Getting rid of OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11 might seem a bit tricky at first, but honestly, it’s no drama. Mostly, it’s about digging into the registry and flipping a switch. If you’re comfortable tinkering with system settings, you’ll be alright. Just a heads up — don’t go poking around in the registry without backing it up first. Windows can be a bit finicky if you’re not careful.
How to Remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11
This won’t uninstall OneDrive; it just hides it from your sidebar. Keeps things neat without losing access to your files if you need ’em. Here’s what to do:
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor
Press Windows + R, type regedit, hit Enter. When the User Account Control pops up, click “Yes” — and here’s the important part. The registry controls a lot, so be careful. Always back it up first, just in case.
Step 2: Find the OneDrive Registry Key
In Registry Editor, go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}. If you’re lazy like me, just copy that path and paste it into the address bar in regedit. This gets you straight to the OneDrive settings in the registry.
Step 3: Change the ‘System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree’ Value
Double-click System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree in that key. You’ll see a value set to 1 — that’s why it’s showing up. Change it to 0. That’s what makes OneDrive disappear from File Explorer. Sometimes you might need to restart your PC or just restart File Explorer (which is quicker).
Step 4: Restart File Explorer or Your PC
If you’re feeling confident, just restart File Explorer: open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer, right-click, then pick Restart. If that doesn’t do the trick, a quick reboot should do it. Sometimes it acts a bit funny and needs a couple of goes.
Step 5: Check if OneDrive is Gone
Open File Explorer and see if OneDrive has disappeared from the sidebar. If it’s still hanging around, double-check the registry steps — Windows can be stubborn and maybe the change didn’t save properly.
Note: Doing this won’t delete your files stored on OneDrive — it just hides the icon from the sidebar. You can still access your stuff via the app or web, no worries.
Tips for Hiding OneDrive in File Explorer on Windows 11
- Always back up your registry before playing with it. Better safe than sorry!
- If you want OneDrive back later, just revisit the registry and change
System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTreeback from 0 to 1. - To speed things up at startup, consider disabling OneDrive from auto-start via Task Manager > Startup tab.
- Hiding it doesn’t uninstall anything; OneDrive can still run in the background. If you’re serious about removing it, you might need to uninstall via Settings or PowerShell.
FAQs
Why bother hiding OneDrive from File Explorer?
Sometimes, it’s just clutter — especially if you rarely use it. A cleaner sidebar makes navigation a lot easier when you’ve got heaps of drives and folders.
Is tinkering with the registry safe?
If you’re careful and back it up first, no worries. But Windows isn’t always straightforward, so proceed with caution. One wrong move could cause a few hiccups.
Can I still access my files in OneDrive after hiding it?
Absolutely. The files are still there and synced — just won’t show up in File Explorer. Use the app or web interface if needed.
Will this affect OneDrive’s syncing?
Nope. Hiding it just removes the icon from File Explorer. The syncing keeps going behind the scenes unless you actually uninstall it.
How do I get OneDrive back if I want it?
Just reverse the registry change: change System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree from 0 back to 1. A restart or closing and reopening File Explorer usually does the trick.
Wrap-up
- Open regedit with Windows + R, then type
regedit. - Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}.
- Change
System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTreefrom 1 to 0. - Restart File Explorer or reboot your PC.
- Check that OneDrive’s hiding in the background, but the sidebar’s looking a lot cleaner.
Hope this helps save you a few hours. It’s not foolproof, but it does the trick for keeping things tidy with minimal fuss.