How to Reset OneDrive, or Uninstall and Reinstall it in Windows 10/11

OneDrive cloud storage feature is integrated into Windows 10 and 11. When the OneDrive app is running it automatically syncs files and folders in the background. If you encounter syncing issues with OneDrive, you may want to reset it completely using the hidden OneDrive.exe /reset command-line switch.

Reset OneDrive in Windows 10 or 11

If OneDrive synchronization gets stuck, performing a OneDrive reset may help. Resetting OneDrive re-syncs all your OneDrive files, which could take considerable time and bandwidth depending on how many files you’re syncing.

  1. First, close the OneDrive app. To do so, right-click on the OneDrive cloud icon in the Notification area, and click Exit.

    Note: You may need to click the Show hidden icons chevron near the notification area in order to see the OneDrive icon.
  2. Press WinKey + R to bring up the Run dialog.
  3. In the Run command dialog, type/paste the following command:
    %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
  4. Press ENTER.
  5. This resets OneDrive. If OneDrive doesn’t start automatically after the reset, launch it manually by running:
    %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe

If that does not help, you may try uninstalling and reinstalling OneDrive.

Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive

OneDrive desktop application is a built-in component in Windows 10 and 11. Users who rely on a third-party cloud storage service such as Dropbox or Google Drive, usually uninstall the OneDrive desktop app or prevent it from loading at startup using Task Manager or disable OneDrive using Group Policy Editor or the equivalent registry-based setting.

Uninstall OneDrive

In early builds of Windows 10, uninstalling the OneDrive desktop client required running OneDriveSetup.exe in the Windows\SysWOW64 directory (Windows 64-bit) or Windows\System32 (Windows 32-bit), with the /uninstall switch.

Now, you can uninstall OneDrive from the Apps & Features Settings page or via Programs and Features (appwiz.cpl) in the Control Panel.

OneDrive uninstall apps and features

Additional Info

The related registry entry is here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OneDriveSetup.exe

(or)



HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\OneDriveSetup.exe

And the UninstallString points to the following file:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\23.226.1031.0003\OneDriveSetup.exe

Of course, the version number in the UninstallString will change for subsequent OneDrive client updates.

Reinstall OneDrive

If you later decide to reinstall OneDrive, run OneDriveSetup.exe and follow the onscreen instructions. In some systems there is an additional copy of the file left in the following directory:

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OneDrive\Update\OneDriveSetup.exe
(or)
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe

If the file doesn’t exist in the above location, run OneDriveSetup.exe located at the Windows\SysWOW64 or Windows\System32 directory. This setup package may not be the latest one, but it downloads the current version installer from Microsoft’s servers and runs it.

Alternatively, you can download the latest version of the OneDrive client from the Microsoft site.

Download the OneDrive App for PC, Mac, Android, or iOS – Microsoft OneDrive:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/download

After installing OneDrive, you may check the current OneDrive client version if you want. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area and select Settings. Select the About tab and see the version number under About Microsoft OneDrive.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

9 thoughts on “How to Reset OneDrive, or Uninstall and Reinstall it in Windows 10/11”

  1. am i missing something … all i see is directions to uninstall i can not find anything that tells me how to reinstall

    Reply
  2. I solved my OneDrive issue. After two weeks of uninstalling and reinstalling and internet searches I finally … switched to google drive. Problem Solved

    Reply
  3. Don’t wanna do all this procedure each time?
    Wanna do it with 1 click?

    1) Open Notepad
    2) Paste the 2 LINES I’m gonna show you guys
    3) Save the File as .BAT instead of .TXT
    4) NOW CLICK THE FILE EACH TIME YOU WANT TO RESET ONE DRIVE
    Code:

    start %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
    start %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe

    Reply
  4. There’s no way in Heaven or on Earth I can thank you enough! After spending close to two hours and getting nowhere with Microsoft I found you. It was in a post from, I believe, 2016. I have shared on FaceBook with public and friends. And, bookmarked. You’re a peach!

    Reply

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