US Patent 9749408 Techniques for managing unsynchronized content items at unlinked devices

Techniques are described herein for managing unsynchronized content items when the personal computing devices storing the unsynchronized content items are unlinked from a content item synchronization service. The techniques involve treating synchronized content items differently from unsynchronized content items. For example, after a personal computing is unlinked from the service, synchronized content items may be removed or deleted from the personal computing device and unsynchronized content items encrypted and/or moved to another data storage location.