How to Remove OneDrive from Windows 10?

OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage service, is integrated into Windows 10, offering easy file syncing and backup features. However, some users may prefer not to use OneDrive or may want to remove it for privacy, performance, or personal preference reasons.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to safely remove or disable OneDrive from your Windows 10 PC.

Why You Might Want to Remove OneDrive

There are several reasons why you might want to remove OneDrive from your system:

• Privacy concerns: You might want to avoid syncing sensitive data with the cloud.
• Storage usage: OneDrive may be taking up space on your PC, especially if you have a lot of files synced.
• Performance: You may prefer to use a different cloud service, or you don’t want OneDrive running in the background.
• Avoid accidental syncing: Some users may prefer not to sync files between their PC and cloud without realizing it.

Step 1: Unlink OneDrive from Your PC

The first step in removing OneDrive is to unlink it from your Windows 10 PC. This will stop OneDrive from syncing files, but it doesn’t uninstall the application.

1. Open OneDrive Settings:
   • Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner of the screen).
   • Click on Settings from the context menu.
2. Unlink OneDrive:
   • In the Microsoft OneDrive Settings window, navigate to the Account tab.
   • Click Unlink this PC.
   • You will be asked to confirm this action. Click Unlink account to proceed.

After unlinking OneDrive, the app will no longer sync files, but it will remain installed on your PC. You’ll need to follow additional steps to remove it completely.

Step 2: Disable OneDrive from Starting Automatically

To prevent OneDrive from launching automatically when you boot up your PC:

1. Open Task Manager:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
   • Alternatively, right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Disable OneDrive Startup:
   • Go to the Startup tab.
   • Look for Microsoft OneDrive in the list.
   • Right-click on Microsoft OneDrive and choose Disable.

This step will stop OneDrive from automatically starting every time you start your computer.

Step 3: Uninstall OneDrive from Windows 10

Once OneDrive is unlinked and disabled, you can remove it completely by uninstalling the app.

1. Open Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).
   • Alternatively, press Win + I to open the Settings window.
2. Navigate to Apps:
   • In the Settings window, click on Apps.
   • Under the Apps & features section, search for OneDrive.
3. Uninstall OneDrive:
   • Click on Microsoft OneDrive in the list of apps.
   • Click Uninstall and confirm the action when prompted.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

This will remove OneDrive from your system, but your files that were stored locally will not be deleted. If you want to delete those files, you must do it manually.

Step 4: Remove OneDrive Files and Folders

After uninstalling OneDrive, the folder where OneDrive syncs its files may still exist on your computer. If you want to remove these files, follow these steps:

1. Delete OneDrive Folder:
   • Open File Explorer.
   • Go to your User folder (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive).
   • Right-click on the OneDrive folder and select Delete to remove it.
2. Clear Any Leftover Data:
   • To make sure there is no leftover OneDrive data, check the following locations:
     • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive
     • C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OneDrive
   • Delete any OneDrive-related folders or files you find.

Step 5: Optional – Use Group Policy to Prevent OneDrive from Reinstalling

If you want to make sure OneDrive doesn’t reinstall itself on future updates, you can use Group Policy Editor (available in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions).

1. Open Group Policy Editor:
   • Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to OneDrive Policy Settings:
   • In the Group Policy Editor, go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive.
3. Disable OneDrive:
   • Double-click the “Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage” policy.
   • Set the policy to Enabled, then click OK.

This will prevent OneDrive from being reinstalled in the future, even after updates or system changes.

Step 6: Optional – Use the Registry Editor for Home Users

If you are using Windows 10 Home and don’t have access to the Group Policy Editor, you can achieve the same result through the Registry Editor.

Warning: Modifying the Windows registry can cause serious issues if done incorrectly. Be sure to back up your registry before making any changes.

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive
2. Disable OneDrive:
   • Right-click on the OneDrive folder and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   • Name the new entry “DisableFileSync” and set its value to 1.
   • Close the Registry Editor.

After restarting your PC, OneDrive will be disabled and will not reinstall.

Conclusion

Removing OneDrive from Windows 10 is a straightforward process, and it can be done in several steps: unlinking, disabling automatic startup, uninstalling, and removing leftover files. For advanced users, Group Policy or Registry Editor can prevent OneDrive from reinstalling after future updates.

By following these steps, you can fully remove OneDrive from your Windows 10 system and choose an alternative solution for cloud storage if needed.