Uninstalling OneDrive on Windows 11 isn’t as complicated as it sounds — if you know where to look. Honestly, sometimes it feels like Windows makes it way harder than it needs to. You might just want it gone to reclaim some resources or because you prefer a different cloud service. Whatever the reason, here’s how to dive in.
How to Remove OneDrive from Windows 11
This method gets rid of the app completely, so it won’t autostart or hang around eating up RAM. Basically, you’re removing the app from your system entirely.
Step 1: Open Settings
Start by opening Settings. The quickest way is to click the Start button, then choose Settings (gear icon). Or just press Windows + I — not always faster, but sometimes it’s the easiest. Not that you’ll need to do this often, but it’s good to know.
Step 2: Head to the Apps Section
In Settings, find and click Apps. This is where all the installed programs are listed, including OneDrive. You’ll see a list of apps — scroll through or whip out the search box at the top and type “OneDrive”.
Step 3: Locate Microsoft OneDrive
Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list. Tap on it, and a bunch of options will pop up. If you’re lucky, there’s an Uninstall button right there. Sometimes, if it’s integrated tightly or there’s some weird bug, the uninstall option’s grayed out — then you might need to try the command line method.
Step 4: Uninstall it (via GUI or Command Line)
Click Uninstall. Follow the prompts, and it should start removing OneDrive. If the button’s disabled or it doesn’t work for some reason, here’s a fallback:
taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe
rd "%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive" /Q /S
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstallThis will kill any running OneDrive process and remove leftover files. To run these commands, open PowerShell as administrator: right-click the Start button, select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). Paste the commands, hit Enter, and wait for it to do its thing.
Some users say this gets OneDrive out of their hair for good. On others, it needs a reboot or a second try to fully get rid of it. Windows kind of weirdly reintegrates things sometimes.
Step 5: Restart Your PC
Once it’s gone, do a quick reboot. This makes sure all the services and background processes of OneDrive are fully terminated and unlinked from your startup routines.
No surprises here — you can restart by clicking Start, then the Power icon, and choosing Restart.
After that, OneDrive should be totally gone from your system. You won’t see it in your system tray or startup list anymore. If someday you want it back, just grab it from the Microsoft Store.
Tips for the brave or the cautious
- Backup Important Files: Before smashing that Uninstall button, it’s smart to make sure your files are safe. Those stored locally or synced? Maybe copy them to another folder, just in case. Because, of course, Windows has to make this process a little sneaky sometimes.
- Check for Updates: Keep your Windows current. Sometimes, older versions of Windows 11 make uninstalling or removing apps troublesome. An update might fix that magic completely.
- Disable Startup: If you don’t want to uninstall but really want that thing to stop auto-starting, jump into Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, then go to the Startup tab and disable OneDrive there. It’s less destructive, but on some setups, it still keeps the app accessible if someone clicks the icon later.
- Use Command Prompt: If you’re comfortable with the terminal, you can also run
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstallfrom an admin Command Prompt or PowerShell to do a cleaner job. Sometimes, this method skips the GUI bugs. - Reinstall if needed: Changed your mind? Just fire up the [Microsoft Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/onedrive/9WZBMTMCLXB9) and install it again — quick and painless.
FAQs
Can I reinstall OneDrive after uninstalling it?
Yup. Just download it from the Microsoft Store or the official Microsoft site, and it’ll be back in no time.
Will uninstalling delete my files?
Nope, your files stay in the cloud. The uninstallation only removes the app itself from your computer, not your actual data. Still, disconnecting or uninstalling can sometimes cause sync issues if you’re not careful—so backup if it’s sensitive stuff.
Is it safe to uninstall?
Generally, yeah. If you never use OneDrive, removing it shouldn’t cause issues. But note — if you rely on it for automatic backups, make sure your data is saved elsewhere first.
What about disabling instead of uninstalling?
Good question. You can turn it off from startup like I mentioned, or disable it via Group Policy or Registry tweaks for a no-uninstall approach. But that’s more involved and might need some googling.
Will removing OneDrive free up disk space?
Sure, a bit. But mainly, it reduces background resource usage. The actual space taken might be minimal unless you’ve got a big local folder. Still, it adds up over time.
TL;DR
- Open Settings
- Go to Apps
- Find and select Microsoft OneDrive
- Click Uninstall
- Reboot
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone. Because honestly, dealing with pre-installed Microsoft apps can be a pain — but at least this way, you’re in control.