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Turn off Windows preference syncing in Windows 11
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Accounts > Windows backup.
- Turn off Remember my preferences to stop Windows from backing up the selected preferences, or expand it and switch off only the categories you want to keep from roaming.
Depending on the Windows version and your organization’s account policy, the available categories can include Accessibility, Accounts/Wi-Fi/passwords, Personalization, Language preferences and dictionary, and Other Windows settings. Microsoft describes the Windows Backup controls and restore behavior and provides a catalog of settings Windows Backup can handle.
The Other Windows settings group can include some device settings, File Explorer settings, and notification preferences. Turning off Windows preference backup does not disable every feature that can make two PCs look alike.
If the setting is unavailable or managed by your employer
Work or school accounts can use Windows preference syncing only when the organization allows it. On a managed PC, a local switch may be unavailable or controlled by organizational policy. If Windows says the setting is managed, you cannot change it, or it returns after you turn it off, contact your help desk rather than trying to override the control.
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Ask IT whether Enterprise State Roaming is enabled for your work identity and whether the device’s mobile device management (MDM) or Group Policy configuration enforces settings sync. Microsoft documents the administrator policy options for Group Policy and MDM settings for Enterprise State Roaming and the ADMX_SettingSync Policy CSP. The Group Policy location is Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Sync your settings. Microsoft’s policy reference says the device-level DisableSettingSync policy prevents syncing to and from the PC and applies to supported Windows 11 editions starting with version 21H2. These are IT-managed controls, not steps an employee should change on a company device.
Do not disconnect your work or school account just to stop preferences roaming. Account registration and device management are separate decisions, and removing an account can affect access to work resources. Ask your organization to confirm the approved change and its scope. Microsoft explains the account-connection options in its guide to adding a work or school account to a Windows device.
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Check which kind of syncing is bothering you
Windows preference backup is separate from other sync features. Identify what is appearing on the other PC before changing unrelated settings:
- Windows appearance, language, or other preferences: Check Remember my preferences under Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
- Files or folders: OneDrive folder backup is a separate control; turning off Windows preferences does not stop it.
- Browser favorites or other Edge data: Microsoft Edge has its own sync controls, unaffected by the Windows Backup switch.
- Clipboard contents: Clipboard sync is a separate Windows feature. Check Settings > System > Clipboard on versions that provide the control.
Microsoft’s Microsoft account privacy guidance also describes a Sync your Microsoft account with Windows option in the account privacy dashboard for some regions. That personal-account option may not apply to a work or school account.
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What happens to preferences already stored in the cloud?
Turning off future preference backup does not, by itself, establish that settings previously stored in the cloud have been erased. For an applicable account, Microsoft’s Windows Backup guidance points to the Microsoft Account Devices page and its Cloud synced settings control for managing stored settings. Follow the account-specific instructions there; do not assume that switching off the device setting also deletes existing cloud data.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Windows 10 and older instructions
Microsoft’s older Windows 10 instructions used Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings. Windows 11’s current support path is Settings > Accounts > Windows backup. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, so use the Windows 11 steps above for supported Windows 11 devices rather than treating the legacy menu as the current path. See Microsoft’s Windows Backup instructions for version-specific guidance.
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