Taking Control of OneDrive?

kelper · 2026-08-16T14:05:14-0400

I gave up on OneDrive when I had a slow internet connection and saw OneDrive constantly uploading files and hogging my bandwidth. I keep my files on Google Drive and it does nothing without my saying so.

Bree · 2026-08-16T14:15:08-0400

TraderGary said:
I've used OneDrive for close to 20 years. OneDrive is the offsite component of my 3-2-1 Backup Strategy. With OneDrive all my data is synchronized on all my devices in real-time as I work and for me this is invaluable.

I'm very much a 'late convert'. In fact, until 2021 I didn't even have a Microsoft account. I created one then for the sole purpose of using OneDrive to share a file that another Forum member had asked me to send them. The next time I used my MS account wasn't until 2023. Even now I still use only Local accounts on all my PCs, with my MS account added in 'Accounts > Your accounts' as an account that MS apps can use.

The key step to taming OneDrive is glasskuter's 'Step 1'. My OneDrive is then where I can store just those files that I want to access from all my laptops wherever I may be, at home or away. Like Garry, I find this to be invaluable. Unlike Garry the free 5GB is more than enough for all my needs.

glasskuter said:
STEP 1: Turn Off OneDrive Folder Backup Syncing

First, you need to stop OneDrive from automatically syncing your Desktop, Documents, Pictures, and Videos folders.

gunrunnerjohn · 2026-08-16T14:16:16-0400

kelper said:
I gave up on OneDrive when I had a slow internet connection and saw OneDrive constantly uploading files and hogging my bandwidth. I keep my files on Google Drive and it does nothing without my saying so.

Well, you can set a limit on OneDrive's bandwith or have it dynamically limit and only use free time.

pparks1 · 2026-08-16T14:21:27-0400

FrancoDT said:
While that's great for those who like it and want to use it I would guess the majority of users don't.
Public sentiment shows a high passive usage by less experienced users driven by forced default settings, paired with widespread irritation, with many users actively trying to disable, uninstall, or block OneDrive from restarting. Microsoft has faced a lot of backlash and criticism as a result.

I use it and really like it. Its pretty much the reason I pay for office/microsoft 365.

I'd believe its more enthusiasts who have more beef with it than others. But thats just an assumption.

nuspieds · 2026-08-16T15:13:49-0400

gunrunnerjohn said:
You forgot 3. Disable and uninstall all traces of OneDrive.

You know what else they made unnecessarily painful? Disabling (hiding) OneDrive Personal and just keeping OneDrive Business.

I know it's not the end of the world, but when you are only using OneDrive Business and you are still seeing the OneDrive Personal icon in the system tray, folder tree, etc., it's annoying! I had to go through all sorts of gymnastics just to get rid of it!

The first solution I ever tried was the "Unlink account" option and that had worked...for a while! The solution I'm on now is a registry hack. This is crazy, because it should be something simple, easy, and straightforward that does not require diving into the belly of Windows!

FrancoDT · 2026-08-16T16:00:53-0400

nuspieds said:
You know what else they made unnecessarily painful? Disabling (hiding) OneDrive Personal and just keeping OneDrive Business.

I know it's not the end of the world, but when you are only using OneDrive Business and you are still seeing the OneDrive Personal icon in the system tray, folder tree, etc., it's annoying! I had to go through all sorts of gymnastics just to get rid of it!

The first solution I ever tried was the "Unlink account" option and that had worked...for a while! The solution I'm on now is a registry hack. This is crazy, because it should be something simple, easy, and straightforward that does not require diving into the belly of Windows!

You don't by chance know a reg tweak to get rid of this Onedrive nag do you? I've tried several now and it won't budge on three machines.

Screenshot 2026-08-16 121027 (Small).webp

nuspieds · 2026-08-16T16:12:25-0400

FrancoDT said:
You don't by chance know a reg tweak to get rid of this Onedrive nag do you? I've tried several now and it won't budge on three machines.

View attachment 179871

OMG, what is that?!

Sorry, no, I don't and I have never seen that in my life!

How often is it nagging you and what exactly is it nagging you about?

Have you tried the steps to remove OneDrive? This is from @glasskuter's post earlier: