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How to uninstall OneDrive when I can't find it anywhere except in my user folder

Anonymous
2024-04-17T14:28:23+00:00

I want to uninstall it and remove the folders for Desktop, Documents and Pictures. I can't find the program ANYWHERE on my computer or in my registry to uninstall it. I may have uninstalled it previously, but I don't remember doing that. I want it gone, and all those folders gone. It won't let me restore them to default because the folders exist in my profile. Please help me.

TIA

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. EmilyS726 235K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-04-17T17:53:53+00:00

    Just to make sure we are talking about the same specific issue,

    Desktop folder for example, is it currently in this path: C:\users\your username\OneDrive\Desktop

    And you want it to be C:\users\yourusername\Desktop?

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-04-17T17:25:39+00:00

    No, I'm not knowledgeable enough to mess with the registry.

    I just did whatever the program told me. I didn't change the path or anything, just clicked next when told to.

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  3. EmilyS726 235K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-04-17T16:14:49+00:00

    Please don't delete anything yet. I would like to understand your situation better first.

    It is not normal that this method doesn't work as this is the most organic way to remove OneDrive folder out of the folder path.

    I would like to understand two things better:

    1. Did you modify anything at all in Registry? If so, any idea what you changed?
    2. When you reinstalled OneDrive and set it back up, did you use the same OneDrive path, the one it reocmmended to you, or did you create a different path?

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-04-17T15:22:02+00:00

    I did it all, restarted my computer, and the OneDrive folder is still in my profile folder with all the folders (Desktop, documents, pictures) in it. How do I get rid of those folders?

    ETA: I moved all the documents and pictures from the OneDrive folders to my profile folders. I created a Desktop2 folder on my profile and moved all the desktop items from OneDrive to there. Now all three folders are empty. Can I delete them?

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  5. EmilyS726 235K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2024-04-17T15:00:36+00:00

    Hello, this is Emily.

    Looks like OneDrive was uninstalled prematurely before removing the backup settings.

    In order for us to sort all of these out, it is necessary (just for now) to get OneDrive desktop app back up and running.

    You will need to download it, install it back and then set it up. You can download it from here: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/onedriv...

    Once you have the OneDrive app up and running again, please follow these steps closely:

    1. Right click on the OneDrive cloud icon on the lower right on your taskbar to go to Settings.
    2. Go to the Sync and Backup tab, click on "Manage Backup" button, then turn off all folders listed there.
    3. After you turn off the folders sync in Step 2, now go to Account tab, click on "Unlink this PC"
    4. Go to your Windows Settings > Apps, find OneDrive and uninstall it.

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