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Clear OneDrive environment variable

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

Since Windows 10 1809, Microsoft introduced %ONEDRIVE% environment variable to reach OneDrive through an alias 1. This variable is redundant when OneDrive is undesired.

This script deletes OneDrive environment variable 2.

OneDrive key at HKCU\Environment is found on both Windows 10 (since 21H2, missing in 20H2) and Windows 11 (since 23H2).

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Remove OneDrive category. Microsoft OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft. First launched in August 2007, it enables registered users to share and synchronize their files. Data stored on OneDrive is subject to monitoring by Microsoft. There's been reports of Microsoft accessing and... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Clear OneDrive environment variable.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Delete the registry value "OneDrive" from the key "HKCU\Environment" 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyName = 'HKCU\Environment'; $valueName = 'OneDrive'; $hive = $keyName.Split('\')[0]; $path = "^""$($hive):$($keyName.Substring($hive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Removing the registry value '$valueName' from '$path'."^""; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry key does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; $existingValueNames = (Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path).PSObject.Properties.Name; if (-Not ($existingValueNames -Contains $valueName)) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no action needed, registry value does not exist.'; Exit 0; }; try { if ($valueName -ieq '(default)') { Write-Host 'Removing the default value.'; $(Get-Item -LiteralPath $path).OpenSubKey('', $true).DeleteValue(''); } else { Remove-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $valueName -Force -ErrorAction Stop; }; Write-Host 'Successfully removed the registry value.'; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry value: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Restore the registry value "OneDrive" in key "HKCU\Environment" to its original value 
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$data = '%USERPROFILE%\OneDrive'; $rawType = 'REG_EXPAND_SZ'; $rawPath = 'HKCU\Environment'; $value = 'OneDrive'; $hive = $rawPath.Split('\')[0]; $path = "^""$($hive):$($rawPath.Substring($hive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Restoring value '$value' at '$path' with type '$rawType' and value '$data'."^""; if (-Not $rawType) { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: Data type is not provided for data '$data'."^""; }; if (-Not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $path)) { try { New-Item -Path $path -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host 'Successfully created registry key.'; } catch { throw "^""Failed to create registry key: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; $currentData = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $value -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -ExpandProperty $value; if ($currentData -eq $data) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no changes required, the registry data is already as expected.'; Exit 0; }; try { $type = switch ($rawType) { 'REG_SZ' { 'String' }; 'REG_DWORD' { 'DWord' }; 'REG_QWORD' { 'QWord' }; 'REG_EXPAND_SZ' { 'ExpandString' }; default { throw "^""Internal privacy$([char]0x002E)sexy error: Failed to find data type for: '$rawType'."^""; }; }; Set-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $path -Name $value -Value $data -Type $type -Force -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host 'Successfully restored the registry value.'; } catch { throw "^""Failed to restore the value: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"

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