It is possible to disable OneDrive in Windows 10, even though it’s a reliable cloud data service. Starting with Windows 8.1, OneDrive flawlessly integrates with the operating system. However, if you want to shut it down, it is possible.
How to disable OneDrive in Windows 10
If you want to disable OneDrive in Windows 10, this is a fast process, so keep reading to find out all the necessary steps.
If you run the OneDrive app, you should see the above window. Don’t enter your email address, simply close the window.
Now right-click on the OneDrive system tray icon and click on Settings.
In the Settings tab make sure the box next to the option ‘Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows’ is not checked. If it is, uncheck it and click “OK” to apply the changes.
This way, OneDrive will stop running in your system but the client’s icon will still be displayed in File Explorer’s navigation pane.
You can even make that icon go away if your computer is running Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise.
Click on the Start icon and type ‘group policy’ then select the first result from the list.
This will open the Group Policy Editor. Navigate to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> OneDrive.
Double-click on the option “Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage”. Select “Enabled” then hit the “OK” button to exit the window.
Now you can close the Group Policy Editor and the next time you restart your computer you will notice the OneDrive is no longer in the navigation pane.
Note: You can get rid of the OneDrive Explorer icon even if your computer is running Windows 10 Home edition by editing the system registry. Simply open the Registry Editor, navigate to HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive create a new DWORD32 value called DisableFileSyncNGSC and set it to 1.
You will need to restart your PC to apply the change. Also, keep in mind both of the above-mentioned methods disable OneDrive for all users.
