How Do I Get Rid of OneDrive?

❌ Some people just want it GONE. I'll show you how to get rid of OneDrive.

❌ Getting rid of OneDrive
Unlink your account in OneDrive Settings.
Uninstall the OneDrive app from the Windows installed apps list.
Leave the OneDrive folder alone, but organize your files however you like.

Chapters
0:00 Get Rid of OneDrive
1:30 The simple approach: Unlink
1:40 OneDrive settings
3:40 Get rid of application
4:35 Check Task Manager
5:10 OneDrive folder

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[askleonotenboom]

When you’re just done with the intrusiveness and confusion.

[henrysmith]

This is actually an extremely helpful video. Many people complain that when they go to save a word document they are directed to save it in the One Drive folder despite One Drive having been uninstalled. This explains why. Thanks

[alumycrick]

Tech people are notoriously inept at explaining things at the level of understanding of those they are seeking to assist. How often have you watched an instructional video and not really learned anything? But Leo's videos don't assume that others have his own background knowledge and experience. I for one always learn something when Leo is giving the explanation.

[chipmcg]

I think it is a very strange business strategy to FORCE your customer to use a tool they DO NOT WANT.

[haroldre]

Leo, You are so great ! I wish I had found you sooner. Bought a new laptop and went through hell with one drive. I think in the process I lost some files when it deleted them from my hard drive. Thanks again .

[HarishPillay]

Thanks Leo. A friend was asking the very question you've answered. Since I only use Fedora Linux on all of my systems at work and the family, I was not able to answer my friend's question. So thank you again!

One suggestion: renaming the one drive folder when it is no longer connected is probably a good idea. That way, there is no confusion.

[TheCocoaDaddy]

Thanks for posting this video! I gave up on trying to get OneDrive to STOP grabbing the files because I unlinked OneDrive from the PC and it would automatically RECONNECT when I saved a file to the Pictures folder or the Documents folder. I literally unlinked the same PC 2 or 3 times from OneDrive. By switching to a local account, I was able to get OneDrive to stop grabbing files.

[mikeoneone]

Very well explained with clear and concise directions! Followed your directions and am now a happy OneDrive free person. Thank you!

[myidisinhim]

A reason I got rid of Onedrive is because Microsoft deemed it important for me to have it. I prefer to make my own decisions regarding what gets installed on my computers.

[stepannovotny]

Brilliant explanation and instructions. I'm guessing that you are retired and therefore able to spend the time it takes to produce great content. Either way, keep up the charitable work, the world needs you!

[krnlueck]

Just what i was looking for. Thsnk you! I like the clear video the the text that you don't talk so fast like many YouTubers!

[Teisharocz]

Thank you!!! Onedrive full message was driving me nuts and I don't want to pay for a subscription!

[jfjoubertquebec]

I have two one drives...
You see, I use Windows at home and in the office.
Confusing? You bet.
Here is a thought... could software developers respect our right to organize our data ourselves? It feels so very invasive.
Thank you for outlining this topic.

[michaelmacdonell]

Leo, your timing and delivery at the start is blooming genius!
I only use my PC for media and games. The constant memory hogging the microsoft stuff manages does my head in.

[AngelaLeather]

I want to take the time to THANK YOU for being the only video I have watched that answered the biggest questions (that you would think would be important in ALL videos) that I have had and I am leaving here finally confident because of your straight to the point, very informative NOT CONFUSING teachings. lol. thank you.

[j.k.]

It's called One Drive, but handles two drives.... by the way, thank you Leo for this very welcomed video. My C-drive space was used up almost completely by all the files I collected in One Drive, before I used Windows 11. I completely did not comprehend the sense of this. If you choose to store your files in the cloud, why would one store them on the PC as well. For back-up, I store important files on DVD and archive them.

[wellofhavoc]

Got one of those stupide "Memories!!" emails and came to get some help with this. Thank you so much!!! It's very invasive and I have no clue who would even want a random image from their computer emailed to them. This is my computer- it could contain unpleasant but important documents I don't want to see on a random Friday. It is not a social media site where that information has been knowingly and willingly shared publicly for the purpose of revisiting it later.

[cpcnw]

Many years ago did not know about 'unlinking' and just went ahead and stripped out Onedrive with an uninstall tool. I also deleted the Onedrive folder. This was a big mistake because the Onedrive folder is just a simlink to your My Docs folder and this action deleted all my stuff. No warning, nothing - it just let me delete all my files and Bingo they where gone! This is completely nuts. How the developer can provide software that could potentially lead to data loss when it is supposed to be a backup solution is beyond me.

[sireuchre]

Props for using Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager. Best and fastest way to launch it, one handed.

[ZychReal]

Good video Leo but I think you missed two important things. Before you unlink you should go in and manage the backup feature and turn it off. I don't remember clearly how I did this but it is under settings. This will put your documents, pictures, etc. back to the correct place. The other issue is it may store some things only in the cloud like it did with a clients pictures. OneDrive caused all kinds of issues since we use a different syncing program. Luckily we just created a new profile and the other syncing program put everything back (of course after uninstalling OneDrive).