The fastest way to remove OneDrive

The quickest method is to uninstall OneDrive through Windows Settings, which takes about two minutes. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, search for "OneDrive", click it, then click Uninstall and confirm. Windows will remove the OneDrive app and its shortcuts from your computer.

If you want OneDrive gone completely — including its folder and any synced files — you'll need to do one extra step: delete the OneDrive folder from your user directory after uninstalling. The folder is usually at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\OneDrive. Right-click it, select Delete, and confirm. This removes the local copy; files stored only in OneDrive online will still be there if you sign back in later.

For most people, uninstalling through Settings is enough. You can always reinstall it later from the Microsoft Store if you change your mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstall OneDrive through Settings > Apps > Apps & features by searching for OneDrive, clicking it, and selecting Uninstall.
  • Deleting the OneDrive folder from C:\Users\[YourUsername]\OneDrive removes synced files from your computer but does not delete them from your online account.
  • OneDrive can be reinstalled later from the Microsoft Store without losing your online files or account.
  • If OneDrive won't uninstall normally, sign out first, restart your computer, then try uninstalling again.
  • Removing OneDrive does not affect other Microsoft services like Outlook, Teams, or your Microsoft account.

Signing out before uninstalling

If you want to keep OneDrive installed but stop it from syncing, sign out instead of uninstalling. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right of the taskbar), select "Help & Settings", then go to the Account tab and click "Unlink this PC". This disconnects your Microsoft account from OneDrive but leaves the app on your computer.

Signing out is useful if you share a computer with others or plan to use OneDrive again later. Your files stay in your online account; they just won't sync to this PC anymore. You can sign back in anytime by opening OneDrive and entering your Microsoft credentials.

Stopping OneDrive from starting automatically

If you want to keep OneDrive but prevent it from launching every time you start your computer, disable it in Startup settings. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray, select "Help & Settings", go to the Settings tab, and uncheck "Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows". OneDrive will still be on your computer but won't run unless you open it manually.

This approach is good if you use OneDrive occasionally but don't want it consuming memory or bandwidth in the background. You can always launch it later by searching for "OneDrive" in the Start menu.

What happens to your files when you remove OneDrive

Files stored only in your OneDrive folder on your PC will be deleted from your computer when you delete that folder. However, any files you uploaded to OneDrive online remain in your account and can be accessed from any device by signing into OneDrive.com or the OneDrive app on another computer.

If you're unsure whether a file exists only on your PC or also online, check OneDrive.com before deleting anything. Sign in with your Microsoft account, and you'll see all files that have been synced to the cloud. Files marked with a green checkmark have been fully uploaded; files with a clock icon are still uploading.

Troubleshooting if OneDrive won't uninstall

Sometimes OneDrive refuses to uninstall because it's still running or because another program is using it. First, make sure OneDrive is completely closed: right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select "Exit". If you don't see the icon, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), search for any OneDrive process, right-click it, and select "End Task".

After closing OneDrive, restart your computer and try uninstalling again through Settings. If it still won't uninstall, sign out of OneDrive first (right-click the icon > Help & Settings > Account > Unlink this PC), restart, then uninstall. This removes the account connection and usually clears whatever was blocking the uninstall.

If you're still stuck, you can also try uninstalling through Control Panel instead of Settings. Open Control Panel, go to Programs > Programs and Features, find OneDrive in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. The process is the same, but sometimes one method works when the other doesn't.

Removing OneDrive from File Explorer

Even after uninstalling OneDrive, the OneDrive folder may still appear in File Explorer's sidebar. To remove it, right-click "OneDrive" in the left panel and select "Remove". This removes the shortcut from File Explorer but doesn't affect the actual folder on your hard drive.

If the OneDrive folder still appears after you've deleted it from your computer, restart File Explorer. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find "Windows Explorer" in the list, right-click it, and select "Restart". When File Explorer reopens, the OneDrive folder should be gone.

Reinstalling OneDrive if you change your mind

OneDrive can be reinstalled anytime from the Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store app, search for "OneDrive", and click "Get" or "Install". The app will read and install in a few minutes. When you open it, sign in with your Microsoft account, and your synced files will reappear on your computer.

Your OneDrive account and files are not deleted when you uninstall the app — they're stored online. Reinstalling just reconnects your PC to that account. You'll be able to access everything you had before, and syncing will resume from where it left off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

Files stored in your OneDrive folder on your PC will be deleted when you delete that folder. However, files synced to your online OneDrive account remain there and can be accessed from OneDrive.com or any other device. Check OneDrive.com before deleting to see which files are backed up online.

Can I remove OneDrive but keep using Microsoft 365?

Yes. OneDrive is separate from Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook. Uninstalling OneDrive does not affect these programs or your ability to use them. You can still save files to your computer or use other cloud storage services.

Does removing OneDrive affect my Microsoft account?

No. Your Microsoft account remains active and unchanged. You can still sign into Windows, use Outlook, access Xbox, or use any other Microsoft service. Uninstalling OneDrive only removes the cloud storage app from your PC.

What if I only want to stop OneDrive from syncing?

Sign out instead of uninstalling. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray, select Help & Settings, go to the Account tab, and click Unlink this PC. OneDrive will stay installed but won't sync files. You can sign back in anytime.

Can I remove OneDrive from just one user account?

Yes. If multiple people use your computer, you can uninstall OneDrive for one account while keeping it for others. Sign into the account you want to remove OneDrive from, then uninstall through Settings. Other accounts will keep their OneDrive installations.