OneDrive Integration in Windows 8.1 - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1​

   Information

SkyDrive is now called OneDrive instead.

OneDrive is Now Available Worldwide: Free Cloud Storage for Microsoft, iOS, and Android Devices | OneDrive Blog

OneDrive is a cloud-based storage service where you can view, browse, upload, and share the files you saved online to OneDrive.com. Store any file on OneDrive and it's automatically available to access or share from any device.

In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, OneDrive is more deeply integrated at the system level. You need to sign in with a Microsoft account to browse your OneDrive and keep your files and settings in sync.

• If you sign in to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 with a Microsoft account, your OneDrive folders are now displayed in the navigation pane of File Explorer for easier access and management while online or offline. In addition, the OneDrive app will still always be available on your Start screen for access since it can no longer be uninstalled.
• If you sign in to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 with a local account, then you can only use the OneDrive app to browse your PC. To browse your OneDrive files while signed in to a local account in Windows 8.1, you'll need to go to OneDrive.com.

See also: OneDrive: FAQ - Microsoft Windows Help

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable OneDrive integration to allow or prevent apps and features from working with files on OneDrive for all users in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note

If you disable OneDrive integration:

• Users can’t access OneDrive from the OneDrive app and file picker.
• Windows Store apps can’t access OneDrive using the WinRT API.
• OneDrive doesn’t appear in the navigation pane in File Explorer.
• OneDrive files aren’t kept in sync with the cloud.
• Users can’t automatically upload photos and videos from the camera roll folder.

This will not prevent users from being able to access files on their OneDrive online at OneDrive.com.

EXAMPLE: OneDrive Integration Enabled and Disabled for "OneDrive app" and "File Explorer"

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OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration using a REG File Download

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1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.​

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2. To Enable OneDrive Integration​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Enable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg​

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3. To Disable OneDrive Integration​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

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Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg​

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4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.​

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5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.​

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6. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.​

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7. If you did step 2 to enable OneDrive integration, then open the OneDrive app on your Start screen to have the OneDrive folder show in the navigation pane in File Explorer again.​

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8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration in Group Policy

NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions.

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1. From your Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc, and press Enter when finished.​

NOTE: You could also press :winkey: + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tap on OK.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​

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3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and open SkyDrive (Windows 8.1) or OneDrive (Windows 8.1 Update). (see screenshot below)​

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4. In the right pane of SkyDrive or OneDrive, double click/tap on Prevent the usage of SkyDrive/OneDrive for file storage. (see screenshot above)​

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5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​

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6. To Enable OneDrive Integration​

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A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 7A)​

NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.​

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7. To Disable OneDrive Integration​

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A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​

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8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.​

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9. If you did step 6 to enable OneDrive integration, then open the OneDrive app on your Start screen to have the OneDrive folder show in the navigation pane in File Explorer again.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• Add or Remove "OneDrive" from Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 8.1
• How to Sign in or Sign out of the OneDrive Store App in Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Make OneDrive Files and Folders Available Offline or Online-only in Windows 8.1
• How to Share Files and Folders and Change Permissions in your OneDrive
• How to Browse Your Files on OneDrive and This PC in OneDrive App in Windows 8.1
• How to Save Your Documents to OneDrive by Default in Windows 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off OneDrive Usage Over Metered Connections in Windows 8.1
• How to Change the Default Location of OneDrive Folder in Windows 8.1
• How to Restore the Default Location of OneDrive Folder in Windows 8.1
• Add or Remove OneDrive Notification Area Icon in Windows 8.1

 

[SkyDriveDan]

The link below can help show how to remove OneDrive for Office 2013.

» How to Disable SkyDrive/OneDrive in Office 2013Safe Systems Newsletter

This is one of the many things I tried from this forum and others which did not work.

 

[Brink]

Is the file saved on your OneDrive?

If you used step 3 in Option One of this tutorial, then you shouldn't have OneDrive showing up in Windows 8.1. However, double check using the tutorial below to make sure that you do not have your Documents folder set to save to OneDrive.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/31690-onedrive-save-documents-default-windows-8-1-a.html

 

[SkyDriveDan]

Is the file saved on your OneDrive?

If you used step 3 in Option One of this tutorial, then you shouldn't have OneDrive showing up in Windows 8.1. However, double check using the tutorial below to make sure that you do not have your Documents folder set to save to OneDrive.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/31690-onedrive-save-documents-default-windows-8-1-a.html

From the Tutorial


From my computer:

 

[Grandpa0594]

I'm probably messing up. I was logged into my local account and I ran the registry changes to enable integration. Then I went to the app screen and signed up for OneDrive using my Microsoft account. I was told to sign in with my Microsoft account. I went back to my desktop and I still don't see the OneDrive in my file explorer.

 

[Brink]

Hello Grandpa, and welcome to Eight Forums.

OneDrive integration is enabled by default in Windows 8.1. However, you must sign in to Windows 8.1 with a Microsoft account instead of a local account to have OneDrive available.

You could either create a new user account that is a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows with, or you could switch your local account to be a Microsoft account instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5536-user-account-add-new-user-windows-8-a.html

OR

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4840-microsoft-account-switch-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[Grandpa0594]

Setting up OneDrive On Local Account...

Many thanks for getting back to me so quickly. My problem is I would very much like to have a local account. There are 10 village board members that will be getting these tablets and the hope was to use one OneDrive account to pass documents back and forth. Also, we do have a turnover of board members so giving each one their own user account and own password is preferred. This was available on Windows 7. is there any way to use a multiple local accounts with one OneDrive account? Thank you...

 

[Brink]

That's ok. If you like, you can always log in to your online OneDrive at the Microsoft link below in your web browser while signed in to Windows 8.1 with a local account. You can upload and download files from your OneDrive online.

https://onedrive.live.com/

 

[OctopusD]

From the Tutorial
View attachment 52665

From my computer:
View attachment 52666

You have Windows 8, not Windows 8.1..

 

[Brink]

Dan,

You would need to update to Windows 8.1 to see the same.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/32995-windows-8-1-update-windows-8-a.html

 

[Suncatcher]

Hello guys!
I am interested if synchronization (via this registry key) is disabled only for files or for all user settings and preferences which are saved in OneDrive?

 

[Brink]

Hello Suncatcher,

I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but this tutorial will completely disable OneDrive integration for all users in Windows 8, and you will not be able to sync any files to OneDrive afterwards.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable OneDrive integration to allow or prevent apps and features from working with files on OneDrive for all users in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

Hope this helps.

 

[Suncatcher]

Passage

allow or prevent apps and features from working with files on OneDrive

doesn't cover user settings synchronization (desktop settings, appearance, apps) you mean. Right?

 

[Brink]

Correct, that's a separate setting for your Microsoft account.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5591-sync-your-settings-turn-off-windows-8-a.html