When you first use a Windows 10 device, you’ll find OneDrive is already installed and has added itself to your system’s File Explorer, which makes the service incredibly easy to use. However, if you want to disable OneDrive — or you find that having the program in File Explorer is unnecessary — then you might want to remove Microsoft OneDrive from File Explorer.

Aside from losing the quick access to your OneDrive folder, there is no major downside to removing it from the File Explorer. You will still retain all of the benefits that OneDrive normally provides, including the quick menu available by clicking the OneDrive icon in the system tray. 

However, if you want to remove OneDrive because you are having problems using it, make sure to first read our OneDrive review as well as our full articles about what OneDrive is and how you can fix OneDrive sync issues in Windows 10 before you continue with this guide. These will make sure you can get the best cloud storage experience.

Removing OneDrive From File Explorer With the Registry

To remove OneDrive from the File Explorer without disabling it completely, you’ll have to edit the Windows registry. Because this can damage your Windows 10 installation, you should follow Microsoft’s guide to backing up the registry so you can restore it if there’s an issue.

To start, you’ll need to open the registry editor. The easiest way to do this in Windows 10 is to open the “run” command box by pressing the Windows key and “R” key, then type ”regedit” and click “OK.”

In the Windows registry editor, under “computer,” there will be a folder titled “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.” 

Within “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT,” you will find a folder titled “CLSID.”

Find the registry entry titled “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}.” If you’re struggling to find it, press the “Ctrl” and “F” keys to open the “find” function, then paste in the string.

When you’re in the correct entry, check that the full folder path reads “Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” to make sure you’re in the right place. 

Inside the “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” entry, find the file called “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” and double-click it to bring up the “edit DWORD” window.

In this window, change the entry under “value data” from the number one to a zero and click “OK.”

Now close the window and reopen File Explorer. OneDrive will no longer be in the sidebar.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to ease of use, OneDrive is one of the best cloud storage services, so it isn’t surprising that there is a way to hide the program. Despite the limited choices, removing OneDrive from the File Explorer is straightforward and won’t cause any damage when done correctly.

However, if you want a cloud storage option that doesn’t clutter the File Explorer and you aren’t willing to edit the Windows 10 registry, there are other online storage options. For example, providers like Sync.com and pCloud run within separate apps, so they don’t interfere with File Explorer.

Have you tried to remove OneDrive from the Windows File Explorer? How did it go? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. Thanks for reading.