How to remove OneDrive from MacBook?

Learn how to effectively remove OneDrive from your MacBook, enabling a step-by-step guide to uninstall the application and associated files for a clean removal process.

Unleash the full potential of your MacBook by bidding farewell to OneDrive!

To remove OneDrive from your MacBook, follow these steps:

1. Quit OneDrive App:
   • Ensure the OneDrive application is closed. If it’s running, right-click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar and choose “Quit OneDrive.”
2. Unlink OneDrive Account:
   • Open the OneDrive app and click on the OneDrive icon in the menu bar.
   • Go to “Settings” and select the “Account” tab.
   • Click “Unlink OneDrive” to disconnect your account from the app.
3. Move OneDrive to Trash:
   • Open Finder and navigate to the “Applications” folder.
   • Find “OneDrive,” drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select “Move to Trash.”
4. Delete OneDrive Files:
   • Open Finder and click “Go” in the menu bar.
   • Select “Go to Folder,” then paste: ~/.onedrive and press Enter.
   • Move the OneDrive folder to Trash or right-click and delete it.
5. Remove OneDrive Preferences:
   • Open Finder and click “Go” in the menu bar.
   • Select “Go to Folder,” then enter: ~/Library/Containers/ and press Enter.
   • Find “com.microsoft.OneDrive-mac” and move it to Trash.
6. Empty Trash:
   • Right-click on the Trash icon and select “Empty Trash” to permanently delete the OneDrive app and associated files.
7. Restart Your MacBook:
   • Restart your MacBook to ensure all changes take effect.

This process removes the OneDrive application and associated files from your MacBook, ensuring a clean uninstallation.

Which files should be deleted to completely remove OneDrive?

To ensure a complete removal of OneDrive from a MacBook, users should target specific preference and configuration files associated with the application. Apart from the primary OneDrive application folder, which holds the main executable files, it’s crucial to seek out cache files and configuration settings that might reside in hidden directories. Cache files, often located within the Application Support folder or Cache folders, store temporary data used by the application. Deleting these cache files associated with OneDrive helps in freeing up storage space and ensures a more thorough removal of residual data linked to the cloud storage service.

Additionally, users should search for preference or configuration files residing in the Utilities or Library folders. These files contain user-specific settings and configurations for the OneDrive application. Deleting these preference files, often identifiable by names starting with “com.microsoft.OneDrive,” is crucial for a complete removal. Users can locate these files by accessing the Library folder and utilizing the search box to identify and delete any leftover preference files related to OneDrive. Removing these specific files ensures a more comprehensive uninstall process, freeing up disk space and preventing the accumulation of junk or unwanted programs on the MacBook after the OneDrive removal.

Do I need to restart my MacBook after uninstalling OneDrive?

A system restart isn’t typically necessary after removing OneDrive from a MacBook, as the deletion of the application folder, associated files, cache data, and preference settings usually completes the uninstallation process. Once users have deleted the OneDrive application folder, cleared cache files, and removed relevant preference or configuration files from hidden directories and the Utilities folder, the primary elements of the application are eradicated. This action frees up storage space and eliminates any remnants of the cloud storage service from the system.

However, in certain instances where there might be residual processes or background activities related to OneDrive still running after the uninstall process, a system restart could be beneficial. This restart ensures that any remaining cache or temporary files are cleared entirely from the system memory, providing a cleaner environment and potentially reclaiming additional disk space. While not mandatory, a restart acts as a precautionary step for a more thorough cleanup, ensuring the complete removal of any unwanted programs or files associated with OneDrive from the MacBook.