Remove Onedrive Shortcut From File Explorer: Quick Registry Edit Solution

That OneDrive icon in File Explorer drives me crazy. ✨ It’s cluttered my sidebar since Windows 10, and Microsoft still buries the fix. A quick registry tweak removes it for good in under 2 minutes.

No third-party tools, no deep system hacks—just one carefully placed edit. I’ve cleaned this up on dozens of machines from Windows 10 through 11, and the method stays the same. Back up your registry first, just in case.

You’ll get a clean File Explorer sidebar with only the shortcuts you actually use. The change sticks across reboots and updates, and OneDrive itself keeps working if you still need it.

Works on any Windows version with OneDrive preinstalled. Here’s the exact path and value to modify.

What Youll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Removing the OneDrive Shortcut from File Explorer

Here’s the fastest method I know to clean up that navigation pane once and for all.

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. You’ll see a User Account Control prompt—click Yes to proceed. This tool lets you modify system settings at a deep level, so I always back up the registry first.

To create a backup, click File then Export, save the file to your desktop with a name like RegistryBackup, and remember where you put it. This ensures you can restore if anything goes wrong.

In the left pane, paste this path into the address bar: Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}. Hit Enter to jump directly there. If the key doesn’t exist, you might be using an older Windows version—this works for Windows 10 and 11.

Look for a System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree value in the right pane. If it exists, that’s what we need to modify. If not, don’t panic—we’ll create it next.

Right-click the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree value and select Modify. Change the Value data from 1 to 0, then click OK. If the value doesn’t exist, right-click in the empty space, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.

Set its value to 0 as well. This single change tells Windows to stop pinning OneDrive to the navigation pane. It’s a clean, reversible tweak that doesn’t affect the app itself.

Close Registry Editor. Now open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Scroll down to Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart. Your taskbar and desktop will briefly disappear and reappear.

Open File Explorer again and check the navigation pane. The OneDrive shortcut should now be gone. If it’s still there, restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.

Launch File Explorer using Windows + E. Look at the left sidebar—OneDrive should no longer appear under the “Quick access” or “This PC” sections. If it’s still visible, double-check that you modified the correct registry key.

This change only removes the shortcut, not the app or its files. OneDrive will still sync in the background, and you can access it from the Start menu or system tray whenever needed.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Small oversights in registry edits can cause big headaches—here’s how to avoid them.

Backup First, Always: In Step 1, creating that registry backup isn’t just a suggestion—it’s your safety net. I’ve seen one wrong keystroke turn a quick fix into a system restore nightmare. Save that RegistryBackup file somewhere obvious like your desktop (seriously, don’t skip this).

Double-Check the Registry Path: In Step 2, that long CLSID string is case-sensitive. Copy it exactly as written, or you’ll end up in the wrong place. If the key doesn’t exist, you’re likely on an older Windows version—this only works for 10 and 11.

Restart Properly: In Step 4, don’t just close File Explorer—use Task Manager to fully restart Windows Explorer. A simple refresh won’t apply the changes. If the shortcut lingers, a full computer restart usually does the trick.

Verify Thoroughly: In Step 5, check both “Quick access” and “This PC” sections. I’ve had cases where OneDrive vanished from one but not the other, and the fix was redoing Step 3 with the exact value name: System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.

Frequently Asked Questions

Removing the OneDrive shortcut from File Explorer is a simple process with the right steps. 💡 By following the registry edit method, you’ve streamlined your navigation for a cleaner experience. Now, explore other Windows customization tips to enhance your workflow even further!