Microsoft says users can now uninstall OneDrive in Windows for good

To put it simply: Microsoft has long been promoting OneDrive as the go-to cloud storage solution for Windows, much to the frustration of users. The company has typically made it difficult for users to choose how to interact with the service, but it seems that things are starting to change.

Microsoft now provides detailed instructions on how to disable or uninstall the native OneDrive application on Windows for good. Despite its previous efforts to push users to use its cloud storage solution – including prompting users who close the OneDrive app – new policy challenges, particularly in the European Union, are affecting Redmond’s marketing strategy.

As reported by Neowin, a new OneDrive troubleshooting guide explains the proper way to end the service. This step-by-step guide is for those who want to turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive. However, Microsoft suggests simply “unlinking” the client as an easier option for those who no longer want to use the service.

After unlinking OneDrive on Windows (or macOS), users can still access their files by logging into OneDrive.com. Additionally, OneDrive can be “hidden” or uninstalled, as Microsoft explains, with this option being available on “some versions” of Windows as well as on Android and iOS mobile devices.

However, the guide provides some conflicting instructions, initially suggesting that OneDrive is “built” into Windows 10/11 and cannot be uninstalled, only hidden. It then clarifies that OneDrive can indeed be safely uninstalled from the system without risking the loss of any data already stored on the service.

Uninstalling OneDrive simply involves going to the Windows Settings page for installed apps, finding OneDrive, and selecting Uninstall. This option is available in Windows 10 and 11, the only operating systems currently supported by Microsoft. Users on Windows 8.1, however, seem to be unable to remove OneDrive from the aging system.

Microsoft’s new approach to strong service and product integration may be in response to Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a legal framework that imposes new obligations on digital gatekeepers. European Windows 11 users can now uninstall various “system” apps, including Bing Search and even Edge, as confirmed by Microsoft – a move previously thought to be “impossible” due to the deep integration of the web browser and the operating system.