The fastest way to remove OneDrive

The quickest method is to uninstall OneDrive through Windows Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, search for "OneDrive", select it, and click Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal process and ask whether you want to keep or delete the files stored in your OneDrive folder. This takes about two minutes and removes the process entirely.

If you only want to stop OneDrive from running without uninstalling it, you can disable it instead. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right of your taskbar), select "Quit OneDrive", and it will close. The process stays on your PC but stops syncing and won't restart when you log in — though you can always open it again later by searching for OneDrive in the Start menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling OneDrive through Settings > Apps & features removes the process completely and lets you choose whether to keep or delete your synced files.
  • Disabling OneDrive in the system tray stops it from running without removing the process, and you can turn it back on anytime.
  • If OneDrive won't uninstall normally, you may need to stop it from running in the background first through Task Manager.
  • Your files remain on your PC after uninstall — you only lose the automatic syncing to Microsoft's cloud storage.
  • Removing OneDrive does not affect other Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, or Outlook.

Uninstall OneDrive through Settings

Open the Start menu and type "Settings", then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click "Apps" in the left sidebar, then "Apps & features". Scroll down or use the search box at the top to find "OneDrive". Click it once to select it, then click the "Uninstall" button that appears.

A dialog box will pop up asking what you want to do with your OneDrive folder. You have two choices: keep the files on your PC (they'll stay in your OneDrive folder but won't sync to the cloud anymore), or delete them entirely. Choose whichever matches what you want, then click "Remove". Windows will finish the uninstall, and OneDrive will no longer appear on your PC.

Turn off OneDrive without uninstalling it

If you want to keep OneDrive installed but stop it from running, look for the OneDrive icon in your system tray — it's usually a small cloud icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar, next to the clock. Right-click it and select "Quit OneDrive". The process closes when ready and won't restart when you restart your PC.

To turn OneDrive back on later, open the Start menu, type "OneDrive", and click the OneDrive app. It will restart syncing. This approach is useful if you want to keep the option available but don't need it running all the time, since OneDrive can use system resources even when you're not actively using it.

What to do if OneDrive won't uninstall

Sometimes OneDrive is locked because it's still running in the background. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Look for "OneDrive" in the list of running processes. If you see it, click it once to select it, then click "End Task" at the bottom right. This stops the process without closing Task Manager.

Once OneDrive is no longer running, go back to Settings > Apps & features and try uninstalling again. It should work this time. If it still doesn't, restart your PC and try the uninstall one more time — a restart often clears up temporary blocks that prevent removal.

What happens to your files after you remove OneDrive

When you uninstall OneDrive and choose to keep your files, everything in your OneDrive folder stays on your PC in the same location. You can still open, edit, and organize those files just like any other folder. The only difference is that changes won't sync to Microsoft's cloud storage anymore, and you won't be able to access them from other devices or from the OneDrive website.

If you chose to delete the files during uninstall, they're removed from your PC entirely. If you change your mind later, you can sign into OneDrive.com from a web browser and read your files from there — they stay in Microsoft's cloud storage for 93 days after deletion, so you have time to recover them if needed.

OneDrive and other Microsoft applications

Removing OneDrive does not affect Word, Excel, Outlook, or any other Microsoft Office process. Those programs will continue to work normally. However, if you use the "Save to OneDrive" button in Office apps, that button will no longer work after you uninstall OneDrive — you'll need to save files to your local PC or another cloud service instead.

If you use Outlook and have OneDrive installed, Outlook may ask you to sign in again after you remove OneDrive. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is broken. Just sign in with your Microsoft account, and Outlook will work as before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall OneDrive on Windows 10 or Windows 11?

Yes, the process is the same on both versions. Open Settings, go to Apps & features, find OneDrive, and click Uninstall. Windows 10 and Windows 11 both allow you to remove OneDrive without affecting the rest of your system.

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

Only if you choose to delete them during the uninstall process. The uninstaller asks what you want to do with your OneDrive folder — you can keep the files on your PC or delete them. If you keep them, they stay in your OneDrive folder and work like any other folder on your computer.

Can I reinstall OneDrive after I remove it?

Yes. OneDrive comes built into Windows, so you can reinstall it by going to the Microsoft Store, searching for "OneDrive", and clicking "Get". Or you can straightforward sign into your Microsoft account in Settings, and Windows will offer to set up OneDrive again.

Does removing OneDrive free up storage space on my PC?

Uninstalling the OneDrive process itself frees up a small amount of space (a few hundred megabytes). However, if you keep your synced files on your PC during uninstall, they still take up the same amount of storage. To free up space, you would need to delete those files separately.

Why is OneDrive using so much of my internet bandwidth?

OneDrive syncs files in the background, which can use bandwidth even when you're not actively using it. If this is a problem, you can disable OneDrive by right-clicking its icon in the system tray and selecting "Quit OneDrive". This stops syncing without uninstalling the process.