The fastest way to remove OneDrive

You can remove OneDrive in two ways: uninstall the app from your computer, or delete your OneDrive account entirely. Most people uninstall the app — this removes the folder and stops syncing without touching your Microsoft account. Deleting your account is permanent and removes all files stored in OneDrive, so only do this if you are certain you do not need anything in it.

If you just want OneDrive off your computer but want to keep your files, uninstalling takes about two minutes. If you want to delete everything and close the account, that process takes longer because Microsoft requires you to wait 60 days before the files are permanently erased.

Key Takeaways

  • Uninstalling OneDrive from Windows or Mac removes the app and stops syncing, but your files stay in your Microsoft account online.
  • To uninstall on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find OneDrive, and select Uninstall.
  • On Mac, drag OneDrive from Applications to Trash, then empty the Trash.
  • Deleting your OneDrive account is permanent after 60 days and removes all files, so back up anything you need first.
  • You can stop syncing a single folder without uninstalling the whole app by right-clicking the folder and choosing Stop syncing.

How to uninstall OneDrive on Windows

Open Settings and go to Apps > Apps & features. Scroll down to find OneDrive in the list. Click it once to select it, then click the Uninstall button that appears. Windows will ask you to confirm — click Uninstall again.

After uninstalling, the OneDrive folder stays on your computer but stops syncing. Your files are still in your Microsoft account online. If you want to delete the OneDrive folder from your computer as well, open File Explorer, right-click the OneDrive folder, and select Delete.

If you see a message saying OneDrive is required by Windows, you may be using a work or school account. Contact your IT department before uninstalling, because they may have set it up as part of your account setup.

How to uninstall OneDrive on Mac

Open Finder and go to Applications. Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Then open Trash, right-click OneDrive, and select Empty Trash to remove it completely.

Like Windows, the OneDrive folder on your Mac will remain after uninstalling. Your files stay in your Microsoft account online. If you want to remove the folder from your Mac, open Finder, locate the OneDrive folder (usually in your home directory), and drag it to Trash.

How to delete your OneDrive account permanently

Deleting your account removes all files from OneDrive and cannot be undone after 60 days. Before you start, download or move any files you want to keep to another location or cloud service.

Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in. Click Privacy, then select Data & privacy. Scroll down to Data management and click Manage your data. Find OneDrive and click Delete. Microsoft will ask you to confirm and will show you how many files will be deleted.

After you confirm, your files enter a 60-day grace period. During this time, you can contact Microsoft support to restore them. After 60 days, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Your Microsoft account itself remains active — only the OneDrive service is deleted.

Stopping sync on just one folder

If you want to keep OneDrive but stop it from syncing a specific folder, you do not need to uninstall. Right-click the folder in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and select Stop syncing this folder. OneDrive will ask if you want to keep the local copy on your computer or delete it.

Choosing to keep the local copy means the folder stays on your computer but no longer updates when you make changes in OneDrive online. Choosing to delete removes it from your computer but keeps it in your OneDrive account. You can turn syncing back on later by opening OneDrive settings and selecting the folder again.

What happens to your files after uninstalling

Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete your files. They remain in your Microsoft account and you can still reach them by going to onedrive.live.com in a web browser and signing in. You can download them, move them to another cloud service, or leave them where they are.

If you uninstall OneDrive and later reinstall it on the same computer with the same Microsoft account, it will sync those files back down. This makes uninstalling safe if you think you might want OneDrive again later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling OneDrive delete my files?

No. Uninstalling removes the app from your computer, but your files stay in your Microsoft account online. You can still reach them at onedrive.live.com. Only deleting your account permanently removes the files, and that takes 60 days.

Can I remove OneDrive from just one folder?

Yes. Right-click the folder and select Stop syncing this folder. OneDrive will ask whether to keep or delete the local copy. You can turn syncing back on later without reinstalling the whole app.

What if I uninstall OneDrive by mistake?

You can reinstall it from the Microsoft Store (Windows) or App Store (Mac). When you sign back in with your Microsoft account, it will sync your files again.

Does uninstalling OneDrive affect my Microsoft account?

No. Your Microsoft account stays active. Only the OneDrive app is removed. You can still use Outlook, Office, and other Microsoft services with the same account.

How do I know if OneDrive is actually uninstalled?

On Windows, it will no longer appear in Settings > Apps & features. On Mac, it will no longer be in Applications. You can also check the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) — the OneDrive icon should be gone.