You can easily enable or disable these sync settings in Windows 10. You can also choose what things to synchronize across Windows devices.
How to enable or disable Sync Settings in Windows 10
If you are turning on the Sync settings for the very first time on your device, then it should not be much of a problem. All you need is an active Microsoft account and an Internet connection on the device.
How to enable or disable Sync Settings in Windows 10 Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10 Disable Sync Settings in Windows 10 5 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Sync Settings Not Working Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10 using Group Policy Editor Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10 using Registry Editor Run Microsoft account troubleshooter Scan and fix corrupted system files Re-synchronize your Microsoft account with all devices Closing words
To begin with, you must have a Microsoft user account on your device. If it is a regular local account, here is a guide on how to convert an existing account to a Microsoft account. You can enable or disable the following items with Windows 10 sync settings:
Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10
If you are using a Microsoft user account, the synchronization settings are enabled by default. However, if you have disabled them, follow the steps below to enable Sync settings on a Windows 10 device. Your device settings will now be synced across all your devices running Windows 10 and having the same Microsoft user account. You can use the guide below to disable the synchronization feature if you ever feel like it in the future.
Disable Sync Settings in Windows 10
Disabling the synchronization settings in Windows 10 is very simple. Navigate to the following location: Click on the slider below Sync settings to turn off all Individual sync settings altogether. Alternatively, you can leave the slider below Sync settings on and individually turn off selective synchronization settings by disabling the sliders below them.
5 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Sync Settings Not Working
It might be possible that your settings aren’t syncing across all your devices, even when the settings are correct. This can be due to different reasons which we have addressed in the sections below. Try out these methods to troubleshoot and re-enable Windows 10 synchronization settings. If some of your settings are greyed-out and you are seeing the message “Some of these settings are hidden or managed by your organization,” you can re-enable them through the Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor.
Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10 using Group Policy Editor
The Group Policy Editor is a powerful utility in Windows 10. Follow the steps below to enable the synchronization options for your PC and gain back control.
Enable Sync Settings in Windows 10 using Registry Editor
Similar results could also be achieved through the Registry Editor. However, it is recommended that you create a restore point before proceeding to the steps below as wrongly changing the system registries could result in the OS being corrupted permanently. You should now be able to manage the synchronization settings of your account. In case you wish to disable this feature in the future, return to the DWORDs and set the Value Data of DisableSettingSync to 2, and DisableSettingSyncUserOverride to 1.
Run Microsoft account troubleshooter
If you are still unable to get your device to sync properly, you can run the troubleshooter. Although Windows 10 comes with a built-in troubleshooter, it does not have a dedicated troubleshooter for the Microsoft account. Nonetheless, you can download it separately from the link provided below: Microsoft account troubleshooter [140 KB] When downloaded, execute the program. On the Microsoft Accounts Wizard, click on Next to begin the scan. The wizard will now begin searching for any possible anomalies with your Microsoft account. Perform any action recommended by it and then close the wizard. Reboot the computer and try using the synchronization settings again.
Scan and fix corrupted system files
One of the reasons the synchronization settings might not be working is due to corrupted or missing system files. Thankfully, Windows 10 has built-in scanners that will replace corrupted or missing files with fresh ones. Try syncing your account settings again. If the issue persists, continue to the following steps to mediate it.
Re-synchronize your Microsoft account with all devices
Since all of your synced settings are backed up onto Microsoft’s cloud, it might be possible that that data might have been corrupted. Therefore, we are going to perform the following few tasks, in the order mentioned, on all of the devices that are signed in with your Microsoft account but are not syncing. Follow the steps below to perform all of the mentioned tasks in the same order: This approach will ensure that the new settings are synced across all devices from scratch.
Closing words
As you may have experienced, there can be a number of reasons why your settings are not synchronizing across all devices. The issue can also occur due to bad internet service, but that is rarely the case. Moreover, outdated Windows versions may also be a reason. Hence, it is advised to always keep your OS up to date. Individuals using the sync feature will find this feature exceptional as they do not have to adapt to different settings on different devices. You can now also use this feature by following our guide to restore your synchronization options.
