How to Completely Remove or Disable OneDrive on Windows 11

Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage service built into Windows 11 that automatically syncs your files with the cloud. While useful for some, it often runs in the background, consumes bandwidth, and launches automatically even if you never use it. Below are all the step-by-step methods to uninstall or disable OneDrive completely on Windows 11.

Method 1: Uninstall OneDrive from Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed Apps.
3. Type OneDrive in the search bar.
4. Click the three-dot icon next to Microsoft OneDrive and select Uninstall.
5. Confirm and wait for the removal to finish.
6. Restart your computer to complete the process.

Method 2: Uninstall OneDrive Using Command Prompt

If the normal uninstall fails or OneDrive keeps reinstalling, use Command Prompt.

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run as administrator.
2. Type the following command to uninstall OneDrive for the current user: %SystemRoot%\System32\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall
3. On 64-bit systems, if that doesn’t work, try this version: %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall
4. Wait until the process completes silently (there’s no confirmation message).
5. Restart your computer to finalize the removal.

Method 3: Remove OneDrive for All Users via PowerShell

1. Press Start, search for PowerShell, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
2. Run this command to remove OneDrive completely: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers *OneDrive* | Remove-AppxPackage
3. Once finished, close PowerShell and restart your system.

Method 4: Disable OneDrive Auto-Start

If you prefer not to uninstall OneDrive but just stop it from opening automatically:

1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray (bottom right corner).
2. Click the Settings gear icon.
3. Under the Settings tab, uncheck Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows.
4. Click OK to save changes.
5. This ensures OneDrive won’t launch at startup anymore.

Method 5: Stop OneDrive from Running in the Background

OneDrive can still run processes even after closing the app.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Startup Apps tab.
3. Find Microsoft OneDrive.
4. Right-click and select Disable.
5. Next, go to Processes and end any OneDrive.exe tasks.

Method 6: Disable OneDrive via Group Policy Editor (Pro and Enterprise Versions)

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive
3. Double-click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage.
4. Select Enabled, then click Apply and OK.
5. Restart your PC. OneDrive will now be disabled system-wide.

Method 7: Disable OneDrive Using Registry Editor (For All Editions)

If you have Windows 11 Home without Group Policy Editor, use this method.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
3. Right-click Windows, select New > Key, and name it OneDrive.
4. Select the new OneDrive key, then right-click the right pane and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
5. Name it DisableFileSyncNGSC and set its value to 1.
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
7. OneDrive will now be fully disabled.

Method 8: Delete OneDrive Leftover Files and Folders

After uninstalling, OneDrive may leave behind cache and logs.

1. Press Windows + R, type the following paths one by one, and delete the folders if found: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\OneDrive C:\OneDriveTemp C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive C:\ProgramData\Microsoft OneDrive
2. Empty your Recycle Bin to reclaim space.

Method 9: Disable OneDrive Sync Integration from File Explorer

Even after removal, the OneDrive icon can still appear in File Explorer.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\
3. Press Ctrl + F and search for OneDrive.
4. For each match, right-click and delete the entry.
5. Restart File Explorer (Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Processes → Windows Explorer → Restart).
6. The OneDrive icon should now be gone.

Method 10: Prevent OneDrive from Reinstalling After Updates

Windows Updates can sometimes restore OneDrive.

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Windows Update, right-click, and select Properties.
3. Change Startup type to Manual or Disabled if you want to manage updates yourself.
4. Alternatively, use tools like O&O ShutUp10++ or Windows Debloater to block OneDrive’s reinstall package.

Method 11: Use a Debloat Tool for One-Click Removal

For a simpler approach, try trusted tools:

• O&O AppBuster – Lists all hidden Microsoft apps, including OneDrive.
• Windows11Debloater – Removes OneDrive and related services automatically.
• Revo Uninstaller – Cleans registry leftovers and temporary files.
  Launch one of these tools, select OneDrive, choose Remove, and restart your PC.

By following these methods, you can completely remove Microsoft OneDrive from Windows 11 or disable it so it never launches, syncs, or runs again — giving you a faster and cleaner system without unwanted background activity.