@IrishHit
You can indeed use OneDrive with multiple computers using the same Microsoft account, but it’s important to set it up correctly to avoid mixing up files across different devices. Here’s how to manage OneDrive across multiple PCs so each device's files stay organized and separate:
1. Understanding OneDrive's Behavior
When you sign in to OneDrive on multiple devices with the same Microsoft account, OneDrive attempts to sync the folders and files from each device to the cloud and then to all other devices by default. This is why you might see files from an older PC appearing on a new one.
To avoid this, you can manage which folders get synced on each device and create a separate folder for each PC within OneDrive.
2. Setting Up OneDrive Separately for Each Computer
Here's how to set up and organize OneDrive on each of your PCs:
Step 1: Create Separate Folders for Each PC
- Go to OneDrive (via the web or any device):
- Open OneDrive in a web browser by going to OneDrive.com and signing in with your Microsoft account.
- Create a new folder in OneDrive for each of your PCs. For example, name them "Old PC Backup," "Notebook Files," "New Desktop Files," etc.
- Move Existing Files:
- If you already have files synced from your old PC, move them into the corresponding folder in OneDrive. This will help keep things organized and separate from your other devices.
Step 2: Set Up OneDrive on Each PC
- Install OneDrive (if not already installed):
- If OneDrive isn’t already set up on your new PC, download and install it from here.
- Configure Syncing:
- Choose Folders to Sync: When asked which folders to sync, you can select only the folder created for that specific PC, such as "New Desktop Files." This prevents other files from your OneDrive from syncing to the new PC.
- Avoid Syncing the OneDrive Root Folder: To prevent OneDrive from syncing all files across devices, do not sync the entire root directory. Instead, only sync the specific folders created for each device.
- During the setup or in the OneDrive settings, you'll have the option to select which folders to sync. Here’s what you can do:
- Selective Sync:
- You can manage the sync settings anytime by right-clicking the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom right corner), selecting Settings, and then navigating to the Account tab. From there, click on Choose folders to adjust what is synced to that specific device.
3. Avoid Automatic Syncing of Desktop, Documents, and Pictures Folders
By default, Windows may automatically sync your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders with OneDrive. To prevent this:
- Open OneDrive Settings:
- Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Settings.
- Manage Backup:
- Go to the Backup tab and click on Manage backup.
- You can turn off the backup for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures if you don’t want these folders to sync automatically with OneDrive.
4. Access Files from Any Device
Once set up, each of your PCs will have its own folder in OneDrive, and you can access any of these folders from any device by signing into OneDrive.
- Unlinking or Signing Out of OneDrive (if needed)
If you ever want to stop syncing a device:
- Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, go to Settings, and under the Account tab, click Unlink this PC. This will stop OneDrive from syncing files from that device.
By following these steps, you can keep each PC’s files organized and avoid cluttering your new devices with old files. My knowledge of this topic is limited, the text and steps were edited with the help of AI.
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
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