2 laptops linked, need to unlink them without loosing data on one of them

To unlink your laptops that are connected through your Microsoft account, you can follow these steps:

1. Unlink OneDrive: If both laptops are using OneDrive, unlinking OneDrive will help disconnect the accounts without losing data on either device. Here’s how to do it:
   • On the old laptop, click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
   • Select Help & Settings, then choose Settings.
   • Go to the Account tab and click on Unlink this PC.
   • Confirm the unlinking process.
2. Remove Device from Microsoft Account: You can also remove the old laptop from your Microsoft account:
   • Go to the Microsoft account devices page (you need to sign in).
   • Find the old laptop in the list of devices.
   • Select it and choose the option to remove it from your account.

After unlinking, ensure that you have backed up any important files on the old laptop before giving it away. This way, you can delete the files you no longer want without affecting the new laptop.

References:

• Remove your Windows device from management

Hi Tracy, I get why you’d want to keep your data safe while passing the old laptop on. The reason they feel “linked” is because both devices are signed in with the same Microsoft account, which syncs things like OneDrive files, settings, and sometimes apps. To unlink them, you’ll need to remove your Microsoft account from the old laptop. Before doing that, make sure any files you want to keep are backed up on the new laptop or in OneDrive. Then on the old laptop, go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and switch it to a local account, or remove your Microsoft account entirely. After that, sign in with your parents’ account so it’s theirs. Quick question: do you want to keep OneDrive files on the old laptop for them, or clear everything so it’s like a fresh start?