Windows 10 lets you synchronize settings on all devices you sign into with your Microsoft Account. Some of these settings include themes, language preferences, and passwords. But what if you don’t want your old settings to transfer over? Here’s how to disable and remove all account Sync settings on Windows 10.
How Do Sync Settings Work?
Sync Settings were first introduced with Windows 8 and are available for any Windows 10 device you sign into with your Microsoft account.
By default, when you enable Sync settings, Windows uploads various system settings and preferences to OneDrive. When you sign in to another device with the same account and on which you’ve also enabled sync settings, those settings all transfer over. It’s really handy if, for example, you like your desktop and laptop to look the same or you want to retain all your settings on a fresh install.
The following is a list of the settings that get synced to your Microsoft account:
- Theme – Desktop background, user tile, taskbar position, etc.
- Passwords – Windows credential manager, including Wi-Fi profiles
- Language Preferences – Spelling dictionary, system language settings
- Ease of Access – Narrator, on-screen keyboard, magnifier
- Other Windows Settings – A full list of Other Windows Settings
RELATED: Understanding the New Sync Settings in Windows 10
How to Disable Account Sync Settings on a Device
Disabling Sync settings in Windows 10 lets you limit what information Microsoft sends to the cloud and stores on their servers. Whether you want to disable a single setting or stop syncing altogether, this is how you can gain control of your settings once and for all.
Note: If you have multiple devices that all use Sync settings with your Microsoft account, you need to follow these steps for each device to disable and remove Sync settings completely.
Open up the Settings app by clicking the Start button and then the Settings cog. You can also press Win+I.
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