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Removed OneDrive, but it is still automatically linking the files from my computer

aewtx 0 Reputation points
2026-04-29T19:12:03.9466667+00:00

I am so fed up with Microsoft forcing OneDrive on us! Previously it was linked to the computer folders automatically, where you had no choice but to save it under OD. Then a lot of people complained about it, so I guessed that was why it was removed from the directory when you were saving, so I thought it had been removed and it was only accessed if you chose to access it and save to it, not automatically. I guessed wrong, apparently, because I just now saw that all my files in OD are showing up on my computer. People will be easily able to see what I have in OD and to easily access them too, as in open them up, through my computer. I NEVER did an automatic backup to OD. I have always been very careful to save to my computer and then manually back up to OD separately so as not to link my computer. I had also previously went into the settings to unlink it.

So I uninstalled it, but just checked and they are still there, even when I restarted my computer.. How do I permanently remove it so that it cannot be accessed from my computer directory? I have a Windows 11, not sure if it is the Home version.

EDIT:

From the AI response, it says to go to the OneDrive icon in the system tray. It does not show up there for me. So I did a search, but all it does it pull up to Bing, not locate it on my computer. I also went into the System Settings>Personalization>Taskbar, but it does not show OneDrive at all, I'm guessing because I uninstalled it. So now how do I unlink it, since the files are still linked?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
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  1. Bulldog 2,305 Reputation points
    2026-04-29T19:45:02.1466667+00:00

    The correct way to remove the OneDrive app from your PC:

    1- Open the OneDrive app

    2- Turn off file syncing

    3- Turn off backing up

    Now the OneDrive app is not doing anything on your computer.

    4- Still in the OneDrive app: Unlink the OneDrive app from your Microsoft account

    Now you have disconnected the app from your OneDrive.

    5- Uninstall the OneDrive app (in the usual way you uninstall apps)

    Now the OneDrive app is gone. Microsoft may try to re-install the app in a future update, but the app will not be enabled, so it won't do anything, and you can uninstall it again.

    Something that you have to keep in mind before you do the above:

    If the OneDrive app was previously syncing and backing up, then some of your files will be in your OneDrive and some will be on your hard drive. Microsoft makes it look like your files are in both places - that's what it means to sync - so some of what looks like files to you are actually pointers to a file. So before you start removing the OneDrive app, it's a good idea to ensure that all your files - your actual files - are in the same place, either in your OneDrive or your hard drive.

    There's one other thing to keep in mind, and it only applies if you have Microsoft 365 aka Office. The Microsoft 365 apps save their output directly to your OneDrive by default. You can change this in the app settings. Do it in one app (e.g., Word) and it applies to all the apps.

    You might not be in a mood to hear this, but saving files to cloud storage (whether OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) has strong advantages if you control it rather than an app. Even file syncing has advantages, if you are in control. The way the OneDrive app is setup by default takes that control away from you, unfortunately.

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  2. aewtx 0 Reputation points
    2026-05-04T18:42:33.3933333+00:00

    It's no longer syncing to OneDrive, but I noticed that files are still automatically saved under a OneDrive directory on my computer. How do I remove OneDrive completely so it's not used at all?
    This is what shows up as the location when I go into the Properties of a file:

    C:\Users\my name\OneDrive\Backups\folder name

    These were saved directly on my computer, not as a backup. OneDrive is doing that automatically. And I don't see a OneDrive or a Backup folder. I'm saving directly under Documents.

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  3. Craig Long 18,140 Reputation points
    2026-04-30T01:24:45.6633333+00:00

    Since you said you have Microsoft 365, with adequate cloud storage, you may want to consider keeping your files in the BitLocker-encrypted Personal Vault. Use a portable security key to unlock your device if you feel the need for a physical key.

    Simply avoiding the Default folders—Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos—will prevent OneDrive from grabbing files entirely.

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  4. EmilyS726 240.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-04-29T20:09:24.94+00:00

    Hello,

    Since you have already uninstalled it, let's fix it via registry.

    Please type regedit in the search on the taskbar to launch registry editor, and go to this path, then take a screenshot and share in your reply.

    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

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  5. AI answer

    2026-04-29T19:12:23.54+00:00

    To stop OneDrive from automatically linking files and to remove it from File Explorer on Windows 11, use these steps in order.

    1. Unlink the OneDrive account from the PC
      • Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area (system tray) to open the OneDrive pop‑up.
      • Select the Help & Settings (gear) icon, then select Settings.
      • Go to the Account tab.
      • Select Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.
      • After this, the PC stops syncing with OneDrive. Files already marked Available when online will no longer be on the PC; files marked Available on this device remain in the local OneDrive folder.
    2. (Optional but recommended) Clear OneDrive sign‑in credentials
      • Press Windows key + R to open Run.
      • Enter: 
             %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings
        and select OK.
      • Delete the file PreSignInSettingsConfig.json.
      • This prevents OneDrive from silently reusing cached sign‑in settings.
    3. Remove synchronization so OneDrive folders no longer appear as synced locations
      • After unlinking, the OneDrive folder in File Explorer is no longer actively syncing, but it may still appear as a regular folder with whatever local files remain.
      • If the goal is only to stop sync (and keep cloud copies), unlinking the account is sufficient. Files remain accessible via a browser at OneDrive on the web.
    4. Uninstall OneDrive from Windows 11 (to remove the app and stop all sync)
      • Open Settings (Start → Settings).
      • Go to Apps → Installed apps.
      • Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list.
      • Select it, then choose Uninstall and complete the uninstall.
      • This stops the OneDrive desktop app and removes its integration. The local OneDrive folder and files already on the PC are not deleted automatically; they become normal folders/files.
    5. Clean up local OneDrive content (if desired)
      • After unlinking and/or uninstalling, any remaining OneDrive folder in File Explorer is just a local folder.
      • If those local copies should not be visible on the PC, move them to another location or delete them like normal files.
      • Deleting local files does not delete the copies already stored in OneDrive online once sync is stopped.
    6. Important notes about visibility and access
      • Unlinking and uninstalling OneDrive do not delete cloud data or the OneDrive storage associated with the Microsoft account; they only stop the PC from syncing with it.
      • When an account is removed, files remain available from OneDrive on the web, and any files that were Available on this device remain on the PC as local files.
      • To ensure others using the same PC cannot see OneDrive content, make sure:
        • The OneDrive account is unlinked.
        • The OneDrive app is uninstalled if not needed.
        • Any remaining local OneDrive folders/files are moved, secured with NTFS permissions, or deleted as appropriate.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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