onedrive removal

Question

how do i remove onedrive from my computer? many of my folders show location that are linked to onedrive. i want the folders to link to my computer not thru onedrive

Answer 1

You're better off avoiding OneDrive by not using the default Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders, since those are the only folders OneDrive may access without your approval.

Answer 2

Hi! Let me help you.

To be safe, please copy all your folders to another location on your C: drive outside of the OneDrive folder.

For example, you can create a folder such as C:\Backup Files as long as the location is not inside the OneDrive directory.

Once you have finished copying all the folders from OneDrive to a location outside the OneDrive path, you can go ahead and uninstall OneDrive from your machine.

Answer 3

You can remove Microsoft OneDrive and move your folders back to local storage on your PC. The important part is to stop OneDrive backup first, otherwise your Desktop/Documents/Pictures folders stay linked to OneDrive.

Here’s the safest order:

1. Stop OneDrive folder backup

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.

Click Settings → Sync and backup → Manage backup.

Turn OFF backup for:

Desktop

Documents

Pictures

When prompted, choose to keep files on this PC.

2. Move folders back to your computer

After backup is off:

Open File Explorer.

Right-click a folder like Documents.

Select Properties → Location tab.

Click Restore Default.

Example:

From: C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive\Documents

To: C:\Users\YourName\Documents

Click Apply.

Choose Yes to move files.

Repeat for Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, etc.

3. Make files local before uninstalling

If some files have cloud icons:

Open your OneDrive folder.

Select everything.

Right-click → Always keep on this device.

Wait for downloads to finish so nothing is lost.

4. Unlink OneDrive

OneDrive icon → Settings.

Go to Account.

Click Unlink this PC.

5. Uninstall OneDrive

On Windows 11:

Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.

Find Microsoft OneDrive.

Click Uninstall.

On Windows 10:

Settings → Apps.

Select OneDrive → Uninstall.

6. Delete leftover OneDrive folder (optional)

After confirming your files are in:

C:\Users\YourName\Documents

and not inside OneDrive anymore, you can delete:

C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive