OneDrive - Remove from Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1

How to Add or Remove "OneDrive" from Navigation Pane of File Explorer in Windows 8.1
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   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 and Windows RT, OneDrive was available to browse in the OneDrive app and only in File Explorer after installing the OneDrive desktop app.

In Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1, OneDrive is more deeply integrated at the system level. Your OneDrive folders are now displayed in the navigation pane of File Explorer on the desktop for easier access and management in Windows 8.1. In addition, the OneDrive app will still always be available on your Start screen for access since it can no longer be uninstalled in Windows 8.1.

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the OneDrive (SkyDrive) folder from the navigation pane of File Explorer for all Microsoft account 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.

EXAMPLE: "OneDrive" in Navigation Pane of Windows 8.1

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Here's How:

1. Press the :winkey: +R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.
NOTE: You could also open the Start screen, start and finish typing regedit, and press Enter.

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

3. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75}\ShellFolder

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4. If you have not already, then in the left pane of regedit, take ownership of and set permissions to "Allow" the Administrators group "Full control" of the ShellFolder registry key. (see screenshot above)

5. In the right pane of ShellFolder, double click/tap on Attributes to modify it, then do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do. (see screenshot below step 3)

6. To Add "OneDrive" to Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1
NOTE: This is the default setting.

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A) Type in f080004d, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below​

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B) If you have a 64-bit Windows 8.1 installed go to step 8 below.​

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C) If you have a 32-bit Windows 8.1 installed go to step 9 below.​

7. To Remove "OneDrive" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1

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A) Type in f090004d, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​

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B) If you have a 64-bit Windows 8.1 installed go to step 8 below.​

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C) If you have a 32-bit Windows 8.1 installed go to step 9 below.​

8. If you have 64-bit Windows 8.1 Installed

   Note

If you have 64-bit Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to do this step to also add or remove OneDrive from the "Open" and "Save as" type dialog windows.

This step is not available or needed if you have 32-bit Windows 8.1 installed.

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A) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{8E74D236-7F35-4720-B138-1FED0B85EA75}\ShellFolder

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B) Repeat steps 4 to 6A/7A above.​

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C) When finished go to step 9 below.​

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9. Close regedit, then either sign out and in or restart the computer to apply.



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Enable or Disable OneDrive Integration in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• How to Map OneDrive in This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1
• How to Add or Remove OneDrive in This PC 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
• 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 Show or Hide Navigation Pane in File Explorer in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Control Panel from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Favorites" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Homegroup" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Libraries" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove "Network" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Recycle Bin on Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add or Remove Your User Folder on Navigation Pane in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Add or Remove "Computer" or "This PC" from Navigation Pane in Windows 8 or 8.1
• How to Turn Navigation Pane "Show all folders" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Navigation Pane "Expand to Current Folder" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Move Libraries above This PC in Navigation Pane in Windows 8.1
• How to Sync, Pause syncing, and Resume syncing OneDrive Files in Windows 8.1

 

[JustATest]

Hi Brink,

Another great tutorial. How do you do it all? Anyway, I did an 8.1 install using only a local account and SkyDrive never showed up. Just wondering if you might consider adding a sentence (or so) to your tutorial that explains your tutorial will only apply to those installation that have a Microsoft account.

Thanks,

JustATest

 

[Brink]

Hello JustATest,

I'm glad you like it. Yep, this only applies to Microsoft accounts since it's required by SkyDrive.

 

[way2ob2se]

I'm a real non-tech noob, just so you know... I want nothing to do with Skydrive, and would also love not seeing it on the File Navigator screen. Your Tutorial looks like one even I could do -- but I see references to 32-bit, and my new machine says 64-bit. Will this matter?

 

[Brink]

Hello way2ob2se, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Nope. It'll work for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 8.1.

However, since you do not want SkyDrive at all, you might see if the tutorial below may work better for you instead to disable SkyDrive integration in Windows 8.1.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/29426-skydrive-integration-windows-8-1-enable-disable.html

 

[way2ob2se]

Thanks Brink! I followed this tutorial, and did my first ever registry edit. Looks like it worked exactly as advertised!! (Too bad Microsoft can't say the same for 8.) I really liked how detailed the instructions were, so even a non-tech like me could easily follow them. You rock!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I'm glad it could help.

