How to disable Microsoft OneDrive

By Zak Islam April 4, 2022

If you don't need Microsoft OneDrive on your PC, disabling it is quick and easy. Doing so frees you up to use another cloud service if you want, but either way, here's how to disable Microsoft OneDrive.

Contents

Disabling your OneDrive account by unlinking
How do I temporarily disable OneDrive?
Uninstall Microsoft OneDrive

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

A Windows 10 PC

Disabling your OneDrive account by unlinking

This process will involve unlinking the PC where OneDrive is installed, which will subsequently remove the account you initially signed in with.

Step 1: Click Microsoft OneDrive within the taskbar at the bottom right of your window, and then select the Help & Settings icon. Click Settings.

The Settings option for Microsoft OneDrive in Windows 10. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Select the Account tab adjacent to the Settings tab.

Step 3: Click Unlink this PC.

The Unlink this PC option in Microsoft OneDrive. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: Click the Unlink account button, after which your files will stop syncing to your OneDrive account.

The confirmation button for unlinking a Microsoft OneDrive account to a PC. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

How do I temporarily disable OneDrive?

If you’re looking to temporarily disable OneDrive without unlinking your entire account, then Microsoft provides the ability to do so.

Step 1: Click Microsoft OneDrive within the taskbar, click the Help & Settings icon, and then choose Settings.

Step 2: Unselect the Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows field and click OK.

Microsoft OneDrive will no longer synchronize your files as long as you don’t manually open the program itself. When you’re ready to enable the service once again, simply select the same box and click OK.

Deselecting the option to start Microsoft OneDrive automatically in Windows 10. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: Conveniently, Microsoft also provides the ability to temporarily disable OneDrive for specific periods of time. Click Microsoft OneDrive within the taskbar, click the Help & Settings icon, and then click Pause syncing. You can temporarily disable OneDrive for 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours.

The option to temporarily disable syncing in Microsoft OneDrive. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Uninstall Microsoft OneDrive

If you’re completely sure that you don’t want access to Microsoft OneDrive at all and don’t see yourself using it in the future, then you can also uninstall the service itself on Windows 10.

Step 1: Go to your Settings page and click Apps.

Step 2: Click Microsoft OneDrive to select it, and then click the Uninstall button.

The Uninstall button for Microsoft OneDrive in Windows 10. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

For more on Microsoft OneDrive, head to our guides on how to store files via the cloud service on Windows 10 and how to switch from Samsung Cloud to OneDrive.

If you've disabled or uninstalled OneDrive, and are thus considering other cloud services, then don't miss our best cloud storage services guide.