Windows 10: Cannot Remove OneDrive from Desktop

Since it seems like GPedit.msc is only for Pro editions and I have a Home edition, any option that comes along with that step is null and void for me too *Sad

It seems like I've tried every regedit tip along with uninstalling OneDrive from the Control Panel and it just does not want to get rid of this.

What is weird is that I didn't have this problem before with my previous version, so this is new to the reinstallation that Microsoft Support did (in their failed attempt to fix a certain multi-screen issue that I had to fix on my own after 8 techs kept screwing things up and getting me nowhere lol)

I'd really rather not just reinstall Windows again to start with another fresh version, and in the grand scheme of things, this empty OneDrive folder doesn't seem to be causing any *problems*, but it's definitely annoying and if I can rectify that problem, I'd like to, if not just for peace of mind, you know?

 

@iKing1

Since you say there is no option to delete it when you right click, could you post a pic of what you do see when you right click? All the options that you do have. Sounds suspiciously like a rogue symbolic link pointing to nowhere. Would like to see those options. Thanks.

 

I assume you didn't create an image of your previous version ?

 

Sure thing. This is what I get when I right click on it:

 

Nope, and since the previous version I had where this wasn't a problem was from so, so long ago, I can't remember what steps I had originally done to get rid of OneDrive. Clearly, whatever those steps were at the time, I either did them in the wrong order this time, I'm missing something, or they don't work anymore haha.

 

Another screenshot, please. Click "properties" and post a pic so I can see what tabs you have for it. tks

 

These are the tabs and what they show:

