The fastest way to uninstall OneDrive

You can remove OneDrive from Windows by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, finding OneDrive in the list, clicking it, then clicking Uninstall. Windows will walk you through the removal process. On a Mac, drag the OneDrive app from your Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash.

The catch: this removes the app itself, but not the OneDrive folder that sits on your hard drive, and not the sync settings that tell Windows to start OneDrive again when you restart. If you want OneDrive completely gone — not just hidden — you need to do a few extra steps after uninstalling the app.

The reason people end up with OneDrive still running after they uninstall it is that Windows treats OneDrive as a system component, not just an ordinary program. Even after you remove the app, Windows can reinstall it automatically during updates, or it can start syncing again if you sign back into your Microsoft account. Knowing what to disable prevents this.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling OneDrive through Settings removes the app but not the folder or the sync settings that restart it.
  • You must also delete the OneDrive folder from your hard drive (usually in C:\Users\[Your Name]\OneDrive on Windows) to free up the space it uses.
  • Disabling OneDrive in Task Scheduler and Group Policy Editor prevents Windows from restarting it automatically after updates or restarts.
  • If you share a computer with others, removing OneDrive from your account does not affect other user accounts on the same machine.

Remove the OneDrive app from Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Apps & features. Scroll down until you see OneDrive in the list. Click it once to highlight it, then click the Uninstall button that appears.

Windows will ask you to confirm. Click Uninstall again. The app will be removed, and you may be asked to restart your computer. Do restart — this ensures Windows finishes cleaning up the app's files.

Delete the OneDrive folder to free up disk space

After you uninstall the app, the OneDrive folder still exists on your hard drive and still takes up space. You need to delete it manually. Open File Explorer (press Windows key + E), then navigate to C:\Users\[Your Name], where [Your Name] is your Windows username. You should see a folder called OneDrive.

Right-click the OneDrive folder and select Delete. If Windows tells you the folder is in use or you do not have permission, restart your computer in Safe Mode, then try deleting it again. Safe Mode starts Windows with only essential services running, so OneDrive cannot lock the folder.

To restart in Safe Mode on Windows 10 or 11, press Windows key + R, type msconfig, press Enter, click the Boot tab, check the box next to Safe boot, then click OK and restart. After you delete the folder, go back to msconfig, uncheck Safe boot, and restart normally.

Disable OneDrive in Task Scheduler so it does not restart

Windows can restart OneDrive automatically through a tool called Task Scheduler. To stop this, press Windows key + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter. Task Scheduler will open.

In the left sidebar, navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > OneDrive. You should see one or more tasks listed. Right-click each task and select Disable. This prevents Windows from running those tasks, which means OneDrive will not start automatically in the background.

Turn off OneDrive in Group Policy Editor (Windows Pro and Enterprise only)

If you use Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, or a business version of Windows, you can also disable OneDrive through Group Policy Editor. Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. If you see an error saying the file was not found, you are using Windows Home edition, which does not have Group Policy Editor — skip this step.

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive. Look for a policy called Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage. Double-click it, select Enabled, then click OK. This tells Windows not to use OneDrive, even if the app is reinstalled later.

Remove OneDrive from your Mac

On a Mac, open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Then click the Trash icon in your Dock, right-click the OneDrive item, and select Delete Immediately.

Next, delete the OneDrive folder from your home directory. In Finder, click the Finder menu at the top, select Preferences, click the Sidebar tab, and make sure Home is checked so you can see your home folder. Navigate to your home folder, look for a folder called OneDrive, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to permanently delete it.

On a Mac, OneDrive does not restart itself the way it does on Windows, so removing the app and folder is usually enough. However, if you want to be thorough, you can also remove OneDrive from your login items. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items, look for OneDrive, and click the minus button next to it.

What to do if Windows keeps reinstalling OneDrive

If OneDrive comes back after you uninstall it, Windows is likely reinstalling it during an update. This happens because OneDrive is considered part of Windows itself in newer versions. The most reliable way to prevent this is to disable it in Group Policy Editor (if you have Windows Pro or Enterprise) or to disable the Task Scheduler tasks every time Windows reinstalls it.

Another option is to rename the OneDrive installation folder so Windows cannot find it. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive, right-click the folder, select Rename, and add ".disabled" to the end of the name. Windows will not be able to run OneDrive if the folder has a different name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will removing OneDrive delete my files?

No. Uninstalling OneDrive removes the app and the local folder on your computer, but your files remain in your Microsoft account online. If you want to keep copies of those files, download them before you delete the OneDrive folder. You can sign into your Microsoft account at onedrive.live.com to access them anytime.

Can I remove OneDrive if I share my computer with other people?

Yes. Removing OneDrive from your user account does not affect other accounts on the same computer. Each person can have their own OneDrive settings. If you remove it from your account but someone else wants to keep it, they can still use it under their own login.

What if I change my mind and want OneDrive back?

You can reinstall OneDrive by going to the Microsoft Store, searching for OneDrive, and clicking Install. Or you can download it from microsoft.com/onedrive. If you disabled it in Group Policy Editor, you will need to re-enable that policy first by setting it back to Not Configured.

Does removing OneDrive affect my Microsoft account or Office?

No. Removing OneDrive does not sign you out of your Microsoft account or affect Microsoft Office. You can still use Word, Excel, and other Office apps normally. You just will not have automatic cloud backup through OneDrive anymore.

Why does Windows keep asking me to sign into OneDrive after I remove it?

This usually means a Task Scheduler task is still running or Windows reinstalled the app during an update. Go back to Task Scheduler and make sure all OneDrive tasks are disabled. If the app came back, repeat the uninstall steps and check Group Policy Editor if you have Windows Pro.