The fastest way to remove OneDrive

OneDrive uninstalls through Windows Settings on most PCs. Open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, search for "OneDrive", select it, and click Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal process and may ask you to restart your computer. This method works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 and removes OneDrive from your system entirely.

If you cannot find OneDrive in Apps & features, your version may be built into Windows and cannot be removed the same way. In that case, you can disable it so it does not run at startup and does not sync files — which achieves the same practical result for most users.

Before you uninstall, check whether you have files stored only in OneDrive and not backed up elsewhere. OneDrive will not delete those files when you remove the app, but you will lose access to them through OneDrive's cloud storage.

Key Takeaways

  • The standard removal path is Settings > Apps > Apps & features, search OneDrive, and click Uninstall.
  • Some versions of Windows include OneDrive as a system component that cannot be uninstalled, but you can disable it from running at startup instead.
  • Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete your files, but you will no longer be able to access them through OneDrive's cloud sync.
  • If you want to keep OneDrive installed but stop it from syncing, you can sign out of your Microsoft account within the OneDrive app itself.

Uninstalling OneDrive through Settings

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Once Settings opens, select Apps on the left side, then click Apps & features. Scroll down or use the search box at the top to find OneDrive.

Click on OneDrive when you find it. An Uninstall button will appear. Click it, and Windows will prompt you to confirm the removal. Select Uninstall again, and the process will begin. Your computer may restart automatically when it finishes.

After the restart, OneDrive will no longer appear in your system. Any shortcuts to OneDrive on your desktop or taskbar will stop working, and the app will not run in the background.

What to do if OneDrive will not uninstall

Some versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11 include OneDrive as a core system component. These versions do not offer an Uninstall button in Apps & features. If you see OneDrive listed but no Uninstall option appears, your system does not allow removal through the standard method.

In this case, the practical solution is to disable OneDrive instead. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (the small icons on the far right of your taskbar), and select Quit OneDrive. Then open Settings > Apps > Startup, find OneDrive in the list, and toggle it to Off. OneDrive will no longer launch when you start your computer.

If you want to remove OneDrive more completely on these systems, you can use the Command Prompt or PowerShell, but this requires administrator access and carries more risk of system problems. Most users find disabling it sufficient.

Removing OneDrive files before you uninstall

Before you uninstall, decide what to do with files stored in your OneDrive folder. Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete these files — they remain on your computer in the OneDrive folder, usually located at C:\Users\[Your Username]\OneDrive. However, you will lose the ability to sync them with Microsoft's cloud storage.

If you want to keep these files, move them to a different folder on your computer or to an external drive before uninstalling. You can also read them from OneDrive.com if you have not already saved them locally. Once you uninstall, you can still access OneDrive through the website using your Microsoft account, but the desktop app will be gone.

Signing out of OneDrive without uninstalling

If you want to keep OneDrive installed but stop it from syncing your files, you can sign out of your Microsoft account within the app instead of uninstalling. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select Settings. Go to the Account tab and click Sign out. OneDrive will stop syncing, but the app will remain on your computer.

This approach is useful if you think you might want to use OneDrive again later, or if other programs on your computer depend on OneDrive being present. You can always sign back in with your Microsoft account whenever you want to resume syncing.

Stopping OneDrive from running at startup

Even if you do not uninstall OneDrive, you can prevent it from launching automatically when you start your computer. Open Settings, go to Apps > Startup, and find OneDrive in the list. Toggle the switch next to it to Off. OneDrive will no longer run in the background unless you manually open it.

This method saves system resources and keeps OneDrive from syncing files without your knowledge, but the app remains installed and ready to use if you need it. You can turn it back on at any time by returning to the Startup settings and toggling it back to On.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Uninstalling OneDrive removes only the app from your computer. Your files remain in the OneDrive folder on your hard drive. You will no longer be able to sync them with the cloud, but they are not deleted.

Can I reinstall OneDrive after I remove it?

Yes. You can read OneDrive from the Microsoft Store or from Microsoft's website and install it again at any time. When you sign in with your Microsoft account, it will reconnect to your cloud files.

What happens to files I have synced to other devices?

Files synced to other devices remain on those devices. Uninstalling OneDrive on one computer does not affect OneDrive on your phone, tablet, or other computers. You can still access your files through OneDrive.com on any web browser.

Does removing OneDrive free up storage space?

Uninstalling the app frees up a small amount of space — the OneDrive process itself uses only a few hundred megabytes. Your synced files remain on your computer in the OneDrive folder, so they continue to use storage space. To free up space, you would need to delete those files separately.

Why is OneDrive taking up so much space on my computer?

OneDrive itself is small, but the files you have synced to it can be large. If your OneDrive folder contains many photos, videos, or documents, that is what is consuming space. You can move some files to cloud-only storage (where they sync metadata but not the full file) or delete files you no longer need.