Before You Start

• Applies to: Windows 11 Pro (Local Group Policy Editor available).
• Recommended: Create a restore point before registry changes.
• Important: If your Desktop/Documents/Pictures are currently under OneDrive, move them back to local storage (Step 4) before you remove OneDrive.

1) Hard-disable OneDrive (Group Policy — permanent)

This is the most important step and typically survives feature updates.

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → OneDrive

3. Set Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage to Enabled.
4. Reboot the computer.

2) Uninstall OneDrive (cleanup)

Even after disabling via GPO, remove the client binary for a clean system.

Open an Admin PowerShell and run:

taskkill /f /im OneDrive.exe
%SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

Notes: On some systems (e.g., ARM), the uninstaller may be under System32 instead of SysWOW64.

3) Remove OneDrive from File Explorer (no ghost entries)

This prevents the OneDrive navigation item from lingering in the left sidebar.

Create a new file named remove-onedrive-explorer.reg, paste the following, then double-click to apply:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}]
"System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}]
"System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree"=dword:00000000

Then sign out and sign back in (or reboot).

4) Move Desktop / Documents / Pictures off OneDrive (critical)

If Windows previously redirected your profile folders into OneDrive, move them back to local storage.

1. In File Explorer, right-click Desktop (repeat for Documents and Pictures).
2. Select Properties → Location.
3. Click Move… and set the path to your local profile folder, e.g.:
   
C:\Users\<you>\Documents

4. Confirm that the final path is not under:
   
C:\Users\<you>\OneDrive\


5) Disable Microsoft Account sign-in (optional, strong lockdown)

If you want a local-only workstation (no Microsoft account sign-in), enable this policy.

1. Open gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate to:
   
Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings → Local Policies → Security Options

3. Set Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts to:
   Users can’t add or log on with Microsoft accounts

6) Disable cloud content and “consumer experiences”

These reduce Windows suggestions, tips, and consumer-driven cloud features.

1. Open gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate to:
   
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → Cloud Content

3. Set the following to Enabled:
   • Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences
   • Do not show Windows tips

7) Disable cloud clipboard and cross-device sync

Prevents clipboard history and synchronization across devices.

1. Open gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate to:
   
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → OS Policies

3. Set the following to Disabled:
   • Allow Clipboard History
   • Allow Clipboard synchronization across devices

8) Disable Edge sync (recommended)

Prevents Microsoft Edge from syncing favorites, passwords, and other browsing data via Microsoft services.

1. Open gpedit.msc.
2. Navigate to:
   
Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Microsoft Edge

3. Set Disable synchronization of data using Microsoft sync services to Enabled.

9) Remove remaining startup and scheduled tasks (optional)

If anything OneDrive-related still appears, disable it in Startup and Task Scheduler.

Startup

• Open Task Manager → Startup tab → disable OneDrive if present.

Scheduled Tasks

• Open Task Scheduler → Microsoft → Windows → OneDrive → disable any remaining tasks.

Verification (Quick Checks)

Open PowerShell and run these checks:

where onedrive

dir $env:USERPROFILE | findstr OneDrive

• where onedrive should return nothing.
• Your profile folders should not live under C:\Users\<you>\OneDrive\.
• File Explorer sidebar should no longer show OneDrive.