How to Turn Off OneDrive as the Default Save Location in Microsoft Word

Article Summary

• Why OneDrive appears: Word gives OneDrive priority because it is built into Microsoft 365 and supports cloud syncing. It also makes it easier to open documents on another device or work on a file with someone else.
• How to save files locally: You can make This PC your preferred save location without removing OneDrive. Save As also lets you store a single document on your computer or copy it directly to a USB drive when you don’t want to use OneDrive.
• What to check if it keeps appearing: OneDrive may still be backing up your Documents folder, which can cause files to be redirected to the cloud. Additionally, changing Word’s save location will not pause OneDrive. For this, you’ll need to unlink your computer or uninstall the app.

Of late, Microsoft is seemingly pushing OneDrive as the default save location in Microsoft Word, and for many of us, that can be increasingly frustrating. But this is not a situation you have to simply accept, as you can learn how to change the default save location in Word. 

Also, best of all, you can do this without deleting the cloud files you already have. With this in mind, today at My Computer Works, we’re sharing the steps you need to take to turn off OneDrive as the default save location in Word. However, bear in mind that these steps apply to the desktop version of Microsoft Word for Windows.

Why is Word Forcing You to Save to OneDrive?

So, why is Microsoft Word forcing me to save to OneDrive? That’s a tricky question we’ve been getting recently, and the answer is…you guessed it…complicated.

In a nutshell, the answer to “Why does Word keep saving to OneDrive?” is that it’s likely Word’s default save location, your folders are being backed up to OneDrive, or Office is signed in to a Microsoft account connected to OneDrive.

Essentially, Microsoft Word gives OneDrive priority rather than preventing you from saving elsewhere. So, it isn’t trying to force you to use only its cloud service, but it is nudging you all the same. Microsoft 365 promotes OneDrive because it supports cloud backups, collaboration, file sharing, and access from other devices. As Microsoft’s built-in cloud storage option, it allows these features to work together more easily.

AutoSave also relies on a supported cloud location, such as OneDrive or SharePoint. That’s why OneDrive appears so prominently when you create or save a document. However, quite understandably, not everyone wants cloud storage to be their first option, regardless of how convenient certain features may be.

Reasons to Save Files Locally Instead

Many of us prefer a familiar folder on our computers as a save location or use a different backup service. This is often simply a personal preference, but some people also want to save locally so they can still access their files when their internet connection is unreliable.

Additionally, knowing how to save Microsoft Word documents offline lets you directly control which folder contains working copies of your files. This often makes sense if you manage documents in File Explorer or regularly copy work to an external drive. 

It also makes sense for those who want to try to prevent personal documents from ending up under the wrong work or school Microsoft account. 

Yet it’s important to remember that although you can save files locally in Microsoft Word, having a single copy on a single computer is vulnerable. This is especially true given that the file could be lost due to hardware failure or accidental deletion. 

How to Make “This PC” the Default Save Location

To stop Word from saving to OneDrive by default, you need to open the Word desktop app and follow these steps:

1. Select File in the top-left corner.
2. Choose Options.
3. Select Save from the menu.
4. Check Save to Computer by default.
5. Find Default local file location and choose the folder you want Word to use.
6. Select OK.

These Microsoft Word save settings make local storage the preferred option for new documents. Additionally, once the ‘Microsoft Word Save to This PC’ setting is enabled, Word will use the folder you selected as the Word default save location.

Yet, OneDrive will still appear as an option, so you can choose it whenever a document needs to be synced to the cloud or shared. 

How to Save a Single Document to Your Computer

If you only want to save one file to your computer, you don’t need to change the default save setting. Below is how to save a Word document to your computer instead of OneDrive: 

1. Open File and choose Save As or Save a Copy, depending on your version of Word.
2. Then select Browse, choose This PC, open the folder you want, and save the file there. 

It really is only the two steps above to save Word documents to your computer instead of OneDrive, while leaving cloud saving enabled for other files. 

How to Save Directly to a USB Flash Drive

If you want to save to a USB flash drive instead of OneDrive, the process is simple. All you need to do is insert the flash drive and wait for it to appear in File Explorer. Once this happens, you’ll go to Word, open File, choose Save As or Save a Copy, and select Browse. 

Thereafter, you’ll navigate to the USB drive, open it, choose a folder, enter the file name, and select Save. That’s it. That’s all you need to save a Word document to a USB flash drive. Afterwards, you can close the document before ejecting the drive, so Word is not still writing changes to it. 

However, if Word won’t save to your USB drive, check that the drive has enough free space and isn’t write-protected, then try copying another file to it in File Explorer. If that also fails, we hate to say it, but the issue is probably with the drive rather than Word.

How to Change Your Default Save Folder

If you’re not using OneDrive, you may still want to change your default save folder to a different location. Fortunately, this is easy. 

To change where your local files are saved on your PC, return to File, then navigate to Options and Save. In this menu, you’ll go to Default local file location, where you’ll enter a different path or browse to your preferred folder before selecting it. 

Many choose Documents or a dedicated work folder as their default or another internal drive, but it’s up to you where you want your Word documents saved. But we will say it’s often best to set a single consistent location so your files are easier to find and access later. 

We also recommend changing your default save location when you want to save Word files to a local drive or save a Word document to your hard drive without choosing the same destination each time. It just makes life easier. 

What If OneDrive Keeps Appearing?

If OneDrive is annoyingly still appearing even after you change Word’s default save location, it could be because your Documents folder is still being backed up to OneDrive. 

If you’ve done some investigating and this seems likely, the Documents shortcut in File Explorer is pointing to a folder stored in OneDrive. This can make it seem as though Word is ignoring your local save preference. So, here’s what you’ll need to do: 

1. Confirm that Save to Computer by default is still checked in Word
2. Open OneDrive settings and select Sync and Backup.
3. Review the folders listed under Manage backup.

In addition to the above, you’ll also want to check that Word and OneDrive are signed into the correct Microsoft account. After you have checked this and made any changes, close Word completely and reopen it to see whether your preferred location is now correct.

Can You Turn Off OneDrive Completely?

So… are you still asking ‘Can I turn off OneDrive in Microsoft Word?’ If so, we get it, but the answer we have to give you might not be what you want to hear. 

This is because, although you can stop using it as Word’s preferred save destination, you’ll have to pause or disable syncing entirely in the OneDrive app to turn it off. To do this: 

1. Select the cloud icon in the taskbar to temporarily pause syncing.
2. Open OneDrive settings, choose Account, and select Unlink this PC to disconnect the computer. 
3. On versions of Windows that allow it, open Windows Settings, find Microsoft OneDrive under your installed apps, and select Uninstall if you no longer use it. If the uninstall option is unavailable, you can instead unlink the computer or stop OneDrive from syncing.

However, before unlinking or uninstalling, confirm that any files you need are downloaded to the computer. If Word continues to redirect documents after you change the settings, My Computer Works can check your Office account, folder backup, and Windows configuration to identify the cause without putting your existing files at risk.

Save Your Word Documents Where They Work Best for You

OneDrive can be useful, but it does not have to control where every new Word document goes. Once you update the default save setting and check whether OneDrive is backing up your Documents folder, you should be able to save locally without clicking through the same cloud options each time.

However, if Word still sends files to the wrong location, My Computer Works can help you sort out your save settings and folder redirects so your documents end up where you expect them to be. We can also help you save a Word document without using OneDrive if you would prefer to use another cloud storage service or an external drive. So, contact our team here today.