To turn off OneDrive on Windows 11, click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar, click the gear icon, and choose Pause syncing to stop it for up to 24 hours, or Quit OneDrive to close it until you restart. To turn it off for good, open OneDrive Settings > Account > Unlink this PC, then stop it from starting with Windows in Settings > Apps > Startup. You can also uninstall it completely from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Before you do anything, check whether OneDrive is backing up your Desktop, Documents, or Pictures folders. If it is, stop the backup first (Step 1 below) so your files stay easy to find on your PC.
Which option do you need?
| Goal | What to do | Easy to undo? |
|---|---|---|
| Stop syncing for a few hours | Pause syncing | Yes |
| Close it until the next restart | Quit OneDrive | Yes |
| Stop it from opening when Windows starts | Turn it off in Startup apps | Yes |
| Stop syncing files to this PC entirely | Unlink this PC | Yes, sign in again |
| Remove the app | Uninstall OneDrive | Yes, reinstall from Microsoft |
Step 1: Stop OneDrive from backing up your folders
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area. You may need to click the ^ arrow first.
- Click the gear icon, then Settings.
- Click Sync and backup, then Manage back up.
- Turn off Documents, Pictures, Desktop, and any other folders, and confirm with Stop backup.
When you stop backing up a folder, new files save to your PC again. Files that were already backed up may stay in your OneDrive folder, and Windows may leave a shortcut in the original folder that says “Where are my files?” Open your OneDrive folder in File Explorer and move anything you need back to the local folder.
Step 2: Pause or quit OneDrive
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon, then the gear icon.
- Choose Pause syncing and pick 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours. Or choose Quit OneDrive and confirm with Close OneDrive.
Quitting only lasts until you restart your PC or open OneDrive again.
Step 3: Unlink OneDrive from your PC
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon, then the gear icon, then Settings.
- Click Account.
- Click Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.
Unlinking stops syncing. Files that were downloaded to your PC stay in the OneDrive folder, and files marked “online-only” won’t open until you sign in again. Everything stays safe at onedrive.live.com.
Step 4: Stop OneDrive from starting with Windows
- Open Settings with Windows key + I.
- Go to Apps > Startup.
- Turn off Microsoft OneDrive.
You can also do this in OneDrive: go to Settings > Sync and backup > Advanced settings (or Preferences) and turn off Start OneDrive when I sign in to Windows. Or open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, click Startup apps, right-click OneDrive, and choose Disable.
Step 5 (optional): Uninstall OneDrive
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for OneDrive.
- Click the three-dot menu next to Microsoft OneDrive and choose Uninstall, then confirm.
Uninstalling doesn’t delete files from your OneDrive account or from the OneDrive folder on your PC. To get OneDrive back later, download it from Microsoft’s website or the Microsoft Store.
Remove OneDrive from File Explorer
After you unlink or uninstall OneDrive, it may still appear in File Explorer’s left pane. It usually disappears after a restart. If you still see an empty OneDrive folder, you can leave it, or move its files elsewhere and delete it.
For Windows 11 Pro: block OneDrive with Group Policy
If you manage your own Pro PC and want to stop OneDrive for every user:
- Press Windows key + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
- Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive.
- Double-click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage, choose Enabled, and click OK.
- Restart your PC.
On a work or school PC, ask your IT department before changing OneDrive settings. Your organization may require it.
If you just want to use a different account, you can change the OneDrive account on Windows 11 instead.
If you’re consolidating photos first, see how to move Google Photos to OneDrive.
Frequently asked questions
Will turning off OneDrive delete my files?
No. Pausing, quitting, unlinking, and uninstalling don’t delete anything from your OneDrive account. Deleting files from the OneDrive folder while it’s still syncing does delete them online, though, so unlink first if you want to clean up your PC.
Why do my Desktop files disappear after turning off OneDrive?
They’re probably still in your OneDrive folder. Open File Explorer, click OneDrive, open Desktop, and move the files back to your local Desktop folder.
Can I turn off OneDrive notifications only?
Yes. In OneDrive Settings, click Notifications and turn off the ones you don’t want.
Is the process the same on Windows 10?
Mostly. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Startup to stop it from starting, and OneDrive’s own settings look slightly different. See how to sign in to OneDrive on Windows 10 if you want to set it up again.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.