The fastest way to disable OneDrive

OneDrive stops syncing files when you sign out or turn off the sync feature in settings — you do not have to uninstall it. On Windows 10 and 11, right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen), select More, then Settings. Go to the Account tab and click Unlink this PC. On Mac, open the OneDrive menu from the top menu bar, click the three dots, select Preferences, go to Account, and click Unlink.

If you want OneDrive to stop running in the background but keep your account linked, you can pause syncing instead. In Settings on Windows, go to Sync and backup and toggle off the folders you do not want synced, or pause all syncing temporarily. On Mac, go to Sync in Preferences and uncheck the folders you want to stop syncing.

Disabling OneDrive does not delete your files — they stay on your computer and in your Microsoft account online. You can turn it back on later by signing in again with your Microsoft account.

Key Takeaways

  • Unlinking OneDrive from your PC stops it from syncing without uninstalling the app, and your files remain on your computer.
  • On Windows, use the system tray icon to access Settings and choose Unlink this PC under the Account tab.
  • On Mac, open the OneDrive menu from the top menu bar and select Unlink from the Account section of Preferences.
  • You can pause syncing for specific folders instead of unlinking completely if you want to keep your account active.

Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11

The OneDrive icon sits in your system tray — the small icons on the far right of your taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Click or right-click it to open the menu. If you do not see it, click the up arrow next to the system tray to expand the hidden icons.

Once the menu opens, select More (the three dots), then Settings. A window will open with several tabs across the top. Click the Account tab. You will see a button that says Unlink this PC — click it. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Unlink again. OneDrive will stop syncing when ready, and the icon will disappear from your system tray.

If you want to keep OneDrive running but stop it from syncing certain folders, go back to the Settings menu and click the Sync and backup tab instead. You can toggle off individual folders like Desktop, Documents, or Pictures. This keeps your account active but prevents those folders from uploading to the cloud.

Disable OneDrive on Mac

On Mac, the OneDrive icon appears in the menu bar at the top of your screen — it looks like a cloud. Click it to open the menu, then click the three dots to see more options. Select Preferences from the dropdown.

In the Preferences window, click the Account tab. You will see an Unlink button. Click it, and Mac will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, OneDrive stops syncing and the menu bar icon disappears. Your files stay on your Mac and in your Microsoft account online.

To pause syncing without unlinking, go to the Sync tab in Preferences instead. You can uncheck individual folders to stop them from syncing while keeping your account connected. This is useful if you want OneDrive running but do not want certain folders taking up cloud space.

What happens to your files when you disable OneDrive

Disabling OneDrive does not delete anything. Files that are already on your computer stay there. Files that are only in your OneDrive cloud storage remain in your Microsoft account — you can access them later by signing back in through a web browser at onedrive.live.com or by relinking OneDrive to your PC.

If you had OneDrive set to sync a folder like Documents or Desktop, those files will continue to exist on your computer in their original location. They straightforward will not upload to the cloud anymore, and changes you make to them will not sync across other devices.

Turn OneDrive back on if you change your mind

To restart OneDrive, sign in with your Microsoft account. On Windows, open Settings, go to Accounts, click OneDrive, and sign in. On Mac, open OneDrive from your Applications folder and sign in with your Microsoft account. Your previous sync settings will be restored, and syncing will resume.

If you unlinked your PC but want to keep using OneDrive, you do not need to reinstall anything — just sign back in. OneDrive is built into Windows 10 and 11, so it is already on your computer.

Uninstalling OneDrive completely (Windows only)

If you want to remove OneDrive entirely from Windows, you can uninstall it through Settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps and features, find Microsoft OneDrive in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal process.

On Mac, OneDrive is not built into the system the same way, so you can remove it by dragging the OneDrive app from your Applications folder to the Trash. Empty the Trash to complete the removal. You can reinstall it later from the Microsoft website or the Mac App Store if you change your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Files on your computer stay on your computer. Files in your OneDrive cloud storage stay in your Microsoft account. Disabling OneDrive just stops the syncing process — it does not erase anything.

Can I disable OneDrive for just one folder?

Yes. In OneDrive Settings, go to the Sync and backup tab (Windows) or Sync tab (Mac) and uncheck the folders you do not want synced. This keeps OneDrive running for other folders while stopping it for the ones you select.

What if I unlink OneDrive and then want to use it again?

You can sign back in with your Microsoft account anytime. OneDrive is already on your computer, so you just need to authenticate. Your previous files and sync settings will be available again.

Does disabling OneDrive free up storage space on my computer?

Disabling OneDrive stops new files from syncing, but it does not delete files already on your computer. To free up space, you would need to manually delete files or move them to an external drive.

Is there a difference between pausing and unlinking OneDrive?

Pausing syncing keeps your account active and your files in the cloud — they just do not sync to your computer. Unlinking removes your account from that computer entirely, though you can sign back in later. Pausing is temporary; unlinking is more permanent until you sign in again.