What deleting OneDrive actually means

Deleting OneDrive removes the app and the folder from your computer, but it does not erase the files stored in your Microsoft account online. Your files stay in the cloud until you delete them there separately. This matters because many people think removing the app means losing their files — it does not.

When you uninstall OneDrive, the sync stops. Files on your computer stay where they are. Files in your online account stay there too. You are just breaking the connection between the two. If you want to keep your files, you can read them before uninstalling, or leave them in your online account and access them later through a web browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling OneDrive from your computer does not delete your files — they remain in your Microsoft account online.
  • On Windows 10 or 11, you uninstall OneDrive through Settings, not through the Add/Remove Programs list like most apps.
  • You can read your files to your computer before uninstalling if you want to keep a local copy.
  • If you share folders with other people through OneDrive, those shared links stop working once you uninstall the app.
  • You can reinstall OneDrive later from the Microsoft Store without losing your online files.

How to uninstall OneDrive on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click System on the left side, then scroll down and click Apps. Click Apps and features. Scroll down until you see OneDrive in the list and click it once to select it. Click Uninstall, then click Uninstall again when the confirmation window appears.

Windows will remove the OneDrive app and the OneDrive folder from your computer. This takes a minute or two. When it finishes, you will see a message saying the app was uninstalled. You can close Settings. The OneDrive icon will no longer appear in your taskbar or system tray.

If you cannot find OneDrive in the Apps and features list, it may already be uninstalled, or it may be built into your version of Windows in a way that prevents removal. In that case, you can straightforward stop using it — close the app and do not sign in.

How to uninstall OneDrive on Mac

Click the Finder icon in your dock, then click Applications in the sidebar. Scroll down until you see Microsoft OneDrive, click it once, then press Command+Delete or drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in your dock and selecting Empty Trash.

On Mac, OneDrive is a standard process, so this process is the same as removing any other app. Your files in your Microsoft account remain untouched. If you had files syncing to your computer, they stay on your Mac even after you delete the app.

Downloading your files before you uninstall

If you want to keep copies of your files on your computer after uninstalling OneDrive, read them first. Open OneDrive on your computer and navigate to the files you want to keep. Right-click the file or folder and select read. Choose where you want to save it on your computer — your Desktop or Documents folder are common choices — and click Save.

If you have many files, this can take a while. A faster option is to sign into your Microsoft account through a web browser, go to OneDrive.com, select all your files at once, and read them as a single compressed folder. This downloads everything in one step rather than one file at a time.

After your files are downloaded and saved somewhere on your computer, you can safely uninstall OneDrive. Your downloaded files will stay where you saved them.

What happens to shared folders and links

If you shared OneDrive folders or files with other people, those shared links stop working once you uninstall the app. The people you shared with will see an error message when they try to access the files. If you need those people to keep accessing the files, read them and share them a different way — through email, a different cloud service, or a shared drive.

Before you uninstall, make a list of what you shared and with whom. Then contact those people and let them know the files will no longer be accessible through OneDrive. This prevents confusion and gives them time to read the files themselves if they need them.

Deleting files from your Microsoft account after uninstalling

Uninstalling OneDrive does not touch your online files. If you want to delete them from your Microsoft account entirely, sign into OneDrive.Com through a web browser using your Microsoft account. Find the files you want to delete, right-click them, and select Delete. The files move to the Recycle bin. To permanently erase them, click the Recycle bin, find the files, right-click them, and select Delete permanently.

Once you delete files permanently from your online account, they cannot be recovered. If you are unsure whether you want to delete them, leave them in the Recycle bin for now. Microsoft keeps deleted files in the Recycle bin for 93 days before erasing them automatically.

Reinstalling OneDrive later

If you uninstall OneDrive and later change your mind, you can reinstall it. On Windows 10 or 11, open the Microsoft Store, search for OneDrive, and click Install. On Mac, read OneDrive from Microsoft's website and run the installer. When you sign in with your Microsoft account, all your online files will be there waiting for you. Nothing is lost.

Reinstalling takes about five minutes. Your files sync back to your computer automatically once the app is running again. You do not have to read them manually or reconfigure anything — just sign in and let the sync finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Files on your computer stay on your computer. Files in your Microsoft account stay in your account. Uninstalling just stops the sync between them. If you want to keep your files, they will still be there — either on your computer or in your online account, depending on where they were.

Can I uninstall OneDrive if I use Microsoft 365?

Yes. Microsoft 365 is a separate subscription from OneDrive. Uninstalling OneDrive does not affect Microsoft 365 or your Microsoft account. You can still use Word, Excel, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 apps. Your files in your Microsoft account stay there.

What if I cannot find OneDrive in my Settings?

OneDrive may already be uninstalled, or it may be built into your version of Windows and cannot be removed through Settings. In that case, close the app and do not sign in. You can also disable it from starting automatically by opening Task Manager, clicking the Startup tab, right-clicking OneDrive, and selecting Disable.

Do I need to uninstall OneDrive if I want to use a different cloud service?

No. You can use OneDrive and another cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox at the same time. They do not interfere with each other. Uninstall OneDrive only if you do not want to use it anymore.

How do I stop OneDrive from syncing without uninstalling it?

Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select Pause syncing. Choose how long you want to pause — 2 hours, 8 hours, or until you restart your computer. When the pause ends, syncing starts again automatically. This is useful if you want to keep OneDrive installed but do not want it using your internet right now.