Removing OneDrive traces remaining after uninstall

Ron Sipherd 251

I can't unpin the Desktop shortcut from Quick Access in File Explorer.
It doesn't point to
C:\Users\myusername\Desktop
but instead to
C:\Users\myusername\OneDrive\Desktop
even though I uninstalled OneDrive after a day or two of trying it.

Any folders or shortcuts I put in the first folder above are ignored.
But folders/shortcuts deleted from the OneDrive subfolder vanish from the desktop.

I would like to restore the first folder to be the functioning desktop directory.
And also to delete the OneDrive folder and other traces of OneDrive that uninstall missed.

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matthew hudek 5 Reputation points

2024-08-03T09:19:49.31+00:00

I had a issue like that with my documents and pictures, if any one still has this issue after uninstalling onedrive, check the registry press "windows key + R" and type "regedit" navigate to
Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1043221089-2660981212-1705688683-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
and remove any trace of onedrive and make sure to back up your files before hand or use a third party file explorer like wiztree if you made a spelling error and all the files disappear.

Accepted answer

Viki Ji_MSFT 4,461 Reputation points

2021-06-18T05:20:31.057+00:00
@Ron Sipherd ,

This is because your OneDrive is connected to your Microsoft account as a service in Office 2019.

Please close and save all Office files firstly, then try to add the following registry and type the corresponding value to have a check.

Type Run in search bar, Enter. Then type regedit in Run box to open Registry Edit.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Internet.

Right-click on empty space to create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value. Rename it to OnlineStorage and change the value to 3.

Then use the same steps to add the following in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\General.

SkipOpenAndSaveAsPlace (Value 1)

PreferCloudSaveLocations (Value 0)

SkyDriveSignInOption (Value 0)

Hope the information could be helpful to you.

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6 people found this answer helpful.
Eric McBrearty 0 Reputation points

2023-05-08T19:32:57.22+00:00

I have a very similar problem as ron(above) had. For me, I have already deleted one drive, then I blocked it under "start" gpedit> computer config>admin templates>one drive... then I removed traces with "Revo Uninstaller"....... Then I ran "Ccleaner to trash cookies, temps, and un-used reg files.... I thought I was good.. I still have onedrive attached to my This PC> Pictures folder. It lets me delete it under the users folder, but it wont let me reassign the Pictures folder to its Default location.. I get an error saying the folder doesn't exist. Would you like to create it? Yes.... Then another error saying the folder already exists..... Don't know what to do from here. Also, everytime I R.click on Pictures> Properties>location> Find Target.... OneDrive folder is re-installed under the User File.

Will Chapman 5 Reputation points

2023-10-02T21:03:40.52+00:00

Could I ask for more detail how to enter the second set of three values, namely

SkipOpenAndSaveAsPlace (Value 1)

PreferCloudSaveLocations (Value 0)

SkyDriveSignInOption (Value 0)

I've managed to get to ...16.0\Common\General but can't figure out how to enter these 3 values as I am a near beginner at registry 'science'.

Wesley Myers 5 Reputation points

2024-05-15T17:44:48.23+00:00

OneDrive, McAfee, and all the other garbage you force on us are the closest things to malware I've seen on my computer in years. Users shouldn't have to jump through hoops to delete this disgusting malware. It's malicious and vile.

Alphan V 0 Reputation points

2024-05-20T21:56:11.5733333+00:00

Thank you for the information. I am using MS office 2013 and have the same problem. Should I try this fix or try something else?

Silver Raven 5 Reputation points

2024-09-08T09:16:58.1866667+00:00

The file path is completely different. I can't find where to go to fix this problem i'm having now and changing it by modifying /onedrive/desktop didn't help either. Why on earth would ya'll make this shit so disappointingly inconvenient that it messes with your files and then when you try to uninstall it, it DOESN'T UNINSTALL!? That's insane

Belal Adel 0 Reputation points

2024-09-23T10:30:14.6166667+00:00

My man you're a legend
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9 additional answers

Ron Sipherd 251 Reputation points

2021-06-19T16:26:19.267+00:00

Alas, the job is not done yet. Now Excel and Word (and probably the other components of Office) show OneDrive - Personal under "Connected Services" in my Account window.
This may not be important, or it may come back to bite me. Is there a way to remove this too?
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Viki Ji_MSFT 4,461 Reputation points

2021-06-21T03:39:25.143+00:00

@Ron Sipherd ,

I'm glad to hear that your issue has been resolved.

As my previous reply, it will be automatically connected as a service when you log in to Office with your account, and it may not be completely deleted. Thanks for your understangding.
Now that we have set up registry to hide it from the Save As location, Don't worry it coming back.

If there are any issues about Office Client later, welcome to Q&A!
We will try our best to help you. :)

Ron Sipherd 251 Reputation points

2021-06-21T03:57:32.633+00:00

OK, thank you. I will assume it is just a spurious message then.

Justin W 6 Reputation points

2022-06-02T21:34:27.9+00:00

the AI really needs to learn how to read. I too am having this issue as it affected my pc so bad that I lost ALL files pertaining to my job and now I may loose my job because of it. all because my pc decided one day to move everything over to onedrive even with it unlinked and disconnected.
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Emileigh Starbrook 16 Reputation points

2022-04-07T23:51:34.18+00:00

This does not work with Windows 11 - none of the registry keys seem to exist, and even though One Drive has been removed, The property values don't exist either.
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Will Chapman 5 Reputation points

2023-10-02T23:03:49.7766667+00:00

I have Windows 11 and found all of the registry keys.....
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Ron Sipherd 251 Reputation points

2022-04-08T02:19:36.13+00:00

I don't have a cite - maybe someone here does - but I recall seeing a way to remove OneDrive via the Group Policy Editor.
That might work in Windows 11.
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Will Chapman 5 Reputation points

2023-10-02T23:12:02.12+00:00

I'll take a look at the Group Policy Editor and report back if I strike lucky.
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Khoi Nguyen 1 Reputation point

2022-04-29T13:51:54.31+00:00

I type in file explorer, click on it, then right click on Desktop icon, location tab, Restore Default as the instruction above. This seems the least trouble way to try it out.
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Khoi Nguyen 1 Reputation point

2024-05-15T19:48:26.22+00:00

R-click on Desktop icon>Properties>Location tab>
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Removing OneDrive traces remaining after uninstall

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