How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11

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    If OneDrive keeps popping up, syncing files you didn’t ask it to sync, or just slowing down your PC, you can turn it off without touching your files. You can unlink it, hide it, pause the sync, or remove it from Windows entirely, and your files stay safe either way. This guide covers Windows 10 and 11, plus a quick note on macOS.

    Quick steps

    1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in your notification area (system tray).
    2. Select Help and Settings, then Settings.
    3. Go to the Account tab.
    4. Select Unlink this PC, then confirm by selecting Unlink account.

    This disconnects OneDrive from your computer straight away. Your files stay in the cloud and you can still get to them anytime at OneDrive.com.

    Before you start

    • Unlinking, hiding or uninstalling OneDrive does not delete your files. Everything stays in your OneDrive account online, and you can sign back in later.
    • OneDrive is built into some versions of Windows and can’t be fully removed, only hidden. On other setups you can uninstall it like a regular app.
    • If you only want a break from syncing (say, to save bandwidth or speed up your PC for a while), you don’t need to unlink anything, just pause it.
    • Work or school accounts may have OneDrive managed by an IT admin, so some of these options might be greyed out or controlled centrally.

    This is the recommended first step if you just don’t want to use OneDrive anymore. It disconnects your account from the PC but leaves the app in place.

    1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area on your taskbar.
    2. Select the Help and Settings icon, then choose Settings.
    3. Click the Account tab.
    4. Select Unlink this PC, then confirm with Unlink account.

    Once it’s unlinked, OneDrive stops syncing files to that PC, but your files remain safely stored online at OneDrive.com.

    Hide OneDrive from File Explorer on Windows 10 and 11

    If OneDrive is built into your version of Windows and can’t be uninstalled, hiding it is the closest thing to disabling it. This stops it from syncing and removes it from view in File Explorer.

    1. Follow the steps above to unlink OneDrive first.
    2. Open File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive folder, and select Properties.
    3. On the General tab, tick the Hidden box under Attributes, then select OK. This hides the OneDrive folder from File Explorer.
    4. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar again and select Quit OneDrive. This removes the icon from your notification area.

    OneDrive stays installed in the background, but it won’t sync anything or show up in File Explorer while it’s quit and hidden.

    Uninstall OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11

    On most modern versions of Windows 10 and 11, you can remove OneDrive the same way you’d remove any other app. Uninstalling it doesn’t delete your cloud files.

    1. Select Start, type Add or remove programs, and open it from the results.
    2. Under Apps & features, search for Microsoft OneDrive.
    3. Select it, then choose Uninstall and confirm.
    4. If you’re asked for an administrator password or confirmation, enter it to continue.

    Note that on Windows 8.1, the built-in OneDrive app cannot be uninstalled, only hidden. If your Windows 7 or Windows Vista device still has OneDrive, keep in mind Microsoft has ended support for the desktop app on those older systems, so uninstalling and moving to a supported OS is worth considering.

    Turn off OneDrive sync temporarily (pause instead of disable)

    If you don’t want to remove OneDrive completely, just pausing sync for a while is often enough, for example if it’s eating your internet bandwidth or slowing your laptop down during a video call.

    1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in your taskbar.
    2. Select Pause syncing, then choose 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours, or select Quit OneDrive to stop it until you restart it manually.
    3. To resume sync early, press the Windows key, search for OneDrive, and open the app again.

    You can also stop specific folders from syncing without pausing everything. Go to OneDrive Settings, open the Account tab, and use Choose folders to uncheck anything you don’t want on this device.

    Disable OneDrive on Mac

    The Mac version works much the same way as Windows, though the menu names are slightly different.

    1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Menu bar.
    2. Select Help & Settings, then Preferences.
    3. Go to the Account tab and select Unlink this Mac.

    To remove the app entirely, drag OneDrive from your Applications folder to the Trash. As with Windows, this doesn’t touch your files stored in the cloud.

    If it doesn’t work

    This usually happens on a managed work or school account where an IT admin controls OneDrive settings through policy. Check with your organization’s IT helpdesk if unlinking or uninstalling isn’t available to you.

    OneDrive keeps reappearing after you hide or quit it

    Windows sometimes restarts OneDrive automatically after an update or restart. If this keeps happening, run through the unlink and hide steps again, or uninstall it completely if your version of Windows allows it.

    You can’t find Microsoft OneDrive in Add or remove programs

    On some Windows editions, OneDrive is a built-in system component rather than a separate app, so it won’t show up in the uninstall list. In that case, hiding it is your only option, since it can’t be fully removed.

    Files seem to have disappeared after unlinking

    Nothing is deleted when you unlink, hide, or uninstall OneDrive. Sign in at OneDrive.com with the same Microsoft or work account to confirm your files are still there.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is it a good idea to disable OneDrive?

    It depends on how you work. If you prefer saving files locally, use another cloud service, or find OneDrive slowing your PC down, turning it off is a reasonable choice. Just remember you’ll lose the automatic backup and cross-device sync it provides.

    How do I stop everything from going to OneDrive?

    Unlink your account from OneDrive settings, or uncheck folders like Desktop, Documents and Pictures under Backup settings so Windows stops redirecting them to OneDrive automatically.

    Will I lose files if I turn off OneDrive?

    No. Unlinking, hiding, or uninstalling OneDrive only stops the sync connection on that device. Your files stay stored safely in your OneDrive account online and you can sign back in anytime to get them.

    What if I don’t want to use OneDrive?

    Unlinking your account is the simplest fix if you just don’t want to use it going forward. If your version of Windows lets you, you can also uninstall the app so it stops running and appearing in the background entirely.

    Sources

    Updated on September 25, 2026
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