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Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Impact: Medium

    System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: Moderate

    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.

    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Administrator rights requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
  • 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​

This script disables the scheduled tasks associated with Microsoft OneDrive that typically run maintenance activities such as auto-updates 1 2 3 and data collection 2. Disabling these tasks impacts OneDrive's automatic background update process 1 2 3.

By default, Windows 10 (since 22H2) and Windows 11 (since 22H2) include the following tasks:

  • OneDrive Standalone Update Task 1 2 3
  • OneDrive Reporting Task 1

These tasks are enabled by default and lack official documentation from Microsoft. They can be identified by executing Get-ScheduledTask 'OneDrive *' | Select -ExpandProperty TaskName in PowerShell. These tasks are observed to persist even after OneDrive is uninstalled.

The tasks appear with a Security Identifier (SID) unique to each installation 1, following this pattern:

  • OneDrive Reporting Task-S-1-5-21-xxxxxx
  • OneDrive Standalone Update Task-S-1-5-21-xxxxxx

The SID, denoted by 'xxxxxx', varies per installation and represents the user account associated with the task. SID of user accounts always start with S-1-5-21 4, the rest of the number changes per user. To see all user SIDs, you can run wmic useraccount get Name,sid. The SID for your account can be confirmed using whoami /user. A SID which doesn't correspond to any user account may appear. This is be due to system preparation processes (sysprep) that use different SIDs for tasks to prevent duplication 5.

Disabling tasks with standard user SIDs is straightforward, but attempting to disable tasks with unpredictable SIDs can result in an error message: Catastrophic failure (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80000FFF (E_UNEXPECTED)).

Nonetheless, disabling tasks with the correct SID is achievable using the provided script, which locates the full task names including the SIDs.

If OneDrive is installed for all users on a machine (which is not the default behavior 6), an additional task is present:

  • OneDrive Per-Machine Standalone Update 1 7.

Disabling the OneDrive Standalone Update Task is recommended by Microsoft to improve system performance and reduce unnecessary data collection 2.

Overview of default task statuses​

\OneDrive Reporting Task-$SID:

OS VersionDefault status
Windows 10 22H2🟢 Ready
Windows 11 22H2🟢 Ready

\OneDrive Standalone Update Task-$SID:

OS VersionDefault status
Windows 10 22H2🟢 Ready
Windows 11 22H2🟢 Ready

\OneDrive Per-Machine Standalone Update:

OS VersionDefault status
Windows 10 22H2🟡 N/A (missing)
Windows 11 22H2🟡 N/A (missing)
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.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

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Help

How to apply or restore "Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

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How to apply or restore "Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 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.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
Apply changes
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\OneDrive Reporting Task-*`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\'; $taskNamePattern='OneDrive Reporting Task-*'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\OneDrive Standalone Update Task-*`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\'; $taskNamePattern='OneDrive Standalone Update Task-*'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
:: Disable scheduled task(s): `\OneDrive Per-Machine Standalone Update`
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$taskPathPattern='\'; $taskNamePattern='OneDrive Per-Machine Standalone Update'; Write-Output "^""Disabling tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^""."^""; $tasks = @(Get-ScheduledTask -TaskPath $taskPathPattern -TaskName $taskNamePattern -ErrorAction Ignore); if (-Not $tasks) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, no tasks matching pattern `"^""$taskNamePattern`"^"" found, no action needed."^""; exit 0; }; $operationFailed = $false; foreach ($task in $tasks) { $taskName = $task.TaskName; if ($task.State -eq [Microsoft.PowerShell.Cmdletization.GeneratedTypes.ScheduledTask.StateEnum]::Disabled) { Write-Output "^""Skipping, task `"^""$taskName`"^"" is already disabled, no action needed."^""; continue; }; try { $task | Disable-ScheduledTask -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Output "^""Successfully disabled task `"^""$taskName`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to disable task `"^""$taskName`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; $operationFailed = $true; }; }; if ($operationFailed) { Write-Output 'Failed to disable some tasks. Check error messages above.'; exit 1; }"
Help

How to apply or restore "Disable OneDrive scheduled tasks" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
 View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
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  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides​

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Microsoft OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) is a file hosting service operated by Microsoft. First launched in August 2007, it enables registered users to share and syn...
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About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
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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

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other 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.

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