How to Remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11

On installing OneDrive, it adds itself to File Explorer’s navigation pane. If you don’t like it, you can remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11. Here’s how.

Other than Google Drive, OneDrive is one of the most popular cloud services out there. This is especially true if you are using Windows operating system. If you are using Office products like Excel or Word, OneDrive is essential to access advanced features like easy document sharing, shared editing, and more.

One of the best things about OneDrive is its Files on Demand feature. It allows you to see and download files from OneDrive on demand. You don’t have to sync the entire OneDrive account at once to access all your files.

OneDrive is installed by default in Windows 11. In fact, if you are signing into your Windows 11 computer with a Microsoft account, OneDrive will automatically prompt you to sync your OneDrive content. Once you sign in and start syncing, OneDrive is available on File Explorer’s sidebar. i.e., the navigation pane.

As you can guess, one of the main advantages of adding itself to the File Explorer’s sidebar is to provide a quick way to open the OneDrive folder. Without it, you can have to navigate to the OneDrive folder manually.

Though the OneDrive option in the File Explorer navigation pane is helpful, not everyone likes it. After all, it occupies additional space in the File Explorer. Not to mention, the OneDrive option will still be there even if you are not using or signed in to OneDrive.

If you don’t like to have OneDrive in File Explorer’s sidebar, you can remove it with a simple registry change.

So, without delay, let me show you how to remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11.

Table of contents:

• Remove OneDrive from File Explorer
• Add OneDrive to File Explorer
• OneDrive location in File Explorer

Remove OneDrive from File Explorer

To remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11, you must make a few registry changes. Though it sounds complicated, it is pretty easy to do as long as you follow the below steps. Here is how to do it.

1. Launch the Start menu.
2. Search and open “Registry Editor.”
3. Paste the below path in the address bar and press Enter.
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}
4. Double-click on the “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” value.
5. Type “0” in the Value Data field.
6. Click the “Ok” button.
7. Paste the below patch in the address bar and press Enter.
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}
8. Right-click on the “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” folder.
9. Select the “Delete” option.
10. Click “Yes” when prompted.
11. Close the Registry Editor.
12. Reboot Windows 11.
13. With that, you have removed OneDrive from File Explorer.

Same steps with screenshots:

First, press the Start key on your keyboard, search for “Registry Editor,” and open it. After opening the Registry Editor, paste the below path in the address bar and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

Here, double-click on the “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” value on the right panel. Next, type “0” in the Value data field and click the “Ok” button.

After that, paste the below path in the registry’s address bar and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

Here, right-click on the “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” folder on the sidebar and select the “Delete” option. When prompted, click the “Yes” button.

Close the Registry Editor.

Finally, reboot Windows 11 to apply the changes. After rebooting, you will no longer see the OneDrive folder on the File Explorer sidebar in Windows 11.

Add OneDrive to File Explorer

1. Launch the Start menu.
2. Search and open “Registry Editor.”
3. Paste the below path in the address bar and press Enter.
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}
4. Double-click on the “System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree” value.
5. Type “1” in the Value Data field.
6. Click the “Ok” button.
7. Paste the below patch in the address bar and press Enter.
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\
8. Right-click on the NameSpace” folder.
9. Select “New > Key.”
10. Name the folder as “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}”
11. Select the “{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}” folder.
12. Double-click on the “Default” value on the sidebar.
13. Type “OneDrive – Personal” in the Value Data field.
14. Press the “Ok” button.
15. Close the Registry Editor.
16. Reboot Windows 11.
17. With that, you have added OneDrive to the File Explorer.

OneDrive location in File Explorer

If you removed OneDrive from File Explorer and are actively using OneDrive, you need to know its default location. That way, you can locate the OneDrive folder in File Explorer if you ever need it.

The default OneDrive location in Windows is — C:\Users\Username\OneDrive\. Replace “username” with that actual user name. Alternatively, you can also use the “%userprofile%\OneDrive” path. Copy the path, paste it in the File Explorer or Run dialog box and press Enter.

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That is all. It is that simple to remove OneDrive from File Explorer in Windows 11.

I hope this straightforward Windows 11 guide helped you.

If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.