Windows 11 Fresh Install keep restoring files and settings from old backup

suneth · Jan 11, 2026

I just want a fresh install of windows 11 and every time as soon as i login to my MS account windows getting restored to old settings, wallpaper etc.. even deleted files on desktop.

I need online account because of my windows activation

tried clearing "Clear stored settings" from Sign in to your account still download old data

Running 25H2 Build 26200.7462

is it possible to remove onedrive backups?

antspants · Jan 11, 2026

I only recently installed fresh, almost 100% positive it asks if you want to have that carried over from your last setup.
I can’t tell you the exact wording, but if you pay attention to all windows during setup, it’ll be there.

suneth · Jan 11, 2026

antspants said:
I only recently installed fresh, almost 100% positive it asks if you want to have that carried over from your last setup.
I can’t tell you the exact wording, but if you pay attention to all windows, it’ll be there.

yes i declined and chose fresh install still got my old settings and files restored

antspants · Jan 11, 2026

OK Sorry, It didn’t happen to me. I can’t think of why you’re experiencing it.

antspants · Jan 11, 2026

I think the thing to disable is the following, I am not sure how it “forgets” prior settings or if there is a delay before the cache is cleared of them:

Enable or Disable Sync Apps and Preferences for Microsoft Accounts in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the ability to "Remember my apps" and "Remember my preferences" in Windows Backup for all Microsoft accounts in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Remember my apps Windows will remember the apps you have installed and help you restore them from...

www.elevenforum.com

Perhaps @Bree has an idea?

zbook · Jan 11, 2026

See if a clean install with a local account makes a difference.

antspants · Jan 11, 2026

And these:

Turn On or Off Remember Apps for Microsoft Account Across Windows 11 Devices

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Remember my apps for your Microsoft account across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your Windows 10 and...

www.elevenforum.com

Turn On or Off Remember Preferences for MSA Across Windows 11 Devices

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Remember my preferences for your Microsoft account (MSA) across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your...

www.elevenforum.com

FreeBooter · Jan 11, 2026

When clean installing Windows 11 you are asked to restore your data and personal preferences, you can skip this part.

suneth · Jan 11, 2026

zbook said:
See if a clean install with a local account makes a difference.

Yes local account solve the problem

FreeBooter said:
When clean installing Windows 11 you are asked to restore your data and personal preferences, you can skip this part.

I skipped this part yet windows restoring old backup. is there a way to permanently delete the onedrive backup? i did delete the synced data by visiting "account.microsoft.com/devices" and clearing stored settings. didn't work

hader · Jan 11, 2026

First of all; OneDrive is not a backup solution!! It does not hold backups, older backups etc. It is just a 'store certain current data somewhere else' solution. In this case the MS-cloud. 5Gb for free, more? than you have pay for extra Gb's.....

During a fresh install after giving your system a name and logged in into your MS account it asks you "do you want to restore things from the latest "backup"?" Backup is not the correct word for it. It's not talking about your stored files in the cloud (these will be there always anyway indifferent if you say yes or no to that question) but something else; Like settings Networksetting; locations and names and passwords, Bookmarks of Edge, Desktop files, links and icons etc. (those things you can not save so easily..)

You may decline that question. But when everything is installed and using the OneDrive option you will end up what is there of files already stored in the cloud. That is the latest situation. (But all you bookmarks inside Edge will be empty, also it does not restore network links, Desktop will be void from icons, links, files which you had before the fresh install etc.)

Data stored into the cloud: You may have thought "Uhm? I deleted this and that..." That maybe the case but you did not wait long enough to synchronize this action with the cloud.

Normally it detect changes of the files and keep them synchronized but if you are deleting in bulk it will take some time to sync. You can manually intervene this by open the OneDrive icon, click on gears and select pause. (for 2, 8 or 24 hours) Delete stuff and then sync manually to the cloud. It will search for alterations and sync them with the cloud. It will tell you when it is synced with the cloud. When that has been done; you may start a fresh install. Again you may decline that question also but when everything is done you will see the files again in the cloud including all your changes (deleted files will be gone) you made before. It does not throw stuff away by it self. You are the only one who can give that order.

You can avoid this situation also by using the direct method: goto the OneDrive site (https://onedrive.live.com) in the cloud. Login with your MS-account and choose Files. Mark everything and delete it. Then empty your recyclebin in the cloud. All your deleted cloud data files will be gone. A sure way when you initiate a fresh install; OneDrive will show you only the files that were not deleted.

I came across a OneDrive behavior that i did not expected. I can make txt-files and place them onto my desktop for quick access. Or into a map onto my desktop. It will stay synced all the time. When there are to many program icons (shortcuts also called links. Do have a .lnk extension) of a certain type onto my desktop I move them to a new map onto my desktop with a certain cluster name. Sometimes I can see that OneDrive has issues with that moved icon. It will not sync it with the cloud. Curious situation. The icon that is not synced has a 2 blue arrows or red circle cross next to it. (Clicking on the OneDrive icon will show that it cannot sync because of rights issue) Found the solution for this: Rightclick on that icon. Properties - Security. Goto your own MS-account beneath it and you will see that this user has only special rights attached to it. That is not enough. You have to give that user full control. After you have done that, the change is immediate; a green checkmark as status and therefor synced with the cloud. There seems to be a difference between the desktop links and moving them into a map. Onto the desktop; OneDrive has no issues whatso ever with those links. Moving them inside a map onto the desktop it may. (not always)

Found out one curious behavior which every one can see for themselves; Look at a link onto your desktop with an arrow on the left below side of it. Richtclick on that icon; Properties - Security - MS-Account - Edit it properties - Mark "Read", "Write" and close it again with OK. Move it to a map into your desktop and back again. 2 blue arrows appear briefly. See the difference now? That little arrow has changed into a green checkmark. Now you can move this icon back and forth between a map onto the desktop and back again. OneDrive will show in both situations it could sync the location where the icon will be; onto your desktop or inside a map onto your desktop. (It was basically missing the read/write option.)

Windows 11 Fresh Install keep restoring files and settings from old backup

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