Windows keeps creating a OneDrive folder periodically despite trying everything to rid my PC of OneDrive. How do I stop this behaviour for good?

Hello! Thank you for reaching out. I am Tin, an independent advisor, and glad to assist you today with this issue. This isn't something you hear for the first time; stubborn OneDrive behavior is quite known during Windows 11 usage. No matter if you remove the connection or uninstall OneDrive or edit registry paths-it will still continue haunting you since OneDrive has some other deep hooks into the Windows user profile system, especially if it has already been set up at the beginning for backing up Desktop/Documents/Pictures. Here are some steps to try to resolve the issue.

Step 1: Thwart the Automatic Reinstallation of OneDrive

Windows will reinstall OneDrive again with feature update or refresh user profile process if OneDrive isn't blocked from reinstalling.

Group Policy Block OneDrive (Pro/Edu/Enterprise):

Run gpedit.msc

Navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive

Enable: Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage

Restart your computer.

For those in Windows 11 Home:

Registry makes it.

Do regedit

Locate:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive

If DisableFileSyncNGSC doesn't exist, create it:

Right click in the right pane > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value

Name: DisableFileSyncNGSC

Set value to 1

Boot up again.

Step 2: Repair Shell Folder Redirects

It appears that OneDrive was syncing Desktop / Documents / and all that. And those user folder locations are still pointing to where an unreachable OneDrive stands.

Registry Editor (regedit) should be run.

Go to:

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

For each of these keys (if they exist), make sure the correct paths are:

Desktop

Documents

Downloads

Pictures

Music

Videos

Example correct path: shell

%USERPROFILE%\Documents

Close regedit and then reboot your PC.

Step 3: Fix PowerShell $PROFILE

Your PowerShell profile is being redirected to OneDrive, probably because the Documents folder is still pointing to it.

To see where PowerShell thinks $PROFILE is:

Open PowerShell and execute:

powershell

$PROFILE

The result should resemble:

makefile

C:\Users<YourName>\OneDrive\Documents\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

To counter it:

Manually create a new folder:

makefile

C:\Users<YourName>\Documents\PowerShell\

Copy or create your profile script:

Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1

Edit the PowerShell shortcut so that it forces use of your custom profile:

Right-click PowerShell > Properties

Then at the Target box, add this:

-NoProfile -Command "if (Test-Path '$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1') { . '$env:USERPROFILE\Documents\PowerShell\Microsoft.PowerShell_profile.ps1' }"

Step 4: Disable OneDrive Startup or Syncing Again

Removing OneDrive app is not enough as it silently reinstalls withupdates. To ensure it is always off:

Open the Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc)

Navigate to:

Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > OneDrive

Disable or delete any here present tasks.

Check again for and disable OneDrive startup entries:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Startup tab > Disable "OneDrive" if it's listed

Step 5: Optional- Remove Any Residual OneDrive Folders

100% sure about no other apps depending on these folders:

Boot to Safe Mode

Delete:

C:\Users<YourName>\OneDrive

Any rags left in OneDrive folders found at %LOCALAPPDATA%, %APPDATA%

Please try these steps and let me know how it goes. If you run into any issues, just reply back with the details.

Best regards,

Tin