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How to Delete OneDrive Account Permanently – My Step-by-Step Guide

Michael ~ Modified: June 20th, 2025 ~ OneDrive ~ 5 Minutes Reading

When I decided to delete OneDrive account, I thought it would be as easy as clicking a “Delete” button. But I quickly learned there is no option provided by Microsoft to remove OneDrive account specifically; you have to remove your entire Microsoft account. 

If you’ve been wondering how to delete your OneDrive account permanently, I’ve been through the process myself, and I’ll guide you step by step here.

Table of Contents

Quick Note Before We Start

If you just want to stop using OneDrive but keep your Microsoft account active for Outlook or other services, you can simply:

  • Unlink OneDrive from your devices
  • Disable or uninstall the OneDrive app
  • Delete your files from OneDrive manually

But if you’re sure you want to remove OneDrive account permanently. I’ll explain how below.

Why I Decided to Delete OneDrive Account Permanently

I had a few reasons for deleting my OneDrive account permanently:

  • I was switching to another cloud storage provider
  • I didn’t want my files stored with Microsoft anymore
  • I wanted to clean up unused accounts for better privacy and security

I’m sure you have your own reasons, like OneDrive slowing down computer or any other. To address this, it is recommended to follow the steps mentioned below. 

Things I Did Before Deleting My OneDrive Account

Before starting the deletion process, I made sure to:

Delete OneDrive Account

  1. Back up important files before deletion.
  2. Check for active subscriptions, as deleting the Microsoft account will cancel them.
  3. Inform linked services. So I was using this Microsoft account for Skype, or other services and made necessary changes.
  4. Clear files from the Recycle Bin.

How to Delete OneDrive Account Permanently – Steps I Followed

Here’s exactly how I deleted my OneDrive account permanently, step by step:

Solution 1. Delete the Entire Microsoft Account

  • Step 1. Access the Microsoft Account Closure Page, and sign in to remove the account.
  • Step 2. Before allowing the account to close, Microsoft provides a checklist including:
    • Using remaining balances in the Microsoft account
    • Checking any subscriptions or services
    • Downloading files from OneDrive
  • Step 3. After reviewing, I had to:
    • Tick all the checkboxes.
    • Select a reason for closing the account.
    • Click ‘Mark account for closure.’

Microsoft gives a 60-day grace period to recover the account. After those 60 days, the deletion becomes permanent.

Solution 2. Disable OneDrive Without Deleting Microsoft Account

If you only want to delete OneDrive account permanently but keep using Microsoft services, here’s what I did:

On Windows:

  1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the taskbar > Settings.
  2. Go to the Account tab > Unlink this PC.
  3. Uninstall OneDrive via Settings > Apps.

On Mobile (Android/iOS):

  1. Open the OneDrive app > Sign out.
  2. Uninstall the app.

Now, your OneDrive stops syncing the data.

Solution 3. Delete All Files from OneDrive

If your only goal is to remove your data from OneDrive:

  1. Log in to OneDrive Online
  2. Select All Files > Delete.
  3. Empty the Recycle Bin manually to make sure nothing remains.

So this way, your OneDrive storage becomes empty, but your Microsoft account stays active.

Also read: OneDrive Not Enough Free Space Issue

Solution 4. Remove OneDrive Account from Startup

On Windows, I also:

  1. Right-click Taskbar > Task Manager > Startup tab.
  2. Disable OneDrive from launching when I boot my PC.

Solution 5. Steps to Delete OneDrive Account Permanently Using Microsoft 365 Manager Plus

If you use Microsoft 365 Manager Plus, here’s how I removed OneDrive for Business access for specific users:

  1. Log in to the Microsoft 365 Manager Plus web console.
  2. Go to License Management > Management tab.
  3. Navigate to Azure Directory > License Management > License Modification.
  4. Select users > Choose Assign and Remove > Remove Selected Licenses.
  5. Edit Licenses: Select only SharePoint Online (Plan 2), which removes OneDrive for Business access.
  6. Choose the Microsoft 365 tenant under Find Users and Modify.
  7. Select individual users or upload a CSV of users to apply the changes in bulk.

Can I Just Delete My OneDrive Account Without Affecting Other Microsoft Services?

Unfortunately, NO. OneDrive is part of your Microsoft account. Microsoft doesn’t offer an option to delete only the OneDrive service. That’s why I had to delete the whole account to permanently get rid of OneDrive.

If you don’t want to delete your Microsoft account, follow these steps to disable OneDrive:

  • Unlink OneDrive from my devices
  • Delete or uninstall the OneDrive app from my phone or computer.
  • Remove files from OneDrive manually.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to remove OneDrive account, just remember that it means deleting your entire Microsoft account. In this article, I explained how to delete OneDrive account permanently step by step. Additionally, I suggested some tricks to delete the account without affecting other Microsoft services. I hope my experiences and my tested solution help you out. 

FAQs

Q1. What happens to my OneDrive files after I delete my account?
Your OneDrive files will be deleted after the 60-day grace period. After that, your data will be deleted permanently.

Q2. Can I recover my account after deleting it?
Yes, you can recover your Microsoft account within 60 days by signing back into the account.

Q3. Will deleting OneDrive cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?
Yes, deleting your Microsoft account will automatically cancel any active Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

Q4. Can I delete OneDrive account permanently from just one device?
Yes, you can uninstall or unlink OneDrive from a specific device without deleting your Microsoft account.