Sync Specific Folders with OneDrive in Windows 10
Managing OneDrive Syncing for Optimized Storage
OneDrive offers 15 GB of complimentary cloud storage, allowing users to securely keep photos, music, documents, and various other file types. These files are designed to be synchronized across a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and personal computers.
However, complete synchronization may not always be desirable, particularly when dealing with devices that have constrained storage capacity.
Selective Sync Configuration
If your computer is experiencing limited hard drive space, you can choose to synchronize only specific folders from your OneDrive account. This process is straightforward to implement.
Begin by opening the notification area, accessible by clicking the upward-pointing arrow located on the right side of the taskbar. From there, right-click the OneDrive icon within the tray and choose “Settings” from the context menu that appears.
Within the “Microsoft OneDrive” dialog box, navigate to and click the “Choose folders” tab.
On the “Choose folders” tab, initiate the folder selection process by clicking the “Choose folders” button.
The “Sync your OneDrive files to this PC” dialog box will then be displayed. To exclude a folder from synchronization on your computer, simply uncheck the box positioned to the left of the folder’s name.
Upon initially deselecting a folder for syncing, a confirmation dialog will appear. This dialog informs you that the files and folders will remain stored on OneDrive but will no longer be present on your local PC. Any existing files on your PC will be removed. Confirm your choice by clicking “OK”.
After you have finished deselecting the folders you wish to exclude from syncing, click “OK” to close the dialog box.
You will then be returned to the main “Settings” dialog box. Click “OK” again to close this dialog.
Re-enabling Sync
To re-enable synchronization for folders that were previously excluded, simply revisit the OneDrive “Settings” and re-select those folders. A check mark should appear in the box next to each folder you want to synchronize to your PC.
