Not as same as the previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 comes with the Microsoft account (that was previously labeled as Windows Live account) integration that allows the users to easily sync their PC settings with other Windows 8 devices. If you opt to sign in using a Microsoft Account, you have the option to synchronize all your settings, that will include your internet history, shortcuts, application settings, passwords for various services and many other things with any other PC or tablet running Windows 8. In order to sync your settings, all you need to do is to sign in to the secondary PC using your Microsoft Account and allow sync feature from within PC settings. The PC Settings Sync menu even lets you choose precise elements that you are willing to sync. If you desire to disable these settings, you can simply create a new local account, or you can disable syncing from your Microsoft account (which will successfully transform your current account into a local one). Either of the two ways, this will disable synchronization for your own user account only. On the other hand, if you’re a system administrator, you can use Local Group Policy Editor if you want to disable Windows 8 sync feature for all user account holders too. Here, we will guide you through the process of disabling syncing of selected and all supported elements for all the users.
Tutorial To Turn Off Sync Settings in Windows 8
When you start, you need to make sure that you have logged in to Windows as Administrator, or have acquired administrative rights in order to change local group policy settings. After that, go to Start Screen, type gpedit.msc, select Apps from the right sidebar, and lastly click gpedit.msc in the main window.
Doing this will open Local Group Policy Editor. Hereby now, navigate to the following mentioned location and search up for Sync your settings in navigation pane.
Computer Configuration/ Administrative Templates/Windows Components
Once you have selected this, you will be able to see a list of group policies in the main window for example Do not sync app settings, Do not sync passwords, Do not sync, Do not sync browser settings etc. In order to edit the policy setting, you must double click it in order to open its setting panel.
This will lead to a opening of a separate window from where you can pull out the default policy setting. At the top most of it, there are options labeled Not Configured, Enabled and Disabled. Selecting each option will allow you to read its effect in the Help section. In order to disable syncing of settings for all users, just simply select Enabled from the list and after that click on OK.
In the same way, you can change the policy settings of other elements that belong to Sync your settings group.
Once you’ve disabled all the sync-related policy settings and undergone all the steps, your PC users will not be able to change the sync settings from the PC Settings window.
