The fastest way to uninstall OneDrive

To remove OneDrive completely from Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, search for "OneDrive", and click Uninstall. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Uninstall again. The process takes about two minutes and removes the OneDrive process from your computer.

If you are using a work or school account linked to OneDrive, you may see a prompt asking whether you want to keep or delete your local files. Choose based on whether you need those files on your computer — deleting them here does not affect files stored in your OneDrive cloud account, only the copies on your hard drive.

After uninstalling, restart your computer. OneDrive will no longer appear in your system tray (the icons near your clock) or in File Explorer.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstall OneDrive through Settings > Apps > Apps & features, then search for and uninstall OneDrive.
  • Uninstalling removes the process but does not delete your files stored in OneDrive's cloud — only local copies on your computer.
  • After uninstalling, restart your computer to may support OneDrive stops running in the background.
  • If OneDrive does not appear in Apps & features, it may be built into Windows and can be disabled through Settings instead.
  • Signing out of your Microsoft account is not the same as uninstalling and will not stop OneDrive from running.

What happens to your files when you uninstall

Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete any files. Files you have stored in your OneDrive account remain in the cloud and are accessible if you sign back in from another device or reinstall OneDrive later. Only the copies of those files that were synced to your computer are affected by what you choose during uninstall.

If you had OneDrive syncing a folder like "Documents" or "Desktop", those folders stay on your computer after uninstall — they just stop syncing to the cloud. Any new files you add to those folders after uninstalling will not upload to OneDrive unless you reinstall it.

If OneDrive does not appear in Apps & features

Some versions of Windows come with OneDrive built in and cannot be uninstalled the normal way. If you do not see OneDrive in your Apps & features list, you can disable it instead. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and turn off Sync settings. Then go to Settings > Privacy & security > General and turn off Tailored experiences.

To prevent OneDrive from starting when you turn on your computer, open Task Manager (right-click the taskbar and select it, or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to the Startup tab, find OneDrive, right-click it, and select Disable. This stops OneDrive from running in the background without fully removing it from Windows.

Removing OneDrive from File Explorer

Even after uninstalling, OneDrive may still appear as a folder in File Explorer. To remove it from the sidebar, right-click the OneDrive folder in File Explorer and select Remove this shortcut. This does not delete the folder — it only hides the shortcut from your sidebar.

If you want to delete the actual OneDrive folder on your computer, right-click it and select Delete. Windows will ask you to confirm. Be certain you have backed up any files you want to keep, because this action removes the local folder from your hard drive.

Signing out versus uninstalling

Signing out of your Microsoft account is not the same as removing OneDrive. If you sign out, OneDrive stops syncing and you lose access to your cloud files on that computer, but the OneDrive process remains installed and running. It will still appear in your system tray and use system resources.

To fully remove OneDrive, you must uninstall it through Apps & features. Signing out alone leaves the process on your computer and does not free up the space it uses.

Reinstalling OneDrive if you change your mind

If you uninstall OneDrive and later decide you want it back, you can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store. Open the Microsoft Store app, search for "OneDrive", and click Install. You can also read the installer directly from Microsoft's website and run it.

When you reinstall and sign in with your Microsoft account, OneDrive will sync your cloud files back to your computer. Your files in the cloud are not affected by uninstalling the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Files stored in your OneDrive cloud account remain there. Only the copies synced to your computer are affected. If you choose to delete the local folder during uninstall, those copies are removed, but your cloud files stay intact.

Can I uninstall OneDrive on a work computer?

It depends on your company's policies. Some organizations lock down OneDrive so employees cannot uninstall it. If the Uninstall button is grayed out or missing, contact your IT department — they may need to remove it for you or adjust your permissions.

Does uninstalling OneDrive free up hard drive space?

Yes, but only the space used by the process itself and any synced files you delete. If you had OneDrive syncing your Documents folder and you delete that folder during uninstall, you free up that space. If you keep the folder, it stays on your drive and takes up the same space as before.

What if OneDrive keeps reappearing after I uninstall it?

Windows updates sometimes reinstall OneDrive automatically. If this happens, uninstall it again using the same method. You can also disable it from starting up through Task Manager's Startup tab to prevent it from running even if the files remain on your system.

Can I remove OneDrive but keep using Microsoft 365?

Yes. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and OneDrive are separate. You can use Word, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 applications without OneDrive installed. You just will not be able to sync files to the cloud unless you reinstall OneDrive or use the web version of Microsoft 365.