Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 10, 2026
Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\One Drive Description
This policy setting lets you prevent apps and features from working with files on OneDrive for Windows 8.1. If you enable this policy setting: * Users can’t access OneDrive from the OneDrive app and file picker. * Packaged Microsoft Store apps can’t access OneDrive using the WinRT API. * OneDrive doesn’t appear in the navigation pane in File Explorer. * OneDrive files aren’t kept in sync with the cloud. * Users can’t automatically upload photos and videos from the camera roll folder. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, apps and features can work with OneDrive file storage.
Registry
HKLM
Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive Value name: DisableFileSync
Enabled: DisableFileSync = 1
Disabled: DisableFileSync = 0
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive]
"DisableFileSync"=dword:00000001More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableFileSync' -Value 1 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive' -Name 'DisableFileSync' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableFileSync' -Value 1 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive' -Name 'DisableFileSync' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage on Windows 8.1
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 only
$path = 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'DisableFileSync' -Value 1 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.