Remove OneDrive
- Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
- Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
- Impact: MinimumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Low
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script. - Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
- 11 scripts
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
Microsoft OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft 1. First launched in August 2007, it enables registered users to share and synchronize their files 1.
Data stored on OneDrive is subject to monitoring by Microsoft 2. There's been reports of Microsoft accessing and altering your personal files when syncing on OneDrive 3 4.
Uninstalling OneDrive is recommended by Microsoft to optimize Windows VDIs 5.
Sources
- OneDrive. Wikipedia. (2025).
Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneDrive
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20250313113448/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OneDrive - OneDrive. Privacy concerns. Wikipedia. (2025).
Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=OneDrive&oldid=1111615560#Privacy_concerns - Microsoft OneDrive for Business can Alter Your Files as It Syncs. Intralinks. (2019).
Original: https://www.intralinks.com/blog/2014/04/microsoft-onedrive-business-can-alter-files-syncs
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20191002180755/https://www.intralinks.com/blog/2014/04/microsoft-onedrive-business-can-alter-files-syncs - Microsoft OneDrive Secretly Modifies your BackUp Files. thehackernews.com. (2025).
Original: https://thehackernews.com/2014/04/microsoft-onedrive-secretly-modifies.html - Optimizing Windows 10, version 1909, for a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) role. Microsoft Learn. (2023).
Original: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds_vdi-recommendations-1909
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20231002162808/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/rds_vdi-recommendations-1909#remove-onedrive-components
Apply Now
Choose one of two ways to apply:
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Download and run the script directly- No app needed
- Offline usage
- Easy-to-apply
- Free
- Open-source
- Normal
- High
Normal — Functional Privacy
- Recommended for all
- Safe for daily use
- No impact on system stability
Read more about Normal and other protection levels
High — Advanced Privacy
- For advanced privacy-conscious users
- May affect some features
Read more about High and other protection levels
Help
How to apply or restore "Remove OneDrive" using script
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 6 instructions
- 1
Choose protection
Choose one of the options with different impact levels:
- 2
Download
Download the script file by clicking on thebutton above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 3
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 4
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 5
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 6
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Shows the code
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Remove OneDrive" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the category name: Remove OneDrive
- Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.
Applying Normal to limit the impact.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
Explore This Guide
- 11 Privacy settings
Choose what to protect based on your needs:This script already includes these options.
You can review, apply or reverse each option individually.
Click any option to learn more about what it does.
- Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
- Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.
Kill OneDrive process
It stops the execution of OneDrive. Main OneDrive process is OneDrive.exe and it is installed in `\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDriv...
Remove OneDrive from startup
OneDrive starts on every boot in both Windows 10 and 11 by default. It's started through OneDrive REG_SZ entry in `HKCU\Software\Microsoft\...
Remove OneDrive through official installer
This script will call official Microsoft uninstaller that will uninstall the application but residual files will be left. You won't lose data b...
Remove OneDrive user data and synced folders
This script deletes the OneDrive directory and all stored data from your profile. OneDrive usually saves your data in the `%USERPROFILE%\OneDri...
Remove OneDrive installation files and cache
This script removes OneDrive installation directories, application data, temporary files, and cache. Identified by the community and confirmed ...
Remove OneDrive shortcuts
This script ensures the removal of all OneDrive shortcuts from your system, even after uninstallation or cleanup. Erasing these shortcuts impro...
Disable OneDrive usage
This script prevents: Keeping OneDrive files in sync with the cloud. • Users from automatically uploading photos and videos from the camera rol...
Disable automatic OneDrive installation
This script prevents OneDrive from automatically reinstalling itself. OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service, can automatically reinstall ...
Remove OneDrive folder from File Explorer
File Explorer shows OneDrive to allow you to access files stored in OneDrive (stored online and locally cached). [CLSID](https://learn.microsof...
Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks
This script disables the scheduled tasks associated with Microsoft OneDrive that typically run maintenance activities such as auto-updates and ...
Clear OneDrive environment variable
Since Windows 10 1809, Microsoft introduced %ONEDRIVE% environment variable to reach OneDrive through an alias. This variable is redundant wh...
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The guide below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
Same Goal
Other guides in Remove bloatware See settings that are in the same category as this guide.Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
- Audited and verified using automated security tests
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
- Audited and verified using third-party security software
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.