytes of data or millions of small files, the OneDrive client can become overwhelmed during the indexing phase. Pausing the sync, choosing fewer folders, or utilizing Files On-Demand can alleviate this bottleneck.
