What To Know
- However, if you’re no longer using OneDrive Personal or have opted for a different storage solution, removing it from your computer is a good idea.
- This will open a new window allowing you to choose a new location for the OneDrive folder.
- Now, your OneDrive folder is moved to a temporary location, and your OneDrive account is unlinked from your computer.
Are you tired of OneDrive Personal taking up space on your computer? Maybe you’re switching to a different cloud storage service or simply want to clean up your system. Whatever your reason, knowing how to remove OneDrive Personal from your computer is essential. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, ensuring a smooth and complete removal.
Understanding OneDrive Personal
Before we dive into the removal process, let’s understand what OneDrive Personal is and why you might want to remove it. OneDrive Personal is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, offering free and paid plans. It allows you to store files online and access them from any device. However, if you’re no longer using OneDrive Personal or have opted for a different storage solution, removing it from your computer is a good idea.
Method 1: Unlinking OneDrive from Your Computer
This method is the simplest and most efficient way to remove OneDrive Personal from your computer. It will unlink the OneDrive folder from your computer, but keep your data intact in the cloud.
1. Open File Explorer: Navigate to “This PC” or “My Computer” on your desktop.
2. Locate the OneDrive folder: Look for a folder named “OneDrive” within your user directory.
3. Right-click on the OneDrive folder: A context menu will appear.
4. Select “Properties”: This will open a new window with information about the OneDrive folder.
5. Click on the “Location” tab: This tab displays the path to the OneDrive folder on your computer.
6. Click “Move…”: This will open a new window allowing you to choose a new location for the OneDrive folder.
7. Select a new location: Choose a temporary location on your computer, such as your desktop or a temporary folder.
8. Click “OK”: This will move the OneDrive folder to the chosen location.
9. Open the OneDrive app: Locate the OneDrive icon in your system tray (usually at the bottom right corner of your screen).
10. Click on the OneDrive icon: A menu will appear.
11. Select “Settings”: This will open the OneDrive settings window.
12. Click on the “Account” tab: This tab displays your OneDrive account information.
13. Click “Unlink this PC”: This will disconnect your OneDrive account from your computer.
14. Confirm unlinking: A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Unlink” to proceed.
Now, your OneDrive folder is moved to a temporary location, and your OneDrive account is unlinked from your computer. You can delete the OneDrive folder from the temporary location to free up space.
Method 2: Using the OneDrive Settings
This method allows you to stop syncing files and remove the OneDrive app from your computer.
1. Open the OneDrive app: Locate the OneDrive icon in your system tray.
2. Click on the OneDrive icon: A menu will appear.
3. Select “Settings”: This will open the OneDrive settings window.
4. Click on the “Account” tab: This tab displays your OneDrive account information.
5. Click “Unlink this PC”: This will disconnect your OneDrive account from your computer.
6. Confirm unlinking: A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Unlink” to proceed.
7. Go to “Start” menu: Search for “Apps and Features” or “Programs and Features” depending on your Windows version.
8. Locate and select “OneDrive”: The OneDrive app will appear in the list of installed programs.
9. Click “Uninstall”: This will initiate the uninstallation process.
10. Follow the on-screen instructions: The uninstaller will guide you through the process of removing OneDrive from your computer.
Method 3: Manually Removing OneDrive Files and Folders
This method is more advanced and requires caution. It involves manually deleting OneDrive files and folders from your computer. This method is recommended only if you are comfortable with navigating your computer’s file system.
1. Close all OneDrive processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and end any running OneDrive processes.
2. Locate the OneDrive folder: Navigate to your user directory and find the “OneDrive” folder.
3. Rename the OneDrive folder: Rename the “OneDrive” folder to something like “OneDrive_old” to avoid accidental deletion of important files.
4. Delete the OneDrive app: Go to “Start” menu, search for “Apps and Features” or “Programs and Features,” locate OneDrive, and click “Uninstall.”
5. Delete the OneDrive registry keys: Use the Registry Editor (regedit) to delete any remaining OneDrive registry keys. Be extremely cautious when editing the Registry, as incorrect changes can damage your system.
6. Delete the OneDrive folder: Once the OneDrive app is uninstalled, you can safely delete the renamed “OneDrive_old” folder.
Cleaning Up Leftover Files
Even after removing OneDrive Personal, some leftover files or folders might remain on your computer. Here’s how to clean them up:
1. Use a file search tool: Use a search tool like Everything or File Explorer to search for remaining OneDrive files or folders.
2. Delete the leftover files: Once you find them, delete them manually.
3. Use a cleaning tool: Consider using a system cleaning tool like CCleaner to remove temporary files, registry entries, and other remnants of OneDrive.
Preventing OneDrive from Reinstalling
If you’re concerned about OneDrive reinstalling automatically, you can take steps to prevent it:
1. Disable automatic updates: Go to “Windows Update” settings and disable automatic updates.
2. Block OneDrive in the firewall: Add OneDrive to your firewall’s blocked applications list.
3. Remove OneDrive from startup: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the “Startup” tab, and disable OneDrive from starting automatically.
Final Thoughts: Saying Goodbye to OneDrive Personal
Removing OneDrive Personal from your computer can be a simple process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a clean and complete removal. Remember to back up any important data before proceeding, and always exercise caution when deleting files or modifying system settings.
What People Want to Know
Q: Will removing OneDrive Personal delete my files?
A: No, removing OneDrive Personal from your computer will not delete your files. Your files will remain stored in the cloud.
Q: What if I want to use OneDrive Personal again later?
A: You can easily reinstall OneDrive and reconnect your account at any time.
Q: What happens to my synced files after unlinking?
A: Your synced files will remain on your computer. However, they will no longer be synced with OneDrive. If you want to continue syncing, you can link your OneDrive account again.
Q: Can I use OneDrive for Business and OneDrive Personal on the same computer?
A: Yes, you can use both OneDrive for Business and OneDrive Personal on the same computer. They will have separate folders and settings.
Q: What are the benefits of using a different cloud storage service?
A: Different cloud storage services offer various features and pricing plans. You might choose a service with more storage space, better security features, or more integration with other apps.
