Remove OneDrive installation files and cache

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

This script removes OneDrive installation directories, application data, temporary files, and cache.

Identified by the community and confirmed through testing, these folders include:

• C:\OneDriveTemp: A location for temporary cache files 1 3.
• C:\ProgramData\Microsoft OneDrive 2: Stores data used in setting up OneDrive 2 3.
• C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive: OneDrive installation directory 2 3 4.

Directory	Windows 11 (since 22H2)	Windows 10 (since 22H2)
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\OneDriveTemp	❌ Missing	❌ Missing
%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft OneDrive	✅ Exists	✅ Exists
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive	✅ Exists	✅ Exists

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: Some changes may be permanent

Explore Categories

Remove OneDrive

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 ▶

Remove bloatware

This action belongs to Remove bloatware category. This category configures Windows using 215 scripts. These scripts are organized in 35 categories. The category includes 1 subscripts and 9 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. 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

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Remove OneDrive installation files and cache.
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Reversible

This script is reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

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

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

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

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

2. Type cmd

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

   Windows 11

   

   Windows 10

   

---

Windows 11

Windows 10

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

:: Delete directory (with additional permissions) : "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\OneDrive'; if (-Not $directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { $directoryGlob += '\' }; $directoryGlob )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; <# Not using `Get-Acl`/`Set-Acl` to avoid adjusting token privileges #>; $parentDirectory = [System.IO.Path]::GetDirectoryName($expandedPath); $fileName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($expandedPath); if ($parentDirectory -like '*[*?]*') { throw "^""Unable to grant permissions to glob path parent directory: `"^""$parentDirectory`"^"", wildcards in parent directory are not supported by ``takeown`` and ``icacls``."^""; }; if (($fileName -ne '*') -and ($fileName -like '*[*?]*')) { throw "^""Unable to grant permissions to glob path file name: `"^""$fileName`"^"", wildcards in file name is not supported by ``takeown`` and ``icacls``."^""; }; Write-Host "^""Taking ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; $cmdPath = $expandedPath; if ($cmdPath.EndsWith('\')) { $cmdPath += '\' <# Escape trailing backslash for correct handling in batch commands #>; }; $takeOwnershipCommand = "^""takeown /f `"^""$cmdPath`"^"" /a"^"" <# `icacls /setowner` does not succeed, so use `takeown` instead. #>; if (-not (Test-Path -Path "^""$expandedPath"^"" -PathType Leaf)) { $localizedYes = 'Y' <# Default 'Yes' flag (fallback) #>; try { $choiceOutput = cmd /c "^""choice <nul 2>nul"^""; if ($choiceOutput -and $choiceOutput.Length -ge 2) { $localizedYes = $choiceOutput[1]; } else { Write-Warning "^""Failed to determine localized 'Yes' character. Output: `"^""$choiceOutput`"^"""^""; }; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Failed to determine localized 'Yes' character. Error: $_"^""; }; $takeOwnershipCommand += "^"" /r /d $localizedYes"^""; }; $takeOwnershipOutput = cmd /c "^""$takeOwnershipCommand 2>&1"^"" <# `stderr` message is misleading, e.g. "^""ERROR: The system cannot find the file specified."^"" is not an error. #>; if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) { Write-Host "^""Successfully took ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" (using ``$takeOwnershipCommand``)."^""; } else { Write-Host "^""Did not take ownership of `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" using ``$takeOwnershipCommand``, status code: $LASTEXITCODE, message: $takeOwnershipOutput."^""; <# Do not write as error or warning, because this can be due to missing path, it's handled in next command. #>; <# `takeown` exits with status code `1`, making it hard to handle missing path here. #>; }; Write-Host "^""Granting permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; $adminSid = New-Object System.Security.Principal.SecurityIdentifier 'S-1-5-32-544'; $adminAccount = $adminSid.Translate([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]); $adminAccountName = $adminAccount.Value; $grantPermissionsCommand = "^""icacls `"^""$cmdPath`"^"" /grant `"^""$($adminAccountName):F`"^"" /t"^""; $icaclsOutput = cmd /c "^""$grantPermissionsCommand"^""; if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 3) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no items available for deletion according to: ``$grantPermissionsCommand``."^""; exit 0; } elseif ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Host "^""Take ownership message:`n$takeOwnershipOutput"^""; Write-Host "^""Grant permissions:`n$icaclsOutput"^""; Write-Warning "^""Failed to assign permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" using ``$grantPermissionsCommand``, status code: $LASTEXITCODE."^""; } else { $fileStats = $icaclsOutput | ForEach-Object { $_ -match '\d+' | Out-Null; $matches[0] } | Where-Object { $_ -ne $null } | ForEach-Object { [int]$_ }; if ($fileStats.Count -gt 0 -and ($fileStats | ForEach-Object { $_ -eq 0 } | Where-Object { $_ -eq $false }).Count -eq 0) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no items available for deletion according to: ``$grantPermissionsCommand``."^""; exit 0; } else { Write-Host "^""Successfully granted permissions for `"^""$expandedPath`"^"" (using ``$grantPermissionsCommand``)."^""; }; }; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
:: Delete directory  : "%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft OneDrive"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft OneDrive'; if (-Not $directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { $directoryGlob += '\' }; $directoryGlob )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"
:: Delete directory  : "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\OneDriveTemp"
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$pathGlobPattern = "^""$($directoryGlob = '%SYSTEMDRIVE%\OneDriveTemp'; if (-Not $directoryGlob.EndsWith('\')) { $directoryGlob += '\' }; $directoryGlob )"^""; $expandedPath = [System.Environment]::ExpandEnvironmentVariables($pathGlobPattern); Write-Host "^""Searching for items matching pattern: `"^""$($expandedPath)`"^""."^""; $deletedCount = 0; $failedCount = 0; $foundAbsolutePaths = @(); Write-Host 'Iterating files and directories recursively.'; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-ChildItem -Path $expandedPath -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; try { $foundAbsolutePaths += @(; Get-Item -Path $expandedPath -ErrorAction Stop | Select-Object -ExpandProperty FullName; ); } catch [System.Management.Automation.ItemNotFoundException] { <# Swallow, do not run `Test-Path` before, it's unreliable for globs requiring extra permissions #>; }; $foundAbsolutePaths = $foundAbsolutePaths | Select-Object -Unique | Sort-Object -Property { $_.Length } -Descending; if (!$foundAbsolutePaths) { Write-Host 'Skipping, no items available.'; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Initiating processing of $($foundAbsolutePaths.Count) items from `"^""$expandedPath`"^""."^""; foreach ($path in $foundAbsolutePaths) { if (-not (Test-Path $path)) { <# Re-check existence as prior deletions might remove subsequent items (e.g., subdirectories). #>; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path) (already deleted)."^""; $deletedCount++; continue; }; try { Remove-Item -Path $path -Force -Recurse -ErrorAction Stop; $deletedCount++; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted: $($path)"^""; } catch { $failedCount++; Write-Warning "^""Unable to delete $($path): $_"^""; }; }; Write-Host "^""Successfully deleted $($deletedCount) items."^""; if ($failedCount -gt 0) { Write-Warning "^""Failed to delete $($failedCount) items."^""; }"

3. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
4. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

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