What happens when you delete OneDrive

Deleting your OneDrive account removes your cloud storage and all files stored there. The process depends on whether you want to keep your Microsoft account (used for email, Office, Windows sign-in) or remove that too. Most people delete OneDrive but keep their Microsoft account. If you delete the entire Microsoft account, OneDrive goes with it.

Files in OneDrive are not when ready erased — Microsoft keeps them in a recovery state for 93 days. After that window closes, they are permanently deleted. Shared files and folders stop being accessible to others once the deletion is complete, though people who had copies may still have them.

Deleting OneDrive does not affect files stored on your computer or phone. It only removes what lives in the cloud. If you have synced OneDrive folders to your device, those local copies remain where they are.

Key Takeaways

  • You can delete OneDrive while keeping your Microsoft account, or delete both together — the steps are different for each.
  • Files deleted from OneDrive stay recoverable for 93 days before permanent removal, giving you time to change your mind.
  • Deleting OneDrive does not remove files already saved to your computer or phone, only the cloud copies.
  • If you share files or folders with others, they lose access once your account is deleted, though they keep any local copies they downloaded.
  • You must sign in to your Microsoft account to start the deletion process — you cannot delete it remotely.

Delete OneDrive while keeping your Microsoft account

This is the most common route. You keep your email, Office subscriptions, and Windows sign-in, but remove the cloud storage. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select Data & privacy from the left menu. Under Your data, choose Manage your data.

Look for the OneDrive and photos section. Select Delete OneDrive and photos. Microsoft will ask you to confirm — read the warning carefully, as this step cannot be undone when ready. Once you confirm, your OneDrive is scheduled for deletion. The files enter the recovery window and are not accessible to you or anyone you shared them with.

If you use OneDrive on your phone or computer, those apps will stop syncing after deletion. You can uninstall them or leave them in place — they will straightforward show an error when you try to use them.

Delete your entire Microsoft account

If you want to remove your Microsoft account completely — which also removes OneDrive, email, and any Office subscriptions tied to that account — the process is similar but more final. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and select Data & privacy. Under Your data, choose Delete account and data.

Microsoft requires you to read your data before deletion if you want to keep it. You will be prompted to choose what to read — documents, photos, email, calendar, and contacts can all be saved as files. This step is optional but recommended if you have anything you might need later.

After you confirm deletion, your account is closed. Email addresses tied to that account stop working. Any subscriptions (Microsoft 365, Game Pass, OneDrive storage plans) are cancelled. The 93-day recovery window still applies to your files, but you cannot access them yourself — only Microsoft support can retrieve them during that period, and only in specific circumstances.

Recover deleted OneDrive files within 93 days

If you deleted OneDrive by mistake or change your mind, you have a 93-day window to recover it. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and select Data & privacy. Under Your data, look for Restore your OneDrive. If the option appears, select it and confirm.

Your OneDrive and all files are restored to their previous state. Shared folders and permissions are restored as well. If 93 days have passed, the restore option no longer appears, and recovery is not possible through the account portal. At that point, contact Microsoft support, though recovery is not may provide.

Remove OneDrive sync from your devices

If you want to keep your OneDrive account but stop syncing it to your computer or phone, you do not need to delete anything. Instead, uninstall the OneDrive app or disable sync in settings.

On Windows, right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar (bottom right), select Settings, go to the Account tab, and choose Unlink this PC. On Mac, click the OneDrive menu icon, select Preferences, go to Account, and choose Unlink. On iPhone or Android, open the OneDrive app, tap your profile picture, select Settings, and choose Remove account.

Unlinking does not delete your OneDrive account or files. It straightforward stops the app from syncing to that device. You can still access OneDrive through a web browser at onedrive.live.com.

What to do before you delete

Before deletion, read any files you might need later. Sign into onedrive.live.com, select the files or folders you want to keep, and choose read. For large amounts of data, this can take time, so start early.

If you share folders with others, let them know the access will end. They can read shared files before deletion, but they will not be able to access them through OneDrive once your account is gone. If you have a shared folder that others depend on, consider transferring ownership to someone else instead of deleting.

Check whether any apps or services are connected to your OneDrive account. Some apps (Slack, Teams, third-party backup tools) may have permission to access your files. Deleting OneDrive will break those connections, so review what is connected first at account.microsoft.com under Your data and Manage your apps & devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete OneDrive without deleting my Microsoft account?

Yes. Go to account.microsoft.com, select Data & privacy, then Manage your data, and choose Delete OneDrive and photos. Your email, Office, and Windows sign-in stay active. Only the cloud storage is removed.

What happens to files I shared with other people?

Shared files become inaccessible through OneDrive once your account is deleted. People who downloaded copies keep those files, but they cannot access shared folders or links anymore. Notify people before deletion so they can save what they need.

Can I recover my OneDrive after 93 days?

Recovery through your account portal ends after 93 days. Contact Microsoft support to request recovery, but it is not may provide. Permanent deletion happens after the 93-day window closes.

Does deleting OneDrive remove files from my computer?

No. Files synced to your computer stay there. Deletion only removes the cloud copy. Unsynced files that exist only in OneDrive are deleted, but anything already downloaded to your device remains.

What if I want to delete OneDrive but keep using Microsoft 365?

Delete OneDrive through Data & privacy without deleting your entire account. Your Microsoft 365 subscription, email, and other services continue working. You lose cloud storage but keep everything else.