✦ PC Optimization
Disable OneDrive on Windows 11 — Without losing your files
OneDrive auto-redirects Documents, Pictures and Desktop into the cloud on a default install. Disabling it without breaking those folders requires unlinking first, then removing.
- Time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Applies to
- Windows 11, Windows 10
- Updated
- May 25, 2026
Symptoms
- ▸Your Documents folder lives under
C:\Users\you\OneDrive\Documents - ▸Files randomly disappear into 'free up space'
- ▸OneDrive running at 5-15% CPU constantly
Likely causes
- ▸Microsoft enables OneDrive sync on Windows 11 first-run
- ▸Known Folder Move (KFM) redirected Documents/Pictures/Desktop
How to fix it — step by step
- 01
Stop folder sync
OneDrive Tray icon → ⚙ Settings → Sync and backup → Manage backup → Stop backup for every folder.
- 02
Move files locally
Open
C:\Users\you\OneDrive\Documents. Move every file toC:\Users\you\Documents. - 03
Unlink the OneDrive account
Tray icon → ⚙ Settings → Account → Unlink this PC. Files stay where they are after unlink.
- 04
Uninstall OneDrive (optional)
Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Microsoft OneDrive → Uninstall. Reboot.