How to Remove SharePoint Sync from OneDrive and Free Up Space

Removing SharePoint Sync from OneDrive can be a bit of a challenge, but it's a necessary step if you want to free up some much-needed space on your device.

First, you need to stop syncing your SharePoint site with OneDrive. This can be done by going to the OneDrive settings and clicking on the "Stop syncing" button.

You can also delete the SharePoint site from your OneDrive account, which will stop the syncing process and free up space on your device. To do this, go to the OneDrive settings and click on the "Deleted items" tab.

Once you've stopped syncing and deleted the SharePoint site, you'll need to remove the SharePoint Sync app from your device. This will prevent any further syncing from taking place.

Before you start the process of removing SharePoint sync from OneDrive, take a few preparatory steps to ensure your files remain safe and accessible.

Check File Status: Make sure all files in your SharePoint folder are fully synced, with the latest versions updated both in the cloud and on your local computer. You can check this by looking at the sync status indicators on the files.

Backup Important Files: Back up important files before making changes to their sync settings to avoid accidental loss of data. You can back up your files by copying them to a different location on your computer or to an external hard drive.

Understand the Impact: Unsynchronizing a folder will no longer automatically update its contents between your computer and SharePoint, so any changes you make to the files in the unsynced folder on your computer won't be reflected in SharePoint, and vice versa.

Syncing SharePoint folders allows you to access files on multiple devices without transferring them.

Before syncing, make sure all files are fully synced by checking the sync status indicators on the files. This ensures the latest versions of your files are updated both in the cloud and on your local computer.

Backing up important files before making changes to their sync settings is a good practice. This way, you can avoid accidental loss of data by copying them to a different location on your computer or to an external hard drive.

Unsyncing a folder will no longer automatically update its contents between your computer and SharePoint. Any changes you make to the files in the unsynced folder on your computer won’t be reflected in SharePoint, and vice versa.

Here are the preparatory steps to take before unsyncing:

Syncing allows you to access files on multiple devices without transferring them, while unsyncing removes files that are taking up space on your device, but aren’t needed offline.

Unsyncing doesn’t delete or remove documents from SharePoint. It just stops them from being stored on your computer.

Unsyncing SharePoint folders from File Explorer can be a game-changer for management and security.

Decreasing the risk of data breaches is a significant benefit of unsyncing folders. By preventing them from being accessed offline, you limit who can access sensitive files.

Centralized control is another advantage of unsyncing folders. Admins can better control what is available offline and who can access it, making it easier to manage permissions.

Fewer sync errors occur when synchronization is disabled. This is because deactivating synchronization reduces the chance of syncing errors from users working on the same files at once.

Better version control is also a result of unsyncing folders. Users must work with the most up-to-date versions of files stored in SharePoint when sync is disabled.

Saving disk space is a practical benefit of unsyncing folders. Data in the cloud stays on servers, not local devices or desktops, freeing up disk space when folders are unsynced.

By unsyncing folders, you can still make certain files or folders available offline, adding an extra layer of security since sensitive files don’t stay local.

Here are the benefits of unsyncing SharePoint folders for management and security:

Confirming your decision to unsync a SharePoint folder is crucial before proceeding. This involves a few straightforward steps.

Before you confirm, make sure to back up your important files. It's a good practice to do this, as unsyncing can lead to accidental loss of data.

To confirm unsyncing, follow these steps:

It's essential to note that unsyncing doesn't delete the folder from SharePoint, it only removes the local copy.

Removing synced items from OneDrive is a straightforward process. You can unsync a SharePoint folder from File Explorer by clicking on "Stop Syncing" after navigating to the SharePoint folder in File Explorer.

To stop syncing a SharePoint folder, you can also click the white or blue cloud icon in your Windows taskbar and follow the steps to select the folder you want to stop syncing. This will prevent the folder from being stored on your computer.

Unsyncing a SharePoint folder doesn't delete or remove the documents from SharePoint, it just stops them from being stored on your computer. You can still access them in SharePoint online.

After stopping the sync, you can delete the locally stored files on your computer without affecting the SharePoint folder. Go to the folder in File Explorer, right-click on it, and select "Delete."

The SharePoint folder will still be available in SharePoint online, but it will no longer sync to your device. If you want to delete the SharePoint folder and its contents completely, you will need to do so in SharePoint online.

Unsyncing a SharePoint folder from OneDrive can be done in several ways, but the process is relatively straightforward. You can start by right-clicking on the OneDrive icon in the Windows system tray or Mac menu bar and selecting "Settings".

To stop syncing a SharePoint folder, you'll need to go to the "Account" tab and click on "Stop sync" next to the folder you want to unsync. You'll see a warning message asking if you're sure you want to stop syncing, so click "Stop sync" to confirm.

The SharePoint folder will be removed from your local OneDrive folder, but the folder and its contents will still be available in SharePoint online. If you want to delete the SharePoint folder and its contents completely, you'll need to do so in SharePoint Online.

You can also unsync a SharePoint folder by navigating to the synced folder in File Explorer, right-clicking on it, and selecting "Settings". Then, choose "Stop Syncing" and click "Yes" to confirm your decision.

It's worth noting that stopping the syncing process for a folder does not automatically delete the local files on your computer. If you want to remove those files, you'll need to delete them manually.

Here are the steps to unsync a SharePoint folder from File Explorer:

By following these steps, you can effectively manage your syncing process and ensure that only the necessary folders are synced with your SharePoint document library.

Troubleshooting is key to successfully removing SharePoint sync from OneDrive. If you're having trouble, confirm that you have enough permission to unsync these files.

You might encounter issues like the unsync button being greyed out, or error messages during the unsyncing process. If this happens, try clearing the cache or restarting the system.

If multiple people access a shared folder, it may cause sync issues. To prevent further issues, all members should agree on how to sync their files and communicate changes.

If you're still seeing a SharePoint folder in your File Explorer after unsyncing it, don't worry, it's not uncommon. Sometimes, the folder can linger due to being used by another connected device.

Check if the folder is still online in SharePoint, and if it is, remove it from there and then try to unsync it again.

Folders can take a while to disappear from File Explorer, so be patient and try restarting your computer or disconnecting and reconnecting your internet connection.

If you've tried all of the above and the folder is still showing, it's possible that the issue is related to cached files. Purging cached files from OneDrive has been known to solve the problem permanently.

Remember, it's not just a matter of simply removing the folder from your local device, you need to also remove it from SharePoint Online if you want to delete it completely.

If multiple people access a shared folder, it may cause sync issues. This is because multiple users can create conflicts and inconsistencies in the file synchronization process.

To troubleshoot common issues with unsyncing SharePoint folders, focus on the following sub-sections: unsync button greyed out, cannot unsync multiple folders at once, folder still showing in file explorer after unsyncing, and error messages during unsyncing process.

Clearing the cache or restarting the system can often resolve sync issues. This is a simple step that can make a big difference.

To prevent further issues, all members should agree on how to sync their files and communicate changes. By communicating throughout updates, we reduce disruptions and identify issues before making improvements.

Confirm that you have enough permission to unsync these files. If you're unsure, check with your administrator or IT department.

If problems continue, consider seeking additional support from your IT department or consulting Microsoft’s online resources for more advanced solutions.