How to Exclude Specific File Extensions from Backing up to OneDrive in Windows 11

Why exclude files from OneDrive?

You might have large files or temporary files that you do not need to access from your phone or other computers. By excluding them, you save space in your cloud storage and keep your synced folders clean.

What happens when you are done?

Once you add an extension to the exclusion list, OneDrive will stop uploading new files of that type to the cloud. Please note that files already in your cloud storage will not be removed automatically; this setting only stops new ones from being added.

How to exclude file types

1. Click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar 🖥️.
2. Select the Help & Settings (gear) icon and choose Settings.
3. Click Sync and backup on the left side, then click the Advanced settings link.
4. Find the Excluded file extensions section and click Exclude.
5. Type the file extension you want to block (for example: “png”) into the box and click Exclude.

How to stop excluding file types

1. Follow the steps above to return to the Excluded file extensions section.
2. Look for the extension you want to allow again.
3. Click the X button next to that extension.
4. Click Ok to save your changes.

Summary

By default, OneDrive syncs everything in your folders to the cloud. If you want to keep certain files local only, you can use the Excluded file extensions menu in the OneDrive settings. This keeps your cloud storage organized and prevents unwanted files from syncing across your devices.