How to remove OneDrive completely from Win11?

Question

Over the past 40 years, I have developed my own file structure that works for my multitasking, now 5 HDD and no cloud. MS doesn't understand my work or activities. But OneDrive completely subverts that structure and disrupts the processes.

I want it gone and stay gone. I am by no measure unusual in this. The internet has many guides to doing this. The fact that there are so many show that there is not one that is sure to work.

MS needs to provide a foolproof, preferably one stop, tool to remove this optional way of working.

Until that happens, is there foolproof tool to remove OneDrive?

Answer 1

To completely remove OneDrive from Windows 11, you can follow these steps:

1. Uninstall OneDrive:
   • Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I.
   • Go to Apps > Apps & features.
   • Scroll down to find Microsoft OneDrive in the list.
   • Click on it and select Uninstall.
2. Remove OneDrive from Startup:
   • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
   • Go to the Startup tab.
   • Find Microsoft OneDrive, right-click on it, and select Disable.
3. Delete OneDrive folders:
   • Open File Explorer and navigate to your user folder (C:\Users\YourUsername).
   • Delete the OneDrive folder if it still exists.
4. Remove OneDrive from the Registry (optional):
   • Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive and delete the OneDrive key if it exists. (Be cautious when editing the registry.)
5. Disable OneDrive Group Policy (if applicable):
   • Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
   • Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive.
   • Double-click on Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage and set it to Enabled.

After completing these steps, OneDrive should be completely removed from your system. If you want to ensure it doesn't reinstall or reappear, you may need to monitor updates or settings in Windows that could potentially re-enable it.

---

References:

• Troubleshooting OneDrive for work or school sync issues

Answer 2

Dear Mr AI

1. Microsoft OneDrive is not on this list
2. Find Microsoft OneDrive - is not on this list
3. "You do not have sufficient access rights" (even though I am working under Terminal(Admin))
4. this worked, then (3) worked
5. cannot find

      gpedit.msc
   

Answer 3

Sorry to hear you're having trouble.

If the steps listed by the AI did not help then please read through this Support link https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/turn-off-disable-or-uninstall-onedrive-f32a17ce-3336-40fe-9c38-6efb09f944b0 on how to disable or turn off OneDrive for your PC.