How to disable or uninstall OneDrive from Windows 10

OneDrive is a cloud storage offered by Microsoft that allows you to store files and personal data like Windows settings and recovery keys. Once files or data get shared on OneDrive, it can be synced and accessed from other devices like tablet or phones.  If you are using other cloud storage or don’t want to use OneDrive, you may disable or uninstall it from your PC. However, Microsoft’s OneDrive is a built in application that can be removed from some Windows version, but you can uninstall OneDrive from Windows 7, Windows Vista and some versions of Windows 10. Once OneDrive get uninstalled and disabled, it stops syncing data but you can still access OneDrive by signing into its website. Let’s learn how to disable or uninstall OneDrive from Windows 10.

To unlink OneDrive account

If your Windows 10 PC is associated with OneDrive account, you may easily unlink it by following the below given steps:

• On the bottom right corner of your PC screen, in the notification area, click the white or blue “OneDrive”cloud icon.

• In the activity center, click More > Settings.

• Here, in the “Account” tab, click “Unlink this PC” and then “Unlink account.”

To uninstall OneDrive from your Windows 10 PC

If you are using other cloud storage and want to remove completely from your PC, follow the below given steps to do that:

• In the start menu, type Programs in the search box and then select “Add or remove programs”from the top
• Under “Apps & features”, locate “Microsoft OneDrive”,click on it and then select “Uninstall.” If you are asked for an administrator password or confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.

To hide OneDrive from your Windows 10 PC

If you don’t want to uninstall, you may hide OneDrive from the system by following below given steps:

• On the bottom right corner of your PC screen, in the notification area, click the white or blue “OneDrive” cloud icon.
• In the activity center, click More > Settings.
• In the “Settings” tab, under “General” section, uncheck all the boxes.
• In the “Auto Save” tab, set the Documents and Pictures lists to “This PC only” and uncheck the other boxes.

• In the “Account“tab, select “Choose folders.”
• In the “Sync your OneDrive files to this PC” box, check and uncheck the box at “Sync all files and folders in my OneDrive”.

• Click “OK”to close the box and return to settings tab, doing so will remove all OneDrive files from your PC, but leaves them on OneDrive.com.
• In the Settings box, click “OK” to apply the changes.
• Open the “Settings” again.
  
• In the “Account” tab, click “Unlink OneDrive” and then close the “Welcome to OneDrive” box that appears.

• Now, open File Explorer, right-click “OneDrive” and then click “Properties.”
• In the “General” tab, next to “Attributes”, check the hidden box, doing so will hide OneDrive from File Explorer.
• At last, in the activity center, click “More”, select “Quit OneDrive”, doing so will remove the OneDrive icon from the Notifications area.

Now read: How to set up and use OneDrive in Windows 10 PC