This feature was introduced in Windows 8 and followed through to Windows 10. However, in Windows 11, its name has been changed to Windows backup.
How to Sync Settings on Windows?
It is pretty simple to sync your Windows settings across devices. You can enable it using Windows settings, Registry Editor, and Group Policy Editor. Here’s how you can do it.
Using Windows Settings
You must first be logged in from a Microsoft account to enable the sync from Windows settings. Once enabled, your PC will start syncing as soon as you log on from that Microsoft account on another Windows PC.
On Windows 10
Follow the steps below to sync settings on Windows 10. Furthermore, you can customize sync settings individually in the same settings. Windows 10 lets you enable and disable sync for four individual settings.
ThemePasswordsLanguage PreferenceOther Windows Settings (File explorer, notification settings, external devices, etc.)
On Windows 11
Windows 11 has changed the sync settings name to Windows backup. It is also very easy to turn on this feature. Furthermore, Windows 11 offers the same sync settings as Windows 10 but with a few extra features. Here’s how you can enable it. Windows 11 has removed the Theme sync setting. However, it has some neat new features. In Windows backup, you can enable the Remember my apps option. This setting keeps a backup of all your installed applications. When you log onto another PC with the same Microsoft account, you may get asked if you want to install them on the other PC as well. Furthermore, the OneDrive folder syncing option allows you to sync your files and folders over Windows devices using the same Microsoft account. Lastly, Windows 11 also offers a neat feature of seeing if your OneDrive, App List, and Preferences are backed up or not in the upper right corner.
On Windows 8
While Sync settings were introduced in Windows 8, it has more options to sync different settings than Windows 10 or 11. Some of these features were gradually removed in Windows 10 and 11. To enable sync settings in Windows 8, follow the steps below. You can individually turn on or off sync settings in the same menu. Windows 8 provides additional options for syncing your search history, app settings, and ease of access.
Using Group Policy Editor
You can only open Group Policy Editor in the Pro or Enterprise version of Windows. If you use the Home version, you can skip this method. Here’s how you can enable Sync settings using the Group Policy Editor. You can change other individual sync settings in Sync your settings from Group Policy Editor. You just need to follow the same above steps for the different settings.
Using Registry Editor
If you do not have Group Policy Editor, you can still use Registry Editor to change Sync Settings. Follow the steps below to turn on Sync Settings from the Registry Editor. Furthermore, you can also enable and disable the individual sync settings from Registry. To do so, follow the steps below. If the Sync settings is deactivated from the Registry, it will not work even if you enable it in the settings.
How to Disable and Delete Sync Settings?
Disabling the sync setting is pretty easy in all Windows versions. You just have to follow the same steps as above and toggle off the sync settings option. However, you must do this individually for all devices using the same Microsoft account. The sync settings will be disabled, but it is far from being deleted. Sync settings are turned on by default in Windows. So, whenever you log in from your Microsoft account to a new Windows PC, all the sync settings will return to that PC. You have to disable the sync setting for this PC again. So, here’s how you can permanently delete stored sync settings.
