Turn On or Off Sync Settings for Microsoft Account in Windows 10  

hmm did you update it recently because I'm sure there were less entries when I previously looked!

Nope. Still the same.

mta3006 said:

@Brink,

Do you know if there is any way to disable Sync at the Microsoft Account itself, for all devices? That way, one would not have to add it to the list of things to adjust/disable/modify after a clean install...

Not that I'm aware of other than to manually turn off in Settings.

sportsfan148 said:

My situation is that I only have the one device..a laptop. I only use a Microsoft Account and dont wish to set up a Local Account at all, so when clean installing the OS, as soon as Windows set up has completed, the first thing I do before making any changes is to go into Settings/Account/Sync Settings and turn off the Sync toggle. I have always thought that this ensures that no personal settings are saved in the cloud. Is my thinking correct here ..OR.. Do settings such as the WiFi network password and Desktop wallpaper theme get synced to the cloud automatically anyway because Windows turns on Syncing by default and these settings will be synced before I get the chance to turn off the Sync toggle.
If so..Do you guys just leave the Sync toggle On and not worry about it..even if you only have one Windows device signed in with a Microsoft Account?

Hey mate,

I have sync turned on for my Microsoft account since it makes it much easier to have most of your settings get automatically synced instead of manually.

If you turn off sync right away, it will not sync anything. Especially if you disconnect the Internet before your first sign in to turn off sync, and connect the Internet back afterwards.

Brink said:

Hey mate,

I have sync turned on for my Microsoft account since it makes it much easier to have most of your settings get automatically synced instead of manually.

If you turn off sync right away, it will not sync anything. Especially if you disconnect the Internet before your first sign in to turn off sync, and connect the Internet back afterwards.

Hey Shaun , Thanks for the info. I wanted to double check here to be sure because I never disconnect the internet. A reset/clean install for me is always done while connected to the net.
So it seems you think its still useful to leave Sync Settings ON even though I only have one device (laptop). If I leave sync settings permanently turned on as you do..what happens when you buy a new laptop?. Lets just say previous laptop was a Dell which you get rid of and replace it with a new ASUS laptop for example? Im guessing as soon as you set up your new ASUS laptop and sign in with your Microsoft Account that the Dell background wallpaper theme would be synced straight on to the new laptop. Could that corrupt the installation?.....OR...would it then just be a simple matter of selecting personalise at the ASUS desktop and manually change the Dell theme to the new ASUS laptops default theme? (Im using Themes as an example..the same question could also apply to any of the settings that have been synced on the previous laptop)

sportsfan148 said:

Hey Shaun , Thanks for the info. I wanted to double check here to be sure because I never disconnect the internet. A reset/clean install for me is always done while connected to the net.
So it seems you think its still useful to leave Sync Settings ON even though I only have one device (laptop). If I leave sync settings permanently turned on as you do..what happens when you buy a new laptop?. Lets just say previous laptop was a Dell which you get rid of and replace it with a new ASUS laptop for example? Im guessing as soon as you set up your new ASUS laptop and sign in with your Microsoft Account that the Dell background wallpaper theme would be synced straight on to the new laptop. Could that corrupt the installation?.....OR...would it then just be a simple matter of selecting personalise at the ASUS desktop and manually change the Dell theme to the new ASUS laptops default theme? (Im using Themes as an example..the same question could also apply to any of the settings that have been synced on the previous laptop)

Correct. All the sync settings you have turned on will automatically sync to the new computer once signed in with the same Microsoft account.

It helps with the single computer whenever you do a clean install as well to sync the settings back.