Microsoft OneDrive comes preinstalled on all Windows computers, but do you actually use it? OneDrive might be a fine solution for your cloud storage. However, if you already use Google Drive, Dropbox, SpiderOak or any other alternative, Microsoft OneDrive might as well be at pest.
Microsoft cut the free storage for OneDrive down to 5 GB even though it promised unlimited storage for Office 365 subscribers, and 15 GB of storage for free users. If you compare it to 15 GB in Google Drive, you’d be tempted to migrate.
Even though OneDrive comes preinstalled in Windows 10, you can still safely disable. Here’s how.
Creators Update for Windows 10
Creators Update for Windows 10 has brought many improvements, and removing OneDrive is one of them. The Creators Update lets you completely remove Microsoft OneDrive.
Go to Start Menu -> Apps and features -> find OneDrive-> right-click and press Uninstall.
Windows 10 Professional
In 
Windows 10 Professional, you can take advantage of Group Policy to disable OneDrive.
Press Windows key + R combination. This will launch Run dialog -> type gpedit.msc to launch the Group Policy editor.
Go to Computer configuration -> Administrative templates -> Windows components -> OneDrive.
To the right, there is a list of settings you can customize.
Find Prevent usage of OneDrive for file storage and double-click it to change from Not configured to Enabled. Save the changes and restart your computer.
This may not be self evident, but it effectively prevents OneDrive from synchronizing in the background and removes it from your File Explorer.
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Home edition doesn’t let you access Group Policy editor, but you can still remove OneDrive.
Go to your System tray at the bottom right, and find the icon for OneDrive. If it doesn’t show up in your System tray, click the triangular arrow to display hidden icons. Right click the icon for OneDrive and choose Settings.
- Settings -> General tab -> Auto save -> choose This PC only -> unpick the boxes below.
- Settings -> Account -> choose Folders -> find the box Sync all files and folders in my OneDrive, and double-click it to clear everything -> press okay.
- Settings -> Account -> Unlink this PC -> close the welcome window.
- Go to your File Explorer -> find OneDrive on the left -> right-click to launch Properties -> go to General tab -> check the Hidden box.
- Next, again right-click the icon for OneDrive in your System tray -> click exit.
Final Words
Even though Microsoft does everything possible to keep you glued to OneDrive, it’s still possible to remove it and live a happy life without it. Hopefully, the methods described above will help you.
Finally, let me remind you that using a cloud storage for your files’ backup is an efficient way of safeguarding against malware and ransomware. So, make sure you choose a reliable and secure cloud storage provider for your backup.
