Microsoft’s official support page suggests removing OneDrive from Mac by just dragging the app to the Trash. However, this method is wrong and not enough to completely remove OneDrive. In this case, the app leaves behind caches and other support files.
Read this step-by-step guide to learn two correct ways to uninstall OneDrive from your Mac.
Contents:
What is OneDrive and does it use space on a hard drive?
OneDrive is an online service offered by Microsoft that lets you save files on your computer on cloud storage.
The app will sync your files and then store them in the cloud. It also offers the Files On-Demand feature that lets you view your files within Finder and store them online. The files are labeled as only being available online. If you’re connected to the Internet, you can browse and open them just like any other document on your Mac.
If you need more memory in your Mac or wish to optimize disk usage, OneDrive can help. However, the app’s cache could consume a large amount of space, so you may need to clear its cache files or remove the app entirely.
Should I uninstall Microsoft OneDrive from my Mac?
If you have a lack of free space on your Mac, you should clean up your disk from all unneeded applications, files, and other clutter. If you don’t use OneDrive and don’t need files stored there to frequently work with them, you can uninstall the app to make space on your hard drive.
Additionally, you may want to remove the app if:
- You experience OneDrive issues described on the MS help page.
- You want to switch to another cloud storage, for example, iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox.
- OneDrive sometimes fails to sync properly, and a full reinstall may help to fix the problem.
- Your Mac is slow due to numerous background applications running, and removing OneDrive can optimize your system’s speed.
Note: When you delete the app, files in the cloud storage will not be removed. However, don’t forget to first disconnect your account.
How to remove OneDrive without deleting my files
By default, when you uninstall the OneDrive desktop application from your Mac, it doesn’t remove the OneDrive folder in Finder. However, before you remove the app, please quit it.
Here is how to disconnect OneDrive on a Mac:
- Click on the OneDrive icon in the menu bar.
- Click the Settings icon.
- Choose Quit OneDrive and confirm the action.
Video removal guide: A quick way to get rid of OneDrive on Mac
How to uninstall OneDrive entirely with a few clicks
To completely get rid of Microsoft OneDrive from your Mac, you can use third-party removal tools like App Cleaner & Uninstaller. This app automatically finds all related files of each application and helps you remove them with no residual files left behind.
Steps to remove OneDrive using App Cleaner & Uninstaller:
- Quit OneDrive and all possible related processes.
- Download and launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- Select OneDrive in the left panel.
- Click the Uninstall button.
- Confirm the removal.
You can enable the Expert mode to preview all OneDrive support files before removal.
If you have already deleted OneDrive by simply dragging it to the Trash, you should examine your Mac for any remaining files associated with it. To do this, navigate to the section labeled Remaining Files in the sidebar. Here, you will discover any leftover files of previously uninstalled applications.
How to manually delete OneDrive on Mac
To fully uninstall OneDrive, you need to locate and delete these leftover files manually. Follow the steps below:
- Quit OneDrive. Click its icon in the menu bar → hit the Gear icon → choose Quit.
- Make sure there are no running background processes related to OneDrive. For this, open Activity Monitor, and if you see any processes connected to the app, close them.
- Go to the Applications folder and trash OneDrive.
- Now you need to find OneDrive’s service files. Open Finder and press the Command+Shift+G key combination.
- Type ~/Library in the search field and hit Return.
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In the Library folder, check the following directories and delete all related files:
- ~/Library/Application Support/ – Stores essential app data and configuration files used by OneDrive.
- ~/Library/Caches/ – Holds temporary files that help processes run faster.
- ~/Library/Application Scripts/ – Contains scripts and automation files related to the app functionality.
- ~/Library/HTTPStorages/ – Stores web-related data and session information.
- ~/Library/Logs/ – Keeps log files that record the app’s activity, errors, and updates.
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ and ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/ – Manages background processes that keep the app running even when it is closed.
- ~/Library/Preferences/ – Stores user settings and preferences for OneDrive.
- ~/Library/Containers/ – Contains isolated storage used for file syncing and Finder integration.
- Remove all files related to OneDrive.
- Once you finish, empty your Trash.
- Restart your Mac.
Note: Some applications can scatter their support files across numerous hidden subfolders in Finder. It might be not so easy to find them. In this case, it’s better to use an uninstaller to automatically find them.
Important: Pay close attention to the files in the hidden system folders so as not to remove wrong items that could cause serious damage to your MacOS.
How to clear OneDrive cache on a Mac
The easiest way to remove the cache is to use App Cleaner & Uninstaller. Follow these steps:
- Run App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
- Switch on the Expert mode.
- Locate and click on OneDrive in the left panel.
- You’ll see the list of all support files of the app, including its cache files.
- Select the cache.
- Click on Remove and confirm the action.
As you can see, a manual search for applications’ cache files is time-consuming. Also, if you accidentally remove other important files, this might damage your system. That’s why we recommend using third-party uninstallers designed to delete applications on a Mac entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do if OneDrive is misbehaving?
If OneDrive is failing to sync, crashing, or consuming too many resources, try the following tips to resolve the issues:
- Restart OneDrive
- Sign Out and Sign Back In
- Unlink syncing and then link again
- Reset the app
- Check for app and macOS updates
- Reinstall the app
How to remove OneDrive from the menu bar on Mac?
Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar → choose the gear icon → select Quit.
How to reset OneDrive?
Resetting an app means getting back to its original state. To reset OneDrive open App Cleaner & Uninstaller → select the app in the left panel → right-click on it → choose Reset.
How to delete a OneDrive account?
Click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar and hit the gear icon. From the drop-down menu, choose Preferences → switch to the Account tab → click Unlink this Mac.
How to delete OneDrive files?
Open Finder and go to the OneDrive folder. Here, select all items you don’t need and remove them. Don’t forget to empty your Trash to get rid of these files entirely.
