Sign Out on Windows

To sign out of OneDrive on Windows, open the File Explorer and look for the OneDrive icon in the taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon and select Help & Settings, then choose Settings.

In the Settings window, go to the Account tab. You'll see your account email listed at the top. Click the Unlink this PC button. Windows will ask you to confirm — select Unlink account to proceed. OneDrive will stop syncing files to your computer, though the files themselves remain on your hard drive in the OneDrive folder.

If you want to remove the OneDrive folder from your computer entirely, you can delete it manually after unlinking. The files in that folder won't be deleted from OneDrive.com — they stay in your cloud storage until you remove them there.

Sign Out on Mac

On a Mac, click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Select the three dots (more options) and choose Settings.

Go to the Account tab and click Unlink this Mac. Confirm the action when prompted. Like Windows, this stops syncing but leaves your local OneDrive folder on your computer. The files remain in your cloud storage.

If the OneDrive icon doesn't appear in your menu bar, open the Applications folder, find OneDrive, and launch it first. Then follow the steps above.

Sign Out on the Web

To sign out of OneDrive.com in your browser, go to OneDrive.com and log in if you aren't already. Look for your profile picture or initials in the top right corner and click it.

Select Sign out from the menu that appears. You'll be logged out of your OneDrive account in that browser. If you use multiple browsers or devices, you'll need to sign out separately on each one — signing out in one place doesn't automatically sign you out everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows and Mac, use the OneDrive settings menu to unlink your account, which stops syncing but keeps your local files on your computer.
  • Unlinking your PC or Mac does not delete files from OneDrive.com or from your hard drive — it only stops the sync connection.
  • On the web, click your profile picture in the top right corner of OneDrive.com and select Sign out.
  • Signing out on one device or browser does not sign you out on others — you must sign out separately on each one.

What Happens to Your Files After You Sign Out

When you unlink OneDrive from your computer, the files in your OneDrive folder stay exactly where they are. They don't upload to the cloud, and they don't disappear. You can still access them as regular files on your hard drive, but they won't sync with OneDrive.com anymore.

Files you've already uploaded to OneDrive.com remain there in your cloud storage. Signing out doesn't delete anything from the web. If you want to remove files from OneDrive.com, you have to delete them separately through the website.

Signing Back In Later

If you need to use OneDrive again, open the app on your computer or go to OneDrive.com in your browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. On a computer, you may be prompted to choose which folders to sync — you can select all of them or just specific ones.

When you sign back in on a computer, OneDrive will re-sync your cloud files. If you've made changes to files in your local OneDrive folder while you were signed out, those changes won't automatically upload — only new files added after you sign back in will sync.

Signing Out vs. Pausing Sync

OneDrive also has a Pause syncing option, which is different from signing out. Pausing temporarily stops syncing for a set time (usually 2, 8, or 24 hours) without disconnecting your account. After the pause ends, syncing resumes automatically.

Use Pause syncing if you want a temporary break — for example, if you're working on large files and syncing is slowing your computer down. Use Unlink or Sign out if you're done with OneDrive on that device or want to switch to a different account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does signing out of OneDrive delete my files?

No. Files on your computer stay on your computer, and files in your OneDrive.com account stay in the cloud. Signing out only stops the sync connection between them.

Will signing out on my computer sign me out on my phone?

No. Each device is separate. You must sign out on your phone's OneDrive app, on your computer, and on OneDrive.com individually. Signing out in one place does not affect the others.

What if I forgot my password and can't sign out?

On Windows or Mac, you can unlink your account without entering your password — the Unlink button in Settings doesn't require authentication. On the web, if you can't remember your password, use the "Forgot my password" link on the OneDrive.com sign-in page to reset it.

Can I sign out of OneDrive but keep using Microsoft Office?

Yes. OneDrive and Microsoft Office are separate. You can sign out of OneDrive and still use Word, Excel, or other Office apps with your Microsoft account. However, you won't be able to save files directly to OneDrive from Office until you sign back in.

How do I sign out if OneDrive won't open?

On Windows, you can unlink OneDrive through Settings without opening the app. Go to Settings > Accounts > OneDrive and select Unlink. On Mac, restart your computer and try again, or contact Microsoft Support if the app remains unresponsive.