New laptop and Microsoft account

Question

New laptop and Microsoft account

Daniel Marcus 0

Hello

My son has a new laptop. He is 18 and part of a family group for Microsoft 365 and also x box etc. He has a new laptop and wants to continue using his Microsoft account but doesn't want any files etc from the family pc transfered to his laptop. He is just setting new laptop up and is in setup phase being asked to put in Microsoft email etc. What should he do to avoid files and desktop being downloaded automatically ?

Gowthami Garisa 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T08:58:07.03+00:00

He can safely use his existing Microsoft account. No need for a new one.

During setup, when Windows asks whether to restore/sync from another PC, choose “Set up as a new PC” or “Don’t restore.”

The main thing to watch is OneDrive. If asked to back up or sync Desktop, Documents, or Pictures, decline/skip it for now. He can enable whichever folders he wants later.

This way he keeps his Microsoft 365, Xbox, purchases, etc., but the laptop starts clean without the family PC’s files.

2 answers

Your answer

Gowthami Garisa 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T08:58:07.03+00:00

He can safely use his existing Microsoft account. No need for a new one.

During setup, when Windows asks whether to restore/sync from another PC, choose “Set up as a new PC” or “Don’t restore.”

The main thing to watch is OneDrive. If asked to back up or sync Desktop, Documents, or Pictures, decline/skip it for now. He can enable whichever folders he wants later.

This way he keeps his Microsoft 365, Xbox, purchases, etc., but the laptop starts clean without the family PC’s files.

Answer 1

DaveM121 933.8K Independent Advisor

To stop the files syncing from the family PC to the new laptop, your son needs to stop OneDrive syncing on his account on the family PC or on the new laptop.

When setting up the new laptop, there are many syncing settings that will appear after he enters his account details, he must ensure he does not choose to sync files from the PC, then as soon as he gets into Windows on the new laptop, either open OneDrive settings an unlink the new laptop from OneDrive, or uninstall the OneDrive app to stop the files syncing from the family PC.

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Answer 2

Craig Long 18,630

What should he do to avoid files and desktop being downloaded automatically ?

He can go to Choose Folders in OneDrive Settings > Account tab > Choose Folders, and select only the folders he wants downloaded to his PC.

https://youtu.be/QI-0geH0lsI?t=49

Sorry, but Windows users can't uncheck the system folders: Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos—only folders outside them. So if he wants a OneDrive backup of those folders on his new PC, he must also sync the files from the family PC.

To avoid backing up files from the family PC while still getting a full backup, I suggest he use a different account on his new PC. Microsoft 365 Family lets you add up to 6 family accounts, so he can add another account to the family group if he wants.

Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points

2026-09-17T19:00:25.07+00:00

I don't know much about Xbox accounts. Is there an Xbox family plan that lets you use a different account?