 

[gmetzker]

Can't restore skyDrive to Explorer

This worked to remove sky drive. I think it may have caused an issue with OneNote (which Syncs to skydrive).
I tried to restore the registry with the instructions above but the SkyDrive folder does not re-appear in the navigation pane. I've restarted but no luck. I'm not sure if removing SkyDrive caused the OneNote sync issues, but I can't seem to add it back in.

I set the attributes back to "f08004d" in both locations but it didn't work.


Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Hello gmetzker, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This wouldn't affect OneNote syncing with SkyDrive since this doesn't actually remove the true location of the "C:\Users\SkyDrive" folders, but only remove's the SkyDrive folders from displaying as a group in the navigation pane. This would be a separate issue for another thread, but it appears to be some sort of password conflict.

From your screenshot it looks like you just mistakently entered 0f08004d instead of just f080004d.

 

[gmetzker]

Hello gmetzker, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This wouldn't affect OneNote syncing with SkyDrive since this doesn't actually remove the true location of the "C:\Users\SkyDrive" folders, but only remove's the SkyDrive folders from displaying as a group in the navigation pane. This would be a separate issue for another thread, but it appears to be some sort of password conflict.

From your screenshot it looks like you just mistakently entered 0f08004d instead of just f080004d.

Thank you. Yeah I did have the wrong value in there. After correcting it the SkyDrive item reappeared in the Windows Explorer navigation pain. After doing this the OneNote password error went away. It appears that on Win8.1 with OneNote2013 it must use the OS sky drive integration directly, and perhaps cannot function without it.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Brink]

Hello gmetzker, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This wouldn't affect OneNote syncing with SkyDrive since this doesn't actually remove the true location of the "C:\Users\SkyDrive" folders, but only remove's the SkyDrive folders from displaying as a group in the navigation pane. This would be a separate issue for another thread, but it appears to be some sort of password conflict.

From your screenshot it looks like you just mistakently entered 0f08004d instead of just f080004d.

Thank you. Yeah I did have the wrong value in there. After correcting it the SkyDrive item reappeared in the Windows Explorer navigation pain. After doing this the OneNote password error went away. It appears that on Win8.1 with OneNote2013 it must use the OS sky drive integration directly, and perhaps cannot function without it.

Thanks again for the help.

Anytime mate.

I tested removing SkyDrive from the navigation pane in my Windows 8.1, then opening OneNote 2013, and I didn't get any error like that.

As a test, you might see if signing out of OneNote 2013 and signing in again to your Microsoft account that you use for your SkyDrive may help.

 

[xboxhaxorz]

i dont want to remove skydrive but i dont want it showing in this particular area
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g9aai5vrakyf1wj/Screenshot 2014-01-04 00.08.34.png

when in my documents it shows it there but i cannot find a way to remove it from there only

 

[Brink]

Hello xboxhaxorz,

It looks like you have your Documents library open instead of SkyDrive.

If you just do not want SkyDrive showing in the navigation pane, then using the tutorial will remove it from only there.

 

[xboxhaxorz]

Hi,

I made an edit to the image

 

[Brink]

Ah, I see now. You can change your folder view to Group by -> (None) to remove the folder paths.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9743-sort-group-arrange-items-windows-8-file-explorer.html

 

[xboxhaxorz]

Perfect thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[magilla]

Hi. I have followed the dialog above and find that when I try to change the D-word value from 8 to 9 the registry will not permit me to do that. Did I miss something? I have Windows 64 bit PRO.

 

[Brink]

Hello Magilla,

It sounds like you may have just missed doing all of step 4 to take ownership and set permissions for both ShellFolder keys first.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[magilla]

Hello Magilla,

It sounds like you may have just missed doing all of step 4 to take ownership and set permissions for both ShellFolder keys first.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

I have tried every maneuver to get ownership and permission all to no avail! I have been using ResEdit for years and never experienced such an issue. Is this new to windows 8.1?