The quickest way to sign out of OneDrive

To sign out of OneDrive on Windows, look for the OneDrive icon in your system tray—the small icons on the far right of your taskbar, next to the clock. Right-click the OneDrive icon and select Sign out. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Sign out again. OneDrive will stop syncing your files and you will be logged out of that account.

If you do not see the OneDrive icon in your taskbar, it may be hidden. Click the up arrow on the left side of the system tray to reveal hidden icons, then look for the OneDrive cloud symbol.

After you sign out, your OneDrive files will remain on your PC in the OneDrive folder, but they will no longer sync to Microsoft's servers. If you sign back in later with the same account, syncing will resume.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select Sign out to disconnect your account when ready.
  • Your local OneDrive folder stays on your PC after you sign out, but stops syncing to the cloud.
  • If the OneDrive icon is not visible, click the up arrow in the system tray to find hidden icons.
  • Signing out does not delete your files—they remain both on your PC and in your Microsoft account online.
  • You can sign back in at any time using the same Microsoft account or a different one.

Finding the OneDrive icon if it is hidden

Windows hides less-used system tray icons by default. If you cannot see the OneDrive cloud icon next to your clock, click the small up arrow on the left edge of the system tray. A menu will pop out showing all hidden icons. Look for the OneDrive symbol—it looks like a white or blue cloud.

Once you find it, you can right-click and sign out from there. If you want OneDrive to always show in your taskbar so you do not have to hunt for it each time, right-click the icon and look for an option like Show OneDrive icon in system notification area or Always show this icon in the notification area. The exact wording depends on your Windows version.

What happens to your files after you sign out

When you sign out of OneDrive, your PC stops uploading new files and downloading changes from the cloud. The OneDrive folder itself—usually located at C:\Users\[Your Username]\OneDrive—remains on your hard drive with all the files you had synced. You can still open, edit, and use those files normally.

However, any changes you make to those files after signing out will not upload to your Microsoft account. If you sign back in later, OneDrive will compare what is on your PC to what is in the cloud and sync them again, but this can take time depending on how many files changed.

Your files in your online Microsoft account are not deleted when you sign out of OneDrive on your PC. They remain in the cloud and you can access them from any other device or through the OneDrive website.

Signing out versus pausing sync

OneDrive has two different ways to stop activity: signing out and pausing sync. Signing out disconnects your account entirely and stops all syncing. Pausing sync temporarily halts uploads and downloads for a set time—usually 2 hours, 8 hours, or until you restart your PC—but keeps you logged in.

Pause sync if you want to stop OneDrive from using your internet bandwidth for a few hours but plan to resume later. To pause, right-click the OneDrive icon, select Pause syncing, and choose how long. Sign out if you want to fully disconnect your account or switch to a different Microsoft account.

Switching to a different OneDrive account

If you want to sign in with a different Microsoft account instead of your current one, you do not need to sign out first—you can straightforward add another account. Right-click the OneDrive icon and select Add an account. Enter the new Microsoft account email and password, and OneDrive will begin syncing that account's files to a separate folder on your PC.

You can have multiple OneDrive accounts active on the same PC at the same time. Each account syncs to its own folder. If you want to remove one of the accounts, right-click the OneDrive icon, go to Settings, find the account under the Account tab, and select Unlink this PC.

Signing out through OneDrive settings

You can also sign out through the OneDrive settings menu. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select Settings. Go to the Account tab. You will see your current account listed. Click Unlink this PC or Sign out—the button name varies by Windows version. Confirm when Windows asks you to verify.

This method takes a few more clicks than right-clicking and selecting Sign out directly, but it gives you access to other OneDrive settings at the same time, such as choosing which folders to sync or changing your notification preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will signing out of OneDrive delete my files?

No. Your files remain on your PC in the OneDrive folder and also stay in your online Microsoft account. Signing out only stops the syncing process; it does not erase anything.

Can I sign back in to OneDrive after signing out?

Yes. Right-click the OneDrive icon, select Sign in, and enter your Microsoft account email and password. OneDrive will resume syncing your files.

What if I do not see an OneDrive icon in my system tray at all?

OneDrive may not be running. Press the Windows key, type "OneDrive", and click the OneDrive app to launch it. If it still does not appear, OneDrive may not be installed on your PC, or it may be disabled in your Windows settings.

Does signing out of OneDrive sign me out of other Microsoft services?

No. Signing out of OneDrive only disconnects that service. You will remain signed in to Outlook, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft accounts on your PC.

How long does it take to sign out?

Signing out is when ready. OneDrive stops syncing right away, though it may take a few seconds to fully close the connection depending on your system.