How to Unlink OneDrive from PC (Windows 10/11) in 2026

OneDrive syncs your files automatically. That sounds helpful until it slows your PC down, eats storage, or just gets in the way. If you want to stop that, you need to unlink OneDrive from your PC. Here is exactly how to do it, step by step.

Unlinking OneDrive does not delete your files. It just stops the sync between your PC and the cloud. Your files stay safe on OneDrive online.

What Does Unlinking OneDrive Actually Do

When you unlink OneDrive from your PC, the sync stops. Windows no longer pushes your files to the cloud, and cloud changes no longer come down to your PC. Your OneDrive folder stays on your hard drive but it becomes a regular folder, not a synced one.

This is different from uninstalling OneDrive. Uninstalling removes the app entirely. Unlinking just disconnects the account while keeping the app installed.

Use unlinking when you want to:

• Switch to a different Microsoft account
• Stop automatic syncing temporarily
• Free up bandwidth and CPU usage
• Troubleshoot OneDrive sync errors

How to Unlink OneDrive from PC: The Main Method

This works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step 1: Find the OneDrive Icon

Look at your taskbar in the bottom right corner. You will see a white or blue cloud icon. If you do not see it, click the small arrow that shows hidden icons.

Step 2: Open OneDrive Settings

Right-click the cloud icon. A small menu appears. Click on Settings.

Step 3: Go to the Account Tab

A settings window opens. Click the Account tab at the top.

Step 4: Click Unlink This PC

You will see your Microsoft account email displayed there. Below it, click Unlink this PC.

Step 5: Confirm

A popup asks you to confirm. Click Unlink account.

OneDrive will sign out immediately. Syncing stops. Your files already downloaded stay in your OneDrive folder but no new files will sync.

How to Unlink OneDrive on Windows 11 (Slightly Different UI)

Windows 11 moved a few things around. Here is the updated path.

Step 1: Click the OneDrive Cloud Icon

It sits in the system tray, bottom right. Click it once.

Step 2: Click the Gear Icon

In the popup panel, look for the gear or settings icon in the top right corner. Click it.

Step 3: Select Settings

From the dropdown, click Settings.

Step 4: Navigate to Account

Click the Account tab. You will see your linked Microsoft account.

Step 5: Unlink This PC

Click Unlink this PC, then confirm. Done.

What Happens to Your Files After Unlinking

This is the part most people worry about. Here is a clear breakdown.

File Location	What Happens After Unlinking
Files only in the cloud	Stay in the cloud, not on your PC
Files downloaded to your PC	Stay in your OneDrive folder on your PC
Files you added locally	No longer upload to the cloud
Files synced before	Remain as regular files on your hard drive

Nothing gets deleted automatically. You are safe.

How to Stop OneDrive from Opening at Startup

Unlinking stops the sync but OneDrive might still launch when Windows starts. Here is how to stop that.

Method 1: Through OneDrive Settings

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar
2. Open Settings
3. Go to the Settings tab
4. Uncheck Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows
5. Click OK

Method 2: Through Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
2. Click the Startup tab
3. Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list
4. Right-click it and select Disable

Now OneDrive will not launch when your PC starts.

How to Pause OneDrive Sync Instead of Unlinking

If you just need a break from syncing but do not want to fully unlink, you can pause it.

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar
2. Click Help and Settings or the gear icon
3. Select Pause syncing
4. Choose 2 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours

Syncing resumes automatically after the chosen time. This is useful when you are on a slow or limited internet connection.

How to Unlink OneDrive Without Signing Into the App

Sometimes OneDrive gets stuck or keeps asking you to sign in. You can unlink it through a different route.

Using Windows Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Accounts
3. Click Email and accounts or Access work or school
4. Find the Microsoft account connected to OneDrive
5. Click it and select Disconnect

This removes the account link from Windows entirely.

How to Unlink a Work or School OneDrive Account

If your PC is connected to a work or school Microsoft 365 account, the process is slightly different.

1. Open Settings with Windows + I
2. Click Accounts
3. Select Access work or school
4. Click the connected work account
5. Click Disconnect
6. Confirm the action

Your personal files are not affected. Only the work account gets disconnected.

How to Completely Disable OneDrive on Windows

Unlinking is enough for most people. But if you want OneDrive fully gone from your workflow, here are your options.

Option 1: Uninstall OneDrive

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings
2. Go to Apps
3. Search for Microsoft OneDrive
4. Click it and select Uninstall

This removes OneDrive completely. You can reinstall it later from the Microsoft website if needed.

Option 2: Disable OneDrive Using Group Policy (Windows 10/11 Pro)

This method is for advanced users or IT admins.

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive
3. Double-click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage
4. Select Enabled
5. Click Apply, then OK

OneDrive is now fully disabled through Group Policy.

Option 3: Disable via Registry Editor

For Windows Home users who do not have Group Policy Editor:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, press Enter
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive
3. If the OneDrive key does not exist, right-click Windows, select New > Key, name it OneDrive
4. Right-click inside the OneDrive key, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
5. Name it DisableFileSyncNGSC
6. Double-click it and set the value to 1
7. Restart your PC

This disables OneDrive at the system level.

Note: Always back up your registry before making changes. One wrong edit can cause system issues.

Common Problems When Unlinking OneDrive

OneDrive Keeps Signing Back In

This happens when Windows is set to automatically sign you into apps using your Microsoft account.

Fix it by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and turning off Use my sign-in info to automatically finish setting up my device after an update or restart.

OneDrive Icon Is Missing from Taskbar

If you cannot find the icon, OneDrive might not be running.

Press Windows + S, search for OneDrive, and open it. The icon should appear in the taskbar. Then follow the unlinking steps.

Files Disappeared After Unlinking

If a file was only stored in the cloud (not downloaded), it will not be on your PC after you unlink. To recover it, sign into OneDrive online through your browser. All your cloud files are still there.

OneDrive Shows an Error During Unlinking

Close OneDrive completely using Task Manager. Restart your PC and try again. If the error persists, run the OneDrive reset command:

Open Command Prompt and type:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset

Press Enter. Wait a minute, then try unlinking again.

Should You Unlink, Pause, or Uninstall OneDrive

Here is a quick comparison to help you decide.

Action	Best For	Keeps App	Stops Sync
Unlink	Switching accounts or stopping sync	Yes	Yes
Pause	Temporary break from syncing	Yes	Temporarily
Disable Startup	Faster boot times	Yes	No
Uninstall	Removing OneDrive entirely	No	Yes
Group Policy	IT control or permanent disable	Optional	Yes

Most home users only need to unlink. It is the safest and most reversible option.

How to Re-link OneDrive Later

Changed your mind? Relinking is easy.

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar, or search for it in the Start menu
2. Open OneDrive
3. Sign in with your Microsoft account
4. Follow the setup wizard
5. Choose which folders to sync

Everything picks up where it left off. Your cloud files sync back down to your PC based on your settings.

Conclusion

Unlinking OneDrive from your PC is simple. You right-click the cloud icon, go to Settings, open the Account tab, and click Unlink this PC. That is the core action.

Your files stay safe. Nothing gets deleted. You just stop the sync.

If you want to go further, you can also disable the startup entry, uninstall the app, or block it through Group Policy. Choose based on how permanent you want the change to be.

The most important thing to remember is this: unlinking is always reversible. Sign back in anytime and OneDrive works again like nothing happened.