Sync Your Settings - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

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

   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

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OPTION ONE

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

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1. Do a single step between steps 2-17 below for which sync setting you would like to enable or disable.​

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2. To Enable "All" Sync Settings​

NOTE: This is the default setting. This step will override steps 4-17 below and OPTION TWO.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_All_Sync_Settings.reg​

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3. To Disable "All" Sync Settings​

NOTE: This is the default setting. This step will override steps 4-17 below and OPTION TWO.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_All_Sync_Settings.reg​

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4. To Enable Sync "App" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_App_Settings.reg​

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5. To Disable Sync "App" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_App_Settings.reg​

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6. To Enable Sync "Passwords" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg​

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7. To Disable Sync "Passwords" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Passwords_Settings.reg​

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8. To Enable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg​

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9. To Disable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Desktop_Personalization_Settings.reg​

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10. To Enable Sync "Personalize" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Personalizate_Settings.reg​

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11. To Disable Sync "Personalize" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Personalize_Settings.reg​

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12. To Enable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg​

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13. To Disable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Metered_Connnections_Settings.reg​

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14. To Enable Sync "Browser" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg​

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15. To Disable Sync "Browser" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Browser_Settings.reg​

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16. To Enable Sync "Other Windows" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Enable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg​

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17. To Disable Sync "Other Windows" Settings​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 18 below.​

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Disable_Sync_Other-Windows_Settings.reg​

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18. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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19. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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20. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​

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21. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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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.

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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.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and open Sync your settings. (see screenshot below)​

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4. Do a single step between steps 5-12 below for which sync setting you would like to enable or disable.​

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5. To Enable/Disable "All" Sync Settings​

NOTE: This step will override steps 6-12 below and OPTION ONE.​

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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)​

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6. To Enable/Disable Sync "App" Settings​

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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)​

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7. To Enable/Disable Sync "Passwords" Settings​

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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)​

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8. To Enable/Disable Sync "Desktop Personalization" Settings​

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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)​

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9. To Enable/Disable Sync "Personalize" Settings​

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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)​

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10. To Enable/Disable Sync "Metered Connections" Settings​

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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)​

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11. To Enable/Disable Sync "Browser" Settings​

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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)​

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12. To Enable/Disable Sync "Other Windows" Settings​

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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)​

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13. Do step 14 or 15 below for what you would like to do.​

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14. To Enable Selected Sync Setting ​

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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.​

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15. To Disable Selected Sync Setting​

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A) Only select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​

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

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Sync Your Settings Between PCs in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Sync Settings" Shortcut for Your Microsoft Account in Windows 8.1
• How to Remove Your Synced Windows 8.1 Personal Settings from SkyDrive
• How to Delete Your Synced Settings Backed Up on SkyDrive for Windows 8.1 PCs and Devices
• How to Turn On or Off "Metered Internet Connections" for Sync Settings in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Fix Microsoft Account Issues in Windows 8 with "Microsoft Accounts Troubleshooter"

 

[LinuxIsACancer]

Why all .reg files attached to this article are not downloadable ?

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[LinuxIsACancer]

Sorry about that. Please try again.

Thanks! Now all links are working! :thumb:

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