OneDrive (an analogue of an earlier version of SkyDrive), or simply “cloud storage”, in Windows 10 gives users a lot of trouble with their constant messages and reminders, not to mention the fact that this component starts when the OS starts and constantly works in the background. If SkyDrive was launched exclusively at the request of the user, OneDrive is constantly running, whether you want it or not. The following steps will show you how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 using a few simple methods. But first, we will decide on the feasibility of such actions.
OneDrive on Windows 10: How to Uninstall a Service
The service itself is “wired” into the system; therefore, without special knowledge or additional software, it is almost impossible to make a deletion.
The repository itself and its software components do not take up much space in the system, so the question of how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 may come down to simply disabling this service so that it does not bother the user. This can be done in several ways.
Deactivating a Service in Group Policies
So, since the service starts with the system for the current user session, you can disable it through the usual completion of the process in the "Task Manager". To prevent it from loading even after restarting the system, it must also be removed from the startup section on the same tab. Some components of the storage will continue to work anyway, and the service icon will be visible in Explorer.
Now let's see how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 through the policy editor. First, you need to call it using the gpedit.msc line in the Run console.
Next, through the administrative templates, you need to select the component section, on the right in the window find the line with the name of the service and use the parameter editing window. There will be only four of them. For each of them, the following values should be set:
- shutdown for automatic saving;
- inclusion for prohibitions of synchronization, use for storage of files and a similar prohibition for the environment of Windows 8.1.
After saving the new settings, the system reboots. It is understood that the service at startup is already disabled.
Ban on functioning in the system registry
A more effective method in solving the problem of how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 is to use the editing of the service prohibition settings in the system registry. The actions here are quite simple.
We call the editor through the console "Run" (regedit) without fail on behalf of the administrator. Then through the HKLM branch through Policies we find the OneDrive section, in the right window through RMB create a new DWORD parameter called DisableFileSync, double-click to open the settings editing window, enter 1 in the assigned value field. Next, close the editor and reboot the computer.
Uninstall via command line or console
How to completely remove OneDrive from Windows 10? The issue of complete removal can also be solved using the command line, which uses the standard uninstall tool - the command “/ uninstall” (without quotes). The OneDriveSetup.exe file is responsible for the presence of the service in the system, which on 32-bit systems is located in the System32 directory, and 64-bit systems is located in the SysWOW64 folder. Both directories are placed in the root folder of the operating system.
In the command console, which was started with administrator rights, the desired delete command is specified above, and in front of it, the full path to the OneDrive executable is entered with a space. Many may wonder: how to remove OneDrive from Windows Explorer 10? But there is a solution. Even if the service icon after uninstalling in the file manager remains after the system reboots, you can get rid of it in the standard way used to delete files and folders.
The question of how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 using the PowerShell console is more complicated, so we will not focus much on it. We confine ourselves to the fact that first you need to find the program you need by displaying all applications (Get-AppxPackage), copy the full name of the package (Full Name), delete the application using the Get-AppxPackage | Remove-AppxPackage with the full name enclosed in asterisk characters.
Using uninstallers
The problem of how to remove OneDrive in Windows 10 can be completely solved by using the uninstaller applications. One of the most interesting is the iObit Uninstaller package.
OneDrive will sometimes not be shown in the list of installed programs. You can find it through the Windows manager, in which the system application section is selected, after which the delete button in the form of a basket is clicked. At the end of the process, it is advisable to use a powerful scan to identify residual components in the form of registry keys, directories and files, select all the elements and delete them, marking the point of destruction of objects. Next, you should restart the system (reboot).
What to use
Users can limit themselves to simply disabling this component. He will not interfere. You may need to use the cloud. But in the case of a final decision on the removal of storage, the easiest will be to use the uninstaller described above, or its analogues, since actions with system consoles look quite complicated.