Solved How do I get rid of OneDrive permanently?

therealsimpsons · Tuesday at 6:23 PM

I'm sick of all of the duplication of my files. How do I get rid of One Drive? I don't use the Cloud.

I'm not a computer person, end user only. Could I get step by step instructions. Thank you.

If this is posted in the wrong place, please feel free to move it. TIA

antspants · Tuesday at 6:31 PM

Did you make any attempt to search the tutorial section?

Unlink

Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11

This tutorial will you how to remove an account and unlink your PC from OneDrive for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can use OneDrive to sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to your files from anywhere - your computer, your mobile device, and...

www.elevenforum.com

Remove

Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to uninstall or reinstall OneDrive for only your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. OneDrive is built-in to Windows 11 by default. With OneDrive, you can sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to your files from anywhere -...

www.elevenforum.com

lffoar · Tuesday at 6:31 PM

Open Settings
Go to Apps - Installed apps.
Find Microsoft OneDrive, click the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall

antspants · Tuesday at 6:33 PM

Don’t just uninstall OneDrive. Unlink your PC first.

idgat · Tuesday at 6:35 PM

RevoUninstaller

(more to follow when I find my instructions ...)

Most of the other disconnect and Windows based uninstall options are perfunctory and superficial. The Microsoft "hook" is still there and OneDrive can be re=activated in any number of updates (Windows and/or Office updates)

It needs to be uninstalled decisively and Revo does that.

Watch this space .....

EDIT/UPDATE

Disconnect your device from your OneDrive account
Check your OneDrive storage space (account online web site) to make sure all the files in OD are also stored on your computer

Install and run RevoUninstaller (freeware version)
Options tab (along the top) > Uninstaller (LH column)
Untick Make a Restore Point before uninstall
Tick Checkmark all leftovers by default
Uninstaller tab > Double click the desired program
Run the uninstallation process
DO NOT reboot even if prompted when completed
Select the Advanced button and then run the process to remove all leftover files/folders/registry entries left behind after a normal uninstall process.
If prompted at any stage previously, now do the reboot

antspants · Tuesday at 6:36 PM

idgat said:
The Microsoft "hook" is still there and OneDrive can be re=activated in any number of updates (Windows and/or Office updates)

I’ve always followed the tutorials in this forum and never once had that happen.

therealsimpsons · Tuesday at 6:41 PM

@ antspants, no I didn't think of that. Sorry. I will check the tutorial. Thank you. Next time, I'll look before leaping.

idgat · Tuesday at 6:43 PM

antspants said:
I’ve always followed the tutorials in this forum and never once had that happen.

I use Revo just to appease my 4n4lity ....

antspants · Tuesday at 7:04 PM

therealsimpsons said:
@ antspants, no I didn't think of that. Sorry. I will check the tutorial. Thank you. Next time, I'll look before leaping.

From personal experience and reading the end results of threads where people are trying to get rid of OneDrive, “Unlink” OneDrive first.

glasskuter · Tuesday at 7:15 PM

@antspants The first step is to turn off folder syncing.
This tutorial tells you how to do that and also how to get your files onto your local drive.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/
Then you unlink account and pc from onedrive

antspants · Tuesday at 7:30 PM

Yeah right. I have actually never once done that. I’ve never had an issue. Maybe because I remove onedrive the very second Windows boots for the first time after a clean install. Also, because I move my user folders from C: which I am able to do because I “Unlink” one drive.

glasskuter · Tuesday at 7:36 PM

therealsimpsons said:
Could I get step by step instructions. Thank you.

Onedrive-Remove-step by step
1. You first have to turn off backup folder syncing. This tutorial tells you how and also how to get your files onto your local drive.
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-onedrive-folder-backup-syncing-across-windows-11-devices.4321/

NOTE: ONLY IF FOLDERS DO NOT MOVE TO DEFAULT LOCATION IN STEP 1 ABOVE DO THIS

If this happens, then you could try option three in the tutorials below to restore the default folder location and move your files manually from Onedrive into the folders..

2. Then you have to unlink account & PC from onedrive.
Unlink Account and PC from OneDrive in Windows 11

Once you do this the files you have in onedrive will remain there until you login to Onedrive on the Web and delete them.
Microsoft OneDrive

3. You can then either uninstall Onedrive or disable it. I prefer to disable it. Open Task Manager>Startup Apps
Find Onedrive in the list and, right click on it, select disable. This prevents Onedrive from auto-starting.

4. If you want to uninstall it instead, the best way is to use Revo Uninstaller Freeware Portable. You’ll find Onedrive under the Windows Apps section. Be sure to scan for and delete any leftover files and registry entries Revo finds. Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download

5. You can also use option 1 in this tutorial to uninstall it. It will leave a few registry entries behind though. Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive in Windows 11

therealsimpsons · 2025-06-25T09:39:03-0400

I clicked on the tutorial above. Here is a screen shot of what I got. There is no icon for One Drive on my task bar.

glasskuter · 2025-06-25T10:37:14-0400

Click the overflow (the up arrow to the left of system tray icons)

Catnip · 2025-06-25T12:50:56-0400

Onedrive is the first thing I remove from my PC, but I always make sure that it hasn't moved anything off to the cloud before I unlink and delete.

The best way to remove Onedrive is to use explosives, but then you are out a pretty costly PC in some cases. And you have a big hole to fill in the garden. And the neighbors complain about the noise... It just never ends.

therealsimpsons · 2025-06-25T13:27:18-0400

Solved, thanks for all of the help and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

Catnip · 2025-06-25T13:42:17-0400

therealsimpsons said:
Solved, thanks for all of the help and suggestions. Very much appreciated.

For the benefit of others that may look into this thread, how did you solve it?

mecanicogolf · 2025-06-25T15:45:04-0400

Catnip said:
Onedrive is the first thing I remove from my PC, but I always make sure that it hasn't moved anything off to the cloud before I unlink and delete.

The best way to remove Onedrive is to use explosives, but then you are out a pretty costly PC in some cases. And you have a big hole to fill in the garden. And the neighbors complain about the noise... It just never ends.

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