Sync Your Settings - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable "Sync Your Settings" in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 8, then you will be able to sync your settings between your other confirmed trusted PCs running Windows 8 that you sign in to with the same Microsoft account (Windows Live ID).

This tutorial will show you how to allow or prevent all users from being able to turn on all or specific sync settings in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.


EXAMPLE: "Sync your settings" Disabled in PC settings
Disabled.jpg







OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable "Sync Settings" using a REG File Download


1. Do a single step between steps 2-17 below for which sync setting you would like to enable or disable.​
2. To Enable "All" Sync Settings
NOTE: This is the default setting. This step will override steps 4-17 below and OPTION TWO.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_All_Sync_Settings.reg
download

3. To Disable "All" Sync Settings
NOTE: This is the default setting. This step will override steps 4-17 below and OPTION TWO.​
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_All_Sync_Settings.reg
download

4. To Enable Sync "App" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_App_Settings.reg
download


5. To Disable Sync "App" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_App_Settings.reg
download


6. To Enable Sync "Passwords" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg
download


7. To Disable Sync "Passwords" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg
download


8. To Enable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg
download


9. To Disable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg
download


10. To Enable Sync "Personalize" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Personalizate_Settings.reg
download


11. To Disable Sync "Personalize" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Personalize_Settings.reg
download


12. To Enable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg
download


13. To Disable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg
download


14. To Enable Sync "Browser" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg
download


15. To Disable Sync "Browser" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg
download


16. To Enable Sync "Other Windows" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Enable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg
download


17. To Disable Sync "Other Windows" Settings
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​
Disable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg
download


18. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
19. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.
20. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
21. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.







OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable "Sync Settings" in Local Group Policy Editor


NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions.
1. From the Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc and press Enter when finished.​
NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tapon OK.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and open Sync your settings. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-1.jpg
4. Do a single step between steps 5-12 below for which sync setting you would like to enable or disable.​
5. To Enable/Disable "All" Sync Settings
NOTE: This step will override steps 6-12 below and OPTION ONE.​
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​
6. To Enable/Disable Sync "App" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync app settings, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

7. To Enable/Disable Sync "Passwords" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync passwords, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

8. To Enable/Disable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync desktop personlization, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

9. To Enable/Disable Sync "Personalize" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync personalize, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

10. To Enable/Disable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync on metered connections, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

11. To Enable/Disable Sync "Browser" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync browser settings, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

12. To Enable/Disable Sync "Other Windows" Settings
A) In the right pane of Sync your settings, double click/tap on Do not sync other Windows settings, and go to step 13 below. (see screenshot above)​

13. Do step 14 or 15 below for what you would like to do.​
14. To Enable Selected Sync Setting
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 15A)​
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​
15. To Disable Selected Sync Setting
A) Only select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​
GPEDIT-2.jpg

16. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​



That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Disable_All_Sync_Settings.reg
    734 bytes · Views: 1,371
  • Enable_All_Sync_Settings.reg
    1.7 KB · Views: 1,809
  • Disable_Sync_App_Settings.reg
    778 bytes · Views: 814
  • Enable_Sync_App_Settings.reg
    726 bytes · Views: 993
  • Disable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg
    774 bytes · Views: 735
  • Enable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg
    722 bytes · Views: 741
  • Disable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg
    782 bytes · Views: 680
  • Enable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg
    730 bytes · Views: 995
  • Disable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg
    648 bytes · Views: 736
  • Enable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg
    622 bytes · Views: 768
  • Disable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg
    762 bytes · Views: 771
  • Enable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg
    710 bytes · Views: 822
  • Disable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg
    778 bytes · Views: 760
  • Enable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg
    726 bytes · Views: 807
  • Disable_Sync_Personalize_Settings.reg
    794 bytes · Views: 730
  • Enable_Sync_Personalize_Settings.reg
    742 bytes · Views: 1,046
  • Live Sync.png
    Live Sync.png
    2.9 KB · Views: 309
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello Hybernaculum, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Hmm, not sure why the links stopped working, but they should be now. Sorry about that. Please try again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
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    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
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Sorry about that. Please try again.
Thanks! Now all links are working! :thumb::D

A little addition to the article. ;)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Prevent the "AppSync" group from syncing to and from this PC.
; This turns off and disables the "AppSync" group on the "sync your settings" page in PC settings.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync]
"DisableAppSyncSettingSync"=dword:00000002
"DisableAppSyncSettingSyncUserOverride"=dword:00000001

; Prevent the "Start layout" group from syncing to and from this PC.
; This turns off and disables the "Start layout" group on the "sync your settings" page in PC settings.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\SettingSync]
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSync"=dword:00000002
"DisableStartLayoutSettingSyncUserOverride"=dword:00000001
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
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