Uninstall or Disable, and Clean the OneDrive in Windows 11

Vikas Windows 11

Microsoft OneDrive is pre-installed in Windows 10 onwards. When you install Windows 11, the operating system places a OneDrive icon in the system tray area of the taskbar and offers you to store your documents online.

Before going any further, if you’re wanting to get rid of OneDrive because of storage issues on the cloud or on your computer, why not scan it for duplicates? The results will surprise you. Cloud Duplicate Finder can run a fast and comprehensive scan on OneDrive for duplicate files and delete them in no time.

Use Cloud Duplicate Finder to Delete Duplicates on OneDrive

Cloud Duplicate Finder is totally safe, it does not download software to your computer

There may be different scenarios when you’ll want to uninstall or disable the OneDrive app:

  • Performance benefits: If you don’t want to use OneDrive at all, disabling or uninstalling it will help improve performance. OneDrive keeps running in the background and consumes a portion of your RAM and CPU.
  • Alternate Cloud Options: If you’re relying on a third-party cloud platform (such as Dropbox or Google Drive) for storing your data, you may not want to keep OneDrive.
  • Annoyance: If you want to get rid of frequent notifications to store your files on OneDrive, you may want to uninstall the app.

Which files are stored in the OneDrive folder?

It depends. Your OneDrive folder may be empty or filled with lots of files depending on how it is configured.

Typically, when you install Windows 11, you’re prompted to choose where to save your personal files. OneDrive is the default option selected to save your files. If you continue without changing the default options, all your documents, pictures, videos, music are automatically stored in the OneDrive folder. If you have chosen to store your files locally, no more files will be added to OneDrive from then onwards.

What happens to your data when you uninstall OneDrive?

When you uninstall OneDrive, only the application is removed from your system. Your personal data and other files stored in the OneDrive cloud are not deleted. Therefore, it’s safe to uninstall OneDrive if you don’t use it.

Uninstalling OneDrive

Method 1: Using Uninstall Option in the Context Menu

  1. To uninstall OneDrive, click on the Start button.
  2. Type OneDrive in the Search Box.
  3. Right-click OneDrive from the search results and select Uninstall.

Method 2: Using Apps & Features

  1. Click on Start | Settings.
  2. Click on the Apps tab on the left and then select Apps & Features.
  3. Scroll down and look for Microsoft OneDrive. Click on the three dots icon and choose Uninstall.
  4. Click on Uninstall.
  5. Click on Yes.
  6. Follow the instructions and restart your computer.

Method 3: Using Command Prompt

  1. Click on the Search icon on the taskbar.
  2. Type cmd in the Search Box.
  3. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
  4. Type the following command:
    • taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall
  5. Press Enter.

Disabling Microsoft OneDrive

Method 1: Using Registry Editor

  1. Press the Windows Key + R keys simultaneously.
  2. Type regedit and click on OK.
  3. Open the following sub-key:
  • Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive

Note: To quickly open the above sub-key, just copy-paste it into the textbox on the top and press Enter.

  1. Do you see a DWORD named DisableFileSyncNGSC? If yes, double-click it. If no, right-click on an empty area and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  2. Enter the new value as 1.
  3. Set the Base to Hexadecimal.
  4. Click on OK.
  5. Exit Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Method 2: Using Task Manager

  1. Right-click on the Start button on the taskbar.
  2. Select Task Manager.
  3. Click on More Details.
  4. Click on the Startup tab.
  5. Select OneDrive.exe and then click Disable.

Cleaning OneDrive & Deleting Duplicate Documents

Cloud Duplicate Finder is a Web-based tool that helps you identify and delete all duplicate files from your OneDrive storage.

CDF uses 256-bit encryption to protect your data while establishing a connection through the secured APIs provided by your cloud service provider.

Here’s how to eliminate duplicate documents and files from your OneDrive account without downloading any software:

  1. Visit the Cloud Duplicate Finder website using your web browser and sign up for an account on the website.
  2. Once you’ve successfully created your account, you will be redirected to the scan page.
  3. Click on the OneDrive icon on the top.
  4. Click on Add New Drive.
  5. Sign in to your OneDrive account. If your account is protected by 2FA, enter the OTP when prompted.
  6. Now check the folders from the left-hand side panel that you want to scan for duplicate files.
  7. Click on the Start button.
  8. The duplicate scan will start. Wait for a while.
  9. Once the scan is finished, click on Select Duplicates and choose your desired selection criteria.
  10. Click on Select Action and then delete or move option.