Stop OneDrive Memories on This Day: Full Guide
To stop OneDrive from showing “On this day” memories, open OneDrive settings, go to the Options tab, and turn off the On this day feature. This setting applies to the OneDrive app on Windows and mobile, and it stops the automatic creation of memory notifications from your photos.
What Are OneDrive Memories?
OneDrive Memories is a feature that uses your photos and videos to create automatic collections, such as “On this day” or “Best of month.” It scans your stored media and groups items by date or theme. The feature is designed to help you rediscover past moments, but it can feel repetitive or intrusive if you don’t want daily notifications.
The “On this day” specifically shows photos you took on the same date in previous years. It appears as a notification or a card in the OneDrive app, often with a short animation or a slideshow. The feature is separate from Windows’ own “Memories” in the Photos app, so disabling it in OneDrive doesn’t affect other photo apps.
How to Turn Off On This Day in OneDrive
The exact steps vary slightly by device, but the core setting is the same. Here’s how to disable it on the most common platforms:
On Windows (OneDrive App)
- Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray (near the clock).
- Select Settings (or Preferences in newer versions).
- Go to the Options tab.
- Under Memories, uncheck On this day.
- Click OK to save changes.
On Android or iOS
- Open the OneDrive app.
- Tap your profile picture or the menu (three lines) in the top-left.
- Select Settings.
- Find Memories or Notifications.
- Toggle off On this day.
If you don’t see the option, update the OneDrive app to the latest version. Microsoft occasionally changes the settings layout, and older versions may not have the toggle.
Why Can’t I Find the Setting?
Some users report that the “On this day” toggle is missing even after updating. This can happen for a few reasons:
- Feature roll-out: Microsoft sometimes rolls out features gradually. If your region or account hasn’t received the update, you won’t see the option yet.
- Account type: The Memories feature may be limited to personal Microsoft accounts, not work or school accounts. Check if you’re signed in with a personal account.
- App version: The OneDrive app on Windows 10/11 may have different settings than the mobile app. Try both.
If the toggle is truly absent, you can also stop the notifications by turning off all OneDrive notifications in Windows settings (Settings > System > Notifications > OneDrive). That stops the memory alerts, though it also disables other OneDrive notifications like sync errors.
Does Disabling On This Day Delete My Photos?
No. Turning off the “On this day” feature only stops the automatic memory creation and notifications. Your photos and videos remain safely stored in OneDrive. You can still view them manually by browsing your folders or using the Photos tab. The feature is purely a presentation layer—it doesn’t alter or delete any files.
This is a common misconception. People worry that disabling memories will hide or remove their photos, but that’s not the case. The memories are just a curated view of files you already have.
How to Delete a Specific Memory (If You Still Want Some)
If you like the idea of memories but want to remove a particular one (e.g., a photo you don’t want to see again), you can hide it individually:
- Open the OneDrive app and go to the Memories tab.
- Find the memory you want to remove.
- Tap the three dots (⋯) on the memory card.
- Select Hide this memory or Remove.
This hides it from your memories feed without deleting the underlying photo. You can also block a specific person or date from appearing in memories if the app supports that option.
OneDrive Memories vs. Windows Photos Memories
Many users confuse OneDrive Memories with the Windows Photos app’s “Memories” feature. They are separate:
- OneDrive Memories are shown inside the OneDrive app and are tied to your OneDrive account.
- Windows Photos Memories are shown in the Photos app and use local photos (and optionally OneDrive photos).
Disabling one doesn’t affect the other. If you see “On this day” in the Photos app, you need to disable it there (Settings > Personalization > Memories). The OneDrive setting only controls what appears in the OneDrive app.
What If I Want to Re-enable It Later?
You can turn the feature back on at any time by following the same steps and checking the box for “On this day.” The memories will start appearing again, but you may not see past memories immediately—the feature usually takes a few days to rebuild its collection. Your photos are still there, so nothing is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling On This Day stop all OneDrive notifications?
No. It only stops the memory-related notifications. You’ll still receive alerts for file sync issues, sharing requests, and other account activity. If you want to stop all notifications, you need to disable OneDrive notifications in your device’s system settings.
Does this work on OneDrive for Business?
Generally, no. The Memories feature is designed for personal Microsoft accounts. OneDrive for Business (work or school) typically doesn’t include “On this day” because it’s focused on document storage and collaboration, not personal photo memories.
Can I stop memories on the web version of OneDrive?
The web version (onedrive.com) doesn’t show “On this day” memories in the same way as the app. It may show a “Memories” section on the main page, but you can’t turn it off from the web interface. You need to use the desktop or mobile app to change the setting.
Why do I still see memories after turning it off?
If you’ve disabled the setting but still see memories, try restarting the OneDrive app. Sometimes the change takes a few minutes to take effect. Also, check that you’ve turned off the correct toggle—some versions have separate toggles for “On this day” and “Best of month.” If you turned off only one, the other may still appear.
Is there a way to stop memories without disabling the feature entirely?
Yes, you can hide individual memories as described above. You can also adjust your notification preferences to stop the daily alert but keep the memories available when you open the app manually. In the app’s notification settings, you can turn off the “Daily memories” notification while leaving the feature enabled.
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