Uninstall OneDrive on Windows

How to uninstall OneDrive on Windows

Blog / / 5 minutes of reading

OneDrive is a Microsoft-owned cloud storage service that allows users to save their data online. The later versions of Windows like Windows 10 and 11 have built-in OneDrive app which makes it easier for people to automatically sync the data saved in their computers and upload them to cloud servers.

However, not everyone is a fan of OneDrive and some would prefer to uninstall. Some reasons:

  • Wanting to save storage space by uninstalling the app
  • OneDrive syncs all of the user’s files indiscriminately, including files containing sensitive information which raises privacy and security concerns
  • OneDrive automatic syncing sometimes causes performance issues in the system
  • Preference to other cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox

Keep reading to find the step-by-step guide on uninstalling OneDrive tested by our team.

Before uninstalling OneDrive

But first, before we get into the guide to uninstall OneDrive, there are some things that you need to pay attention to, such as:

  • Create a backup of your data. If you already have some data saved in OneDrive, it’s super important to create a backup to ensure that you won’t lose important information. There’s a risk of missing data due to uninstallation, so better be safe than sorry!
  • Understand that uninstalling OneDrive will create some changes in your system and file synchronization, such as changes in the default Save location, need to adjust Windows backup settings, and so on. These are typically minor and won’t affect your system performance, but bear these in mind
  • OneDrive may not be for you, but there are other alternative cloud storage options you can explore, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Learn about their features, and pricing, and choose the one that fits your situation better
  • If uninstalling OneDrive seems like too drastic of an option, you can unlink and hide OneDrive from your computer instead.

How to uninstall OneDrive from Windows Settings and Control Panel

Before uninstalling OneDrive, it’s important to make sure that you have a backup of your data and to unlink your OneDrive. Here’s how you can unlink OneDrive on both Windows 10 and 11:

  • Select the OneDrive cloud icon, typically located on the bottom right of your screen
  • This will trigger a new OneDrive pop-up; select the gear icon on the top right > choose “Settings”
  • In the new OneDrive pop-up, select “Account” from the left menu > click “Unlink this PC”

Uninstall OneDrive from Windows Settings

On Windows 10

  • Open the ‘Apps & features’ menu by clicking the Windows start button > choose the gear icon > choose “Apps”. Alternatively, you can look up “Apps & features” from the Windows search box and click the search result
  • Choose “Apps & features” from the left menu then look up OneDrive from the search box
  • Microsoft OneDrive will appear on the search results, click it and then choose the “Uninstall” button
  • Click the “Uninstall” button again to confirm

On Windows 11

  • Look up “Settings” from the Windows search bar > click from the search results
  • In the new Settings window, choose “Apps” from the left sidebar > select “Installed apps”
  • Look up OneDrive in the search field
  • Once you find it, click the three dots on the right side > choose “Uninstall”

Uninstall OneDrive from Control Panel

On Windows 10

  • Open the ‘Control Panel’ menu by looking up “Control Panel” from the Windows search bar > click the search result
  • In the new Control Panel window, click the “Uninstall a program” menu
  • In the new window, double-click on Microsoft OneDrive from the app list to uninstall

On Windows 11

  • Look up “Control Panel” from the Windows search bar > click the search result
  • In the new window, select “Uninstall a program” under the ‘Programs’ menu
  • In the new window, you’ll see a list of apps installed on your system. Search for OneDrive
  • Once you find it, double-click on OneDrive to uninstall

How to uninstall OneDrive using Uninstalr

Uninstalling OneDrive from Apps & features or Control Panel typically leaves some leftover files, and you’ll want a more thorough but safe alternative method like Uninstalr.

Here’s how you can uninstall OneDrive using Uninstalr:

  • Before getting started, it’s important to back up your important data and create restore points you can revert back to be safe
  • Run Uninstalr. This would also automatically run a system scan. Wait until it finishes
  • By default, Uninstalr would add a filter to hide all apps from Microsoft. Untick the “Don’t list anything from Microsoft” option from the ‘Filters’ menu
  • Lookup OneDrive and click the “Uninstall” button
  • A warning pop-up will appear. Click “Yes” to confirm the uninstallation
  • Review the items that will be deleted after the uninstallation. If everything looks good, click the “Uninstall” button
  • Another warning pop-up will appear. Click “Yes” again to continue
  • Wait until the uninstallation process finishes. If you enable automatic reboot after uninstallation, Uninstalr will automatically restart your system. Otherwise, we recommend you restart on your own to ensure OneDrive’s complete removal

Reinstalling OneDrive

If you change your mind and want to reinstall OneDrive, you can easily do so. Here’s how:

You can check this page for more info about reinstalling OneDrive on Windows.

Conclusion

There are different ways for you to uninstall OneDrive depending on your preference. But, regardless of your choice, you’ll need to keep a backup of your files to make sure you won’t lose important data.

If you’re not sure whether you want to uninstall OneDrive, you can also simply unlink and disable it.

You can uninstall OneDrive directly from Windows Settings through apps & features or Control Panel. These methods are quite straightforward but typically still leave you some leftover files from the uninstallation.

If you want a more thorough solution to uninstall OneDrive, you can use a trusted third-party app like Uninstalr. Uninstalr allows you to fully uninstall OneDrive without leftover files remaining in a few simple steps. You can download Uninstalr for free from here: https://uninstalr.com