The fastest way to remove OneDrive

You can uninstall OneDrive completely through your computer's settings or control panel, and the process takes about five minutes. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows 10, Windows 11, or a Mac, but the result is the same: OneDrive stops running and no longer syncs files to your computer.

Before you uninstall, decide what to do with files currently syncing to your computer. If you delete OneDrive without downloading your files first, you can still access them through OneDrive.com in a web browser — they stay on Microsoft's servers. But if you want copies on your computer after uninstalling, read them before you start the removal process.

Key Takeaways

  • Files stored in OneDrive remain accessible through OneDrive.com even after you uninstall the app from your computer.
  • On Windows 10 and 11, you uninstall OneDrive through Settings > Apps > Apps and Features, then search for OneDrive and select Uninstall.
  • On a Mac, drag the OneDrive app to the Trash, then empty the Trash to complete removal.
  • After uninstalling, you may need to restart your computer for all OneDrive processes to stop running completely.

Uninstalling OneDrive on Windows 10

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then select the Settings app. Go to Apps, then Apps and Features. Scroll down or search for "OneDrive" in the search box at the top. When you find it, click on OneDrive and select Uninstall.

A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to remove OneDrive. Click Uninstall again to confirm. Windows will remove the app, and you may see a progress bar. Once it finishes, restart your computer to may support all OneDrive background processes stop running. After the restart, OneDrive will no longer appear in your taskbar or system tray.

Uninstalling OneDrive on Windows 11

The process on Windows 11 is nearly identical to Windows 10. Press the Windows key, type "Settings," and open the Settings app. Select Apps from the left menu, then Apps and Features. Use the search box to find OneDrive, click on it, and select Uninstall.

Confirm the uninstall when prompted. Windows 11 will remove the process, and you should restart your computer afterward. Some users find that OneDrive continues to run in the background even after uninstalling through Settings. If that happens, restart your computer again or check Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to see if any OneDrive processes are still active.

Removing OneDrive on Mac

On a Mac, uninstalling OneDrive is simpler than on Windows. Open Finder and go to the Applications folder. Scroll down until you find Microsoft OneDrive, then drag it to the Trash. You can also right-click on OneDrive and select Move to Trash.

After moving OneDrive to Trash, empty the Trash to permanently remove it. Right-click the Trash icon in your dock and select Empty Trash, or go to Finder menu and select Empty Trash. Once the Trash is empty, OneDrive is completely removed from your Mac. You may need to restart your computer, though most Macs stop the OneDrive process when ready after you empty the Trash.

What happens to your files after uninstalling

Uninstalling OneDrive from your computer does not delete your files from Microsoft's servers. Anything you uploaded or synced remains in your OneDrive account, and you can access it anytime by going to OneDrive.com and signing in with your Microsoft account. You can read files one at a time or select multiple files and read them as a folder.

Files that were only syncing to your computer (not downloaded before uninstall) will no longer appear in your OneDrive folder on your computer, but they are not lost. If you change your mind later and reinstall OneDrive, those files will sync back to your computer automatically once you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

Stopping OneDrive from starting automatically

If you want to keep OneDrive installed but prevent it from running in the background, you can disable it from starting automatically. On Windows, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, go to the Startup tab, find OneDrive in the list, right-click it, and select Disable. OneDrive will no longer start when you turn on your computer, but the app remains installed.

On a Mac, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions), select General, then Login Items. Find OneDrive in the list and click the minus sign to remove it. This prevents OneDrive from launching automatically without uninstalling it completely. You can still open OneDrive manually whenever you want to sync files.

Reinstalling OneDrive if you change your mind

If you uninstall OneDrive and later decide you want it back, you can read it again for free from Microsoft's website. Go to OneDrive.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and look for the read link, or search "read OneDrive" in your web browser. The installation process takes a few minutes, and once you sign in with your Microsoft account, your files will sync back to your computer automatically.

Your OneDrive account and all your files remain unchanged whether OneDrive is installed on your computer or not. Reinstalling straightforward reconnects your computer to your account so files sync again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Files in your OneDrive account stay on Microsoft's servers and remain accessible through OneDrive.com. Uninstalling only removes the app from your computer. Files that were syncing to your computer will no longer appear in your OneDrive folder, but they are not deleted.

Can I uninstall OneDrive if I use Microsoft 365?

Yes. OneDrive and Microsoft 365 are separate services. You can uninstall OneDrive and still use Word, Excel, Outlook, and other Microsoft 365 apps. Your Microsoft 365 subscription will continue to work normally.

What if OneDrive keeps reappearing after I uninstall it?

Windows sometimes reinstalls OneDrive automatically during updates. If this happens, uninstall it again using the same method. You can also disable it from starting automatically through Task Manager (Windows) or Login Items (Mac) to prevent it from running even if it reinstalls.

Do I need to sign out of OneDrive before uninstalling?

No, but it is a good idea. Before uninstalling, open OneDrive, click your profile picture, and select Sign Out. This ensures you are fully logged out before removal. If you forget to sign out, uninstalling will still work — you just will not be able to access OneDrive from that computer until you reinstall and sign back in.