4 Ways: Removing OneDrive from Windows 11

User Case: How Do I Remove OneDrive from Windows 11 Explorer?

Starting from Windows 8.1, Windows incorporates OneDrive as a pre-installed feature, eliminating the need for a separate download. OneDrive proves to be a valuable tool, facilitating document synchronization between computers and the cloud. However, some users may have reservations about backing up sensitive files to OneDrive, may have alternatives to OneDrive, or simply prefer storing everything locally.

If you find OneDrive unnecessary for your needs, there are several methods for removing OneDrive from Windows 11. In addition, here a free solution is introduced to keep your files secure if you decide to disable OneDrive.

Removing OneDrive from Windows 11 in 4 Methods

By carefully following the step-by-step instructions outlined below, you can easily remove OneDrive from File Explorer on Windows 11. There are multiple methods to accomplish this task: disabling the service from the Settings menu, disabling it through the Group Policy Editor, or removing it using either the Registry Editor or the Command Prompt.

Way 1. Remove OneDrive from Windows 11 via Windows Settings

Uninstalling OneDrive from Windows 11 is a straightforward process, similar to removing any other desktop application. Simply follow these easy steps to get rid of OneDrive from your Windows 11 system now.

Step 1. Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to open the Windows Settings app.

Step 2. In the left-hand side menu, click on Apps. Then, scroll down and locate Microsoft OneDrive app in the list.

Step 3. Click on the three dots and select the Uninstall option. Then, click on the Uninstall button to confirm your action.

Way 2. Disable OneDrive on Windows 11 Explorer with Group Policy Editor

The Windows Group Policy Editor is a native tool designed to manage and control a range of features within Windows accounts. It is commonly utilized by Windows Pro and advanced users, particularly in business environments, to disable personal OneDrive and remove it from File Explorer.

To disable OneDrive in Windows 11 using the Group Policy Editor, please follow these steps:

Step 1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run console, type "gpedit.msc", and press Enter or click OK.

Step 2. In the Group Policy Editor window, navigate to the following policy:

>> Computer configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\OneDrive

Step 3. Then, right-click the Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage key to choose Edit.

Step 4. Select Enabled from the top left corner. Click Apply and then OK.

Way 3. Remove OneDrive on Windows 11 using Registry Editor

For Windows Home users, the empty OneDrive folder is not visible in File Explorer. However, users of other Windows versions will have the empty OneDrive folder present. If you wish to remove the OneDrive folder from Windows 11 Explorer without uninstalling the app, you can make modifications in the Windows Registry Editor. This method provides the flexibility to remove the folder and icon while keeping the OneDrive app intact.

You can go on with the following guide on removing OneDrive from Windows 11 File Explorer without uninstallation:

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog. Type "regedit" and hit Enter or click OK.

Step 2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following policy:

>> Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive

Then, double-click the DisableFileSyncNGSC key.

Step 3. If you don’t find the DisableFileSyncNGSC option in the list, right-click the OneDrive folder > select New > choose DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it DisableFileSyncNGSC, then double-click it.

Step 4. Now enter 1 in the Value data field and click OK.

Way 4. Uninstall OneDrive on Windows 11 from Command Prompt

If you encounter situations where you are unable to unlink OneDrive on Windows 11 from the above features, you can resort to uninstalling OneDrive using command prompt commands. Follow the steps below to proceed:

Step 1. Press the Win key and search “command prompt”. Right-click on the first result and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Input the following command in the terminal: TASKKILL /f /im OneDrive.exe and hit Enter to terminate any OneDrive processes first.

Step 3. Depending on the version of Windows you are using, enter the appropriate command below in the Command Prompt and press Enter to remove OneDrive from Windows 11.

For 32-bit system: %systemroot%\System32\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

For 64-bit system: %systemroot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

Step 4. When the execution is complete, you can close the Command Prompt window. From this point forward, OneDrive will no longer be a cause of inconvenience for you.

Better Way to Protect Windows Files without OneDrive

The aforementioned four methods provide straightforward approaches to removing OneDrive from Windows 11. But in order not to lose your important files when you modify Windows settings, you'd better back them up in advance. Here, I recommend a free backup software for Windows PCs - AOMEI Backupper Standard.

This freeware offers a range of useful features to assist you in your backup needs. Here are some key functionalities:

♥ Support for file backup, disk/partition backup, system backup, and Outlook backup. ♥ Ability to back up files to various cloud drives such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., as well as to backup files to external hard drives, NAS devices, and network locations. ♥ Support for disk cloning, system cloning, and seamlessly migrating files from one computer to another, ensuring a quick and hassle-free process without any data loss. ♥ Offer AOMEI Cloud, a secure backup space, with 1TB of free cloud storage available for a trial period of 15 days.

So how to make use of the OneDrive alternative - AOMEI Backupper in Windows 11? Let's take creating file backup on Windows 11 to show you detailed steps:

Step 1. Launch this tool and navigate to the Backup tab. Choose File Backup.

Step 2. Click on Add File or Add Folder to select the files or folders you wish to back up.

Step 3. Select a destination location where you want to store your file backup. This can be an external hard drive, network location, or any other suitable storage device. Then, click Start Backup to initiate file backup.

Notes:✎...

Schedule: AOMEI Backupper enables you to schedule backups at fixed intervals, including Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event trigger and USB plug in.

Scheme: Different backup methods such as Full Backup, Incremental Backup, and Differential Backup are offered on this tool. Furthermore, you can enable the automatic backup cleanup feature, which helps you efficiently manage and remove older backups, freeing up storage space.

Conclusion

On this page, we have discussed 4 methods for removing OneDrive from Windows 11.

As for users who give up OneDrive but still need a powerful file backup tool for protection, you can use AOMEI Backupper Standard to backup files to cloud, USB, NAS, and other various storage devices. It is easy to use and perfect for users who don't want to spend much time learning how to use a backup utility.