How to Stop OneDrive from Downloading Files

Quick Tips

• By default, OneDrive is designed to sync files across devices for quick, easy access.
• Users can pause or completely disable this syncing process to avoid clogging up their devices.
• Uninstall OneDrive from your device for an instant and permanent fix.

How to Stop OneDrive from Downloading Files Temporarily

In some cases, you may only want to stop OneDrive downloading files for a certain amount of time, like while you’re working or trying to download something else and don’t want to slow the process down. Fortunately, OneDrive offers a “pause” feature for this very purpose.

Here’s how to stop OneDrive from downloading files on Windows.

Step 1: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the bottom right section of your taskbar.

Step 2: Select the “Pause Syncing” button.

Step 3: Choose to pause downloads for either two, eight, or 24 hours.

Here are the instructions for Macs.

Step 1: Click the OneDrive icon in your menu bar.

Step 2: Click on “Pause Syncing.”

Step 3: Set the amount of time you want to pause for.

How to Block Download in OneDrive for Certain Folders

Many users want to have OneDrive block download processes just for specific folders and files, but still allow others to download and sync across their devices. If this is the case for you, you’re free to pick and choose which folders sync and which ones don’t.

Step 1: Open OneDrive and click the “Settings” icon.

Step 2: Head to the “Account” menu.

Step 3: Click on “Choose Folders.”

Step 4: Check or uncheck the boxes next to each folder for those you wish to sync or not sync, respectively.

Step 5: Press “OK” when you’re done to confirm the selections.

How to Block Download in OneDrive Permanently

If you want to know how to stop OneDrive from downloading files for good, you have a few options. You can quit the application, unlink your account, or uninstall it.

How to Quit OneDrive App on Windows and Mac

Step 1: Right-click on OneDrive.

Step 2: Click the “Pause Syncing” button, and then select “Quit OneDrive.”

Windows:

Mac:

Here’s how to unlink your account. This keeps the existing files on your cloud.

Step 1: Click on OneDrive and then click the “Settings” icon (shaped like a gear).

Step 2: Go into “Settings”, then choose “Account.”

Step 3: Click on “Unlink this PC.”

If you want to uninstall the app completely on Windows, use these steps:

Step 1: Click the Windows icon and type “Programs” into the search bar.

Step 2: Click on “Add or remove programs.”

Step 3: Find OneDrive and click “Uninstall.”

Step 4: Follow the instructions in the uninstall wizard if it pops up.

To uninstall on Mac, simply click, hold, and drag the OneDrive icon over into the trash can.

How to Uninstall OneDrive App on Android and iOS

Android:

Before following these steps, it’s important to note that OneDrive can’t be uninstalled if you’re using a Samsung device running Android. The app has become Samsung’s default cloud provider. However, the following steps will still work for other Android devices for which OneDrive isn’t the standard cloud service.

Step 1: Go to “Settings” and then “Apps.” You may also need to enter another menu, titled “Manage Apps” or something similar, depending on your device, Android version, and interface.

Step 2: Find OneDrive in your list of installed apps and tap the icon.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the “Uninstall” button.

iOS:

Step 1: On your Home Screen, find and hold down on the OneDrive app symbol.

Step 2: Tap “Remove App”

How to Limit the Download Rate in OneDrive

You also have the option to reduce the speed at which OneDrive downloads files. This won’t stop the downloads entirely, but it can limit them, so that they shouldn’t interfere with other online activities you might want to do, like streaming or downloading other files.

Step 1: Click the OneDrive icon.

Step 2: Go to the “Settings” menu and head to “Sync and Backup.”

Step 3: Click on “Advanced Settings.”

Step 4: Find the “Limit download rate” button and click to turn it on.

Step 5: Click on the down arrow to set the exact download rate, with a minimum of 50 kbps.

How to Delete Downloaded OneDrive Files from Your Device

If OneDrive has already downloaded many files to your computer that you want to get rid of, pausing downloads won’t do anything. You have to remove the repository itself.

Here are the instructions for Windows.

Step 1: Open File Explorer.

Step 2: Right-click your OneDrive folder.

Step 3: Click on “Free up space.”

Step 4: All the downloaded files will then be removed (but still stored in the cloud, for you to access when you need them).

Here’s how to do that on a Mac.

Step 1: Open your OneDrive folder.

Step 2: Select folders or files you want to get rid of, and “Move to Bin.”