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How to Turn Off OneDrive in Windows 11

Use the Applications menu or close the program

By Jon Martindale Jon Martindale Writer Jon Martindale has been a feature tech writer for more than 10 years. He's written for publications such as Digital Trends, KitGuru, and ITProPortal. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 12, 2022 Reviewed by Jon Fisher Reviewed by Jon Fisher Wichita Technical Institute Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Pause OneDrive Turn Off OneDrive Uninstall OneDrive Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

You can uninstall OneDrive from the Windows 11 applications menu.Alternatively, you can close OneDrive to stop it working, or pause it temporarily. This article will walk you through pausing, disabling, and uninstalling Microsoft OneDrive.

How to Pause OneDrive

If you just want OneDrive to stop backing up your files and folders right now, then pausing it is the quickest way to do so.
On the desktop, select the small arrow next to the date and time in the bottom-right-hand corner. Select OneDrive. Now, in the OneDrive window, select the settings Cog icon in the top-right corner. Select Pause syncing. In the drop-down menu, select the duration of the pause you want. You can choose between two, eight, or 24 hours.

How to Turn OneDrive Off

You can close OneDrive down to stop it from performing any activities while your machine remains on. To turn it back on again, you can start up the app, or reboot your system. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the bottom-right (if you don't see it on the taskbar, you may need to select the small arrow next to the date and time, first). Select the Settings menu. Select Quit OneDrive. A warning message will pop up asking if you are sure. Select Close OneDrive to confirm.

How to Uninstall OneDrive

Uninstalling OneDrive is the most permanent solution to stopping it from backing up your files. On some versions of Windows, you will only be able to Disable the application, but it will have the same result: OneDrive will no longer operate. Press the Windows key, or select the magnifying glass Search icon and type Programs. Select Add or remove programs from the search results. In this list of installed applications, use the search bar to look for OneDrive, or alternatively, scroll down the list until you find Microsoft OneDrive. Select the three-dot menu icon on the right-hand side, then select Uninstall. It will ask for confirmation by saying "This app and its related info will be uninstalled." Select Uninstall again, to confirm. Alternatively, if your version of Windows doesn't allow you to uninstall the OneDrive application, you can select Disable instead. That will turn OneDrive off entirely, and stop it from starting up again in the future unless you re-enable it. If you've disabled, paused, or uninstalled OneDrive, then you might want to consider one of these alternative cloud storage and cloud backup services. FAQ How do I change my OneDrive folder location in Windows? In the Windows taskbar, select the Cloud icon to open OneDrive, then select the Settings gear > Settings > Account > Unlink this PC. When you set up OneDrive again, select Change Location when given the option to choose a folder location. How do I sync my desktop to the cloud with OneDrive? To sync your desktop with OneDrive, open Desktop Properties and select Location > Move > OneDrive > New Folder. Name the folder Desktop, then choose Select Folder > Confirm.
Can I access my OneDrive from anywhere? Yes. You can access your OneDrive on any device as long as you can connect to the internet. OneDrive is compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, and Xbox consoles.
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