This message is most often tied to Documents, Desktop or Pictures. Microsoft says those folders cannot be unticked in Choose folders, and if OneDrive backs them up, you stop that in a different place: Sync and backup, then Manage backup. I could not find Microsoft text for the exact message, so this is based on its documented behaviour and community reports.
Why untick does not work for some folders
The Choose folders dialog controls which OneDrive folders are kept on this PC. Microsoft states that Documents, Desktop, Pictures and Personal Vault cannot be unchecked there. Unticking another folder removes it from your computer but leaves it online. If your PC also backs up Documents, Desktop or Pictures, that is handled by folder backup, not by Choose folders.
Fix 1: Stop folder backup
- Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, then the settings gear, then Settings.
- Open the Sync and backup tab and select Manage backup.
- Turn off the toggle for the folder.
- Choose where the files should end up: only in OneDrive, which removes them from the PC, or only on this PC, which removes them from OneDrive. Read this choice carefully.
- Go back to Choose folders and try again.
If you see “Some files couldn’t be moved. Download them first by changing their state to Always keep on this device,” right-click the cloud-only files, choose Always keep on this device, wait for the download, and repeat.
Fix 2: Check for a parent folder problem
A Microsoft Q&A answer says OneDrive may not let you untick a subfolder of a system folder while the system folder stays ticked. Untick the parent, tick it again, then untick only the subfolder. This is a community suggestion, not documented behaviour.
Fix 3: Clear the red X itself
- Click the OneDrive tray icon. A sync issue banner usually names the file at fault.
- Rename files that use characters OneDrive rejects, such as ” * : < > ? / \ |, or whose full path is too long.
- Check for files stuck on Sync Pending and let them finish.
- If syncing is paused, resume it first. A community post says Settings can be greyed out while paused.
- Quit and reopen OneDrive, then update it.
Last resort
Unlinking the PC and signing in again, or resetting OneDrive, can fix a stuck state. It may cause duplicates or change local sync, so copy anything important somewhere safe first.
Check what is actually happening first
Before changing anything, open the OneDrive tray menu and read the status line. It tells you whether OneDrive is syncing, paused or reporting errors. A red X in File Explorer is attached to one file or folder, so right-click it and choose View sync problems if that option appears. That tells you whether the problem is a stuck setting or a single bad file.
A safe order to work in
Start with the quit-and-reopen step, because it changes nothing. Then use Manage backup if Documents, Desktop or Pictures are involved. Leave unlinking until last, and copy your important files to another drive before you do it.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Choose which OneDrive folders to sync
- Microsoft Support: Back up your folders with OneDrive
- Microsoft Q&A: Cannot select folders to sync
- Microsoft Q&A: Can’t stop syncing folder
Last checked: October 21, 2026