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URL: https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/onedrive/install-onedrive-on-an-external-drive

⇱ Install OneDrive on an external drive | Microsoft Support

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Install OneDrive on an external drive

If you need to change your OneDrive storage location from your computer to an SD card or other external storage source, you can do so as long as the external drive is non-ejectable. Removable USB drives are not supported.

Note

If you don't have enough room on your computer, use the Files On-Demand feature for OneDrive available for Windows and Mac, as well as selective syncing.

First, you should check the file system of the external drive you'll be using.

Check the file system of the drive

  1. Open File Explorer.
  2. Right-click the drive and choose Properties.
  3. On the General tab, next to File system, see if it says NTFS.

If the file system is FAT or FAT32, refer to the next section. Otherwise, proceed to Unlink OneDrive and run OneDrive setup again.

Convert a FAT or FAT32 drive to NTFS

Converting a drive using these steps will preserve the files on the drive. We still recommend making sure you have backups of all files on the drive.

  1. Find the letter of drive you want to convert. Open File Explorer, and in the left pane, look for the drive under "This PC" or "Computer."
  2. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  3. Enter cmd to open the command prompt window.
  4. At the command line prompt, type convert drive: /fs:ntfs
    For example, if the letter of the drive you want to convert is e, you would type convert e: /fs:ntfs

Note

If you want to convert an NTFS drive back to FAT32, you need to save copies of any files you want to keep, and then reformat or partition the drive.

Unlink OneDrive and run OneDrive setup again

You won't lose files or data by disabling, uninstalling or unlinking OneDrive on your computer. You can always access your files by signing in to your OneDrive account online.

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud in your notification area to show the OneDrive pop-up.
    👁 Blue and white OneDrive icons
  2. Select the OneDrive Help and Settings icon  👁 Settings
      then select Settings.
  3. Go to the Account tab.
    👁 A screenshot showing the Account tab in OneDrive settings.
  4. Select Unlink this PC, and then select Unlink account.

Note

Unlinked files can be safely deleted from your local storage, as they are also stored in the cloud and accessible through the OneDrive site.

Follow the steps in the Welcome to OneDrive wizard to set up OneDrive in the new file location.

Warning

You cannot set up Folder Protection with OneDrive on external memory.

Need more help?

Unable to sync OneDrive to an SD card or external USB drive

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