OneDrive Personal can be uninstalled like any other Windows app, but the process leaves behind files and settings unless you take extra steps

OneDrive Personal is the cloud storage service that comes built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you do not want it on your computer, you can remove it — but "removing" it means different things depending on what you want gone. You can uninstall the app itself in minutes. You can also delete your local OneDrive folder, stop it from starting when you turn on your computer, or sign out of your Microsoft account on that machine. The steps are different for each, and which ones you need depends on whether you want the app gone, the files gone, or both.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling OneDrive through Settings removes the app but leaves your OneDrive folder and files on your hard drive unless you delete them separately.
  • Your OneDrive files stay in the cloud even after you uninstall the app, so removing the local copy does not erase what is stored online.
  • OneDrive can restart itself after an uninstall if you are signed into a Microsoft account, so you may need to disable it in startup settings or sign out of your account.
  • Windows 11 Home and Pro editions allow you to uninstall OneDrive, but some enterprise versions do not give you that option.
  • Before you uninstall, check that important files are either backed up elsewhere or synced to the cloud so you do not lose them.

Uninstall OneDrive through Windows Settings

The fastest way to remove the OneDrive app is through your Settings menu. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Apps & features. Scroll down until you see "Microsoft OneDrive" in the list. Click on it, then click Uninstall. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Uninstall again. The app will be removed in a few seconds.

After uninstall, OneDrive may reappear the next time you restart your computer if you are signed into a Microsoft account. This happens because Windows automatically reinstalls it as part of your account setup. If this bothers you, you have two options: disable OneDrive in your startup settings (covered below), or sign out of your Microsoft account on that computer and use a local account instead.

Delete your local OneDrive folder and files

Uninstalling the app does not delete the OneDrive folder on your hard drive. That folder — usually located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\OneDrive — stays put with all the files inside it. If you want those files gone too, you need to delete the folder manually.

Before you delete anything, make sure the files you care about are saved somewhere else. Check your OneDrive online at onedrive.live.com to see what is stored there. If a file exists only in your local OneDrive folder and nowhere else, deleting the folder will erase it from your computer. Files in the cloud version of OneDrive will stay there even after you delete the local folder, so you can always read them later if you change your mind.

To delete the folder: open File Explorer, navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\, right-click the OneDrive folder, and select Delete. Windows may ask for permission to delete system files — click Continue. The folder and everything in it will move to your Recycle Bin. If you want it gone permanently, empty your Recycle Bin.

Stop OneDrive from starting when your computer turns on

Even after you uninstall OneDrive, it can restart itself the next time you boot up your computer. To prevent this, you can disable it in your startup settings. Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and select Task Manager. Click the Startup tab. Look for "OneDrive" in the list. If it is there, right-click it and select Disable.

This stops OneDrive from launching automatically, but it does not uninstall the app. If you want both — no app and no startup — do the uninstall step first, then disable it in Task Manager as a backup. Some users find that disabling startup is enough and they never see OneDrive again, even without uninstalling.

Sign out of your Microsoft account

If you want OneDrive gone but do not want to uninstall it, you can straightforward sign out of your Microsoft account on that computer. OneDrive syncs only when you are signed in. Without a Microsoft account, OneDrive has nothing to sync and will sit idle.

To sign out, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your info. Click "Sign out" at the bottom. Windows will ask you to create a local account or switch to a different account. You can still use your computer — you just will not have access to OneDrive, Microsoft Store, or other services tied to your Microsoft account. You can sign back in anytime.

What happens to your OneDrive files after you remove it

Your files in the cloud stay in the cloud. Uninstalling OneDrive from your computer does not delete anything from onedrive.live.com. You can log in from any other computer or phone and read your files whenever you want. The local copy on your hard drive is separate — that is what gets deleted when you remove the folder.

If you had files set to sync only on this computer (a feature called "Files On-Demand"), those files will no longer update after you uninstall OneDrive. If you want to keep working with them, read them to a different folder before you uninstall, or move them to a different cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Why you might want to keep OneDrive instead

OneDrive is useful if you use Windows, Office, or other Microsoft services. It backs up your files automatically, syncs across devices, and integrates with Windows File Explorer so you can access cloud files as if they were local. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, OneDrive comes with it and gives you 1 TB of storage. Removing it means losing that backup and sync.

If your reason for removing OneDrive is that you do not like the sync behavior or you want to use a different cloud service, you do not have to uninstall it completely. You can just pause syncing, sign out, or disable startup. That way the app stays on your computer but does not run unless you open it manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files from the cloud?

No. Your files stay on onedrive.live.com even after you uninstall the app. Uninstalling only removes the app and the local copy on your hard drive. You can log in from another computer and read your files anytime.

Can I uninstall OneDrive on Windows 11?

Yes, Windows 11 Home and Pro let you uninstall OneDrive through Settings. Some enterprise versions of Windows 11 do not allow uninstall. If you do not see OneDrive in your Apps & features list, your version may not support removal.

Why does OneDrive keep coming back after I uninstall it?

Windows automatically reinstalls OneDrive when you restart if you are signed into a Microsoft account. To stop this, disable OneDrive in Task Manager startup settings or sign out of your Microsoft account on that computer.

What if I only want to stop OneDrive from syncing, not uninstall it?

Right-click the OneDrive icon in your system tray and select Pause syncing. You can pause for 2 hours, 8 hours, or until you restart your computer. The app stays installed but does not sync your files during the pause.

Can I move my OneDrive files to a different folder before I delete them?

Yes. Open File Explorer, go to your OneDrive folder, and drag the files you want to keep to a different location — your Documents folder, Desktop, or an external drive. Once they are copied, you can safely delete the OneDrive folder.