How to Disable OneDrive Screenshot Uploads

Direct answer

On iPhone or iPad, open OneDrive, tap your profile or Me icon, then go to Settings > Camera Upload > Organize by source. Uncheck Screenshots.

On Android, open OneDrive, tap your account image, then go to Settings > Camera backup > Back up device folders. Deselect Screenshots.

To stop every mobile camera upload, turn off Camera Upload on iOS or Camera backup on Android for the account selected for backup. These changes stop future automatic uploads; they do not remove screenshots already stored in OneDrive.

Microsoft explains that camera upload can include folders such as social media, downloads, and screenshots, not only photos taken with the camera. See Microsoft Support’s guidance on pictures that are not your photos.

Choose the right fix

Goal	Change	What continues
Stop screenshots only	Exclude the Screenshots folder	Other selected camera folders continue uploading
Stop all phone photo uploads	Turn off Camera Upload or Camera backup	Nothing from that mobile camera backup uploads automatically
Stop screenshots saved in a PC folder	Review which OneDrive folder is being synced	Other OneDrive sync remains unless you change it

iPhone and iPad

Open the OneDrive app.
Tap your profile picture or the Me icon.
Open Settings.
Tap Camera Upload.
Open Organize by source.
Clear Screenshots. Also clear any other source folders you do not want uploaded.

Camera Upload applies to the OneDrive account selected for camera backup. Microsoft notes that only one account can receive camera-roll uploads at a time, so check the account name before changing the setting. Folder labels can change between app versions; if you do not see the exact wording, look inside the OneDrive Camera Upload settings for source or folder selection.

Turn off all iOS camera uploads

Open OneDrive and tap Me.
Go to Settings > Camera Upload.
Switch Camera Upload off for the selected account.

This prevents new automatic uploads. It does not delete copies that are already in OneDrive.

Android

Open the OneDrive app.
Tap your account image.
Open Settings.
Tap Camera backup.
Open Back up device folders.
Deselect Screenshots.

Android may show additional folders created by social media, editing, or other apps. Deselect those folders individually if they are also being uploaded. Microsoft documents this folder-level control in its Android camera-backup instructions.

Turn off all Android camera backup

Open OneDrive settings for the account currently selected for backup.
Switch Camera backup off.

OneDrive camera backup is a one-way upload. It is not two-way synchronization: deleting a local image after it has been backed up does not delete the cloud copy.

Windows PC: identify the upload path first

Windows screenshots can reach OneDrive through ordinary folder sync rather than mobile Camera Upload. First find the file’s save location:

Take a screenshot and open its file properties.
Check whether the path is inside your OneDrive folder, such as a synced Pictures or Screenshots folder.
If it is synced, review OneDrive’s folder-selection controls and stop syncing only that folder when possible.

Microsoft’s current support material does not verify a dedicated Windows switch specifically for automatic screenshot uploads. Pausing sync is temporary. Unlinking the PC stops all OneDrive syncing on that computer, so it is a broad change and should not be the first fix when only screenshots are unwanted. See Microsoft’s sync controls guidance and OneDrive settings help.

Remove screenshots that are already in OneDrive

Changing Camera Upload or Camera backup affects future uploads. To remove existing copies:

Open OneDrive on the web or in the app.
Search for the Screenshots folder or filter by image files.
Confirm that the files are cloud copies you no longer need.
Delete them, then empty the OneDrive recycle bin if permanent removal is required by your retention policy.

Deleting cloud files can affect other devices and collaborators that use the same OneDrive account. If you need to keep an archive, download or move the files before deletion.

Troubleshooting

The Screenshots option is missing

Update OneDrive, verify that you are in Camera Upload or Camera backup settings, and check the account currently selected for backup. App labels vary by version. On Android, look for Back up device folders; on iOS, look for Organize by source.

New screenshots still appear after disabling the folder

Check whether another OneDrive account is selected, whether the screenshot is being saved into a different synced folder, and whether another device is uploading it. A screenshot already queued before the setting changed may finish uploading; remove that cloud copy separately.

Other photos stopped uploading too

You probably disabled all Camera Upload or Camera backup instead of excluding only Screenshots. Re-enable the feature and select the folders you want, or leave the broad setting off if no mobile uploads are required.

Deleting the phone screenshot did not remove it from OneDrive

That is expected. Camera backup is a one-way upload. Delete the cloud copy directly if it is no longer needed.

Windows screenshots continue to sync

Inspect the screenshot’s local path. If it is under a OneDrive-synced directory, change folder sync for that directory or save screenshots elsewhere. Avoid unlinking the entire computer unless you intend to stop all OneDrive sync.

Reliability, bandwidth, and storage considerations

Future uploads: Excluding one folder preserves backup for the other selected folders.
Existing files: Stopping uploads does not clean up cloud storage; review and delete old copies separately.
Account scope: Apply the change to the personal or work/school account that actually receives camera backup.
Sync scope: Mobile camera backup and Windows folder sync are separate paths. Fix the path that is producing the file.
Network use: Disabling screenshots reduces upload traffic from repeated captures, but files already queued or stored may still consume bandwidth or storage until handled.

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FAQ

Will disabling Screenshots stop uploads from Downloads?

No. Each source folder is separate. Deselect Downloads or other unwanted folders as well.

Can I keep camera photos uploading?

Yes. On iOS and Android, exclude only Screenshots and leave the camera folder selected.

Does this setting delete screenshots already uploaded?

No. It stops future automatic uploads. Existing cloud files must be deleted separately.

Is OneDrive camera backup synchronization?

No. Microsoft describes it as a one-way upload from the device to OneDrive.