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

 

[ICit2lol]

Thanks Shawn I am not a real believer in this stuff and prefer to keep my data on drives of some sort I just do not trust anything like this to be honest - just another thing to be hacked in my tiny mind. I'll take this option you sent me

 

[Brink]

You're welcome John.

 

[mattman]

How do I disable the icon on the left of the explorer window but keep the Skydrive functionality?

 

[Brink]

Hello Matt,

Do you mean this below to remove SkyDrive from the navigation pane?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/28027-skydrive-remove-navigation-pane-windows-8-1-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[LittleJay]

Thanks for this tutorial Brink!

 

[Egomainds]

thanks,register to this forum for that.

 

[snailpuke]

I was wondering if anyone has had an issue with re-enabling OneDrive on their system. I disabled it with the .reg file some time ago but decided I wanted it back. I used the enable .reg file then restarted the computer and next I opened the OneDrive Windows 8.1 app on the start screen. My problem is that if I click the OneDrive cloud icon in the task tray and select open the option to open OneDrive in windows explorer I get an error pop up which says "Sorry, we couldn't open your OneDrive. Please try again, or try restarting your PC."

I've tried restarting but I've also looked at the processes to see if the OneDrive Sync Engine is running and sure enough it is then I checked to see if maybe the navigation pane had the icon back but that's also missing. I can browse to the OneDrive folder and put stuff inside and it will sync so I'm not sure what's going on.

I'm trying to get the navigation pane and the OneDrive task tray icon to function completely again. If you have any ideas or tips I could try I would really appreciate it.

 

[Brink]

Hello snailpuke, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Double check to see if you may have also disabled these below. See how it works after enabling them as well.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/28027-onedrive-remove-navigation-pane-windows-8-1-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/46133-onedrive-notification-icon-add-remove-windows-8-1-a.html

 

[snailpuke]

I had forgotten to do one of the steps in the first link. It's working just like it should now, thank you for the help and quick reply.

 

[Brink]

Great news.

 

[SkyDriveDan]

Still can't remove SkyDrive

Hi there, thanks for reading this.

I've tried the step by step process in this (and other forums,) for removing SkyDrive integration from my computer.

I've tried downloading and running:
Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg

However, whenever I try to save something in Excel (for example) it defaults to SkyDrive.

I'm running 8.1, not Pro.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hello Shawn I thought I had disabled the One Drive before and the darn thing is still saving some documents including my CCleaner back up for fixes.
I have downloaded that disable option is this going to work because the few documents I have are personal and I want to keep them in the Documents library in the start menu.
To be honest I am seriously thinking of putting the 7 back on this machine even though it is a bit slower because of the idiosyncrasies of the OS are really quite trying.
I am hoping the new OS 10 is going to be a bit more like 7 as it is wearing to keep having to muck around retrieving data from one drive for example. Shame because this OS does have a speed advantage over the 7.

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town.

Yes, disabling OneDrive integration would stop anything from being synced to it. Possibly an update may have re-enabled it if you did already disable it.

 

[ICit2lol]

Hey John,

Sorry for the late reply, I was out of town.

Yes, disabling OneDrive integration would stop anything from being synced to it. Possibly an update may have re-enabled it if you did already disable it.

Don't have to be sorry mate you go to to do what you have and you have enough on your plate as it is. Yes you probably are right I must be a bit more diligent with the updates eh?

 

[SkyDriveDan]

Hi there, thanks for reading this.

I've tried the step by step process in this (and other forums,) for removing SkyDrive integration from my computer.

I've tried downloading and running:
Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg

However, whenever I try to save something in Excel (for example) it defaults to SkyDrive.

I'm running 8.1, not Pro.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi there!

Do either of you have suggestions for removing and/or disabling skydrive from my machine? Thanks for your time.

 

[Brink]

Hi there, thanks for reading this.

I've tried the step by step process in this (and other forums,) for removing SkyDrive integration from my computer.

I've tried downloading and running:
Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg

However, whenever I try to save something in Excel (for example) it defaults to SkyDrive.

I'm running 8.1, not Pro.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi there!

Do either of you have suggestions for removing and/or disabling skydrive from my machine? Thanks for your time.

Hello Dan,

Did you see if restarting the computer may help after disabling OneDrive integration in Windows 8.1?

In addition, you should be able to select File -> Save As in Office to select where you would like to save to instead.

 

[SkyDriveDan]

Hi there, thanks for reading this.

I've tried the step by step process in this (and other forums,) for removing SkyDrive integration from my computer.

I've tried downloading and running:
Disable_SkyDrive_Integration.reg

However, whenever I try to save something in Excel (for example) it defaults to SkyDrive.

I'm running 8.1, not Pro.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi there!

Do either of you have suggestions for removing and/or disabling skydrive from my machine? Thanks for your time.

Hello Dan,

Did you see if restarting the computer may help after disabling OneDrive integration in Windows 8.1?

In addition, you should be able to select File -> Save As in Office to select where you would like to save to instead.

restarting the computer did not complete the removal.
Yes, clicking save as in office does get around it, however it means that to avoid OneDrive, I have to rename the file, or overwrite it, each time after the first (effectively more clicks than just dodging OneDrive in the save menu)

my goal is to never see the word "OneDrive" again

 

[Brink]

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

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

 

[paulsalter]

Not sure how the disable works as I use onedrive myself

If it is still defaulting to onedrive folder for saving documents have you checked in the PC Settings app under onedrive, make sure the use this as default is turned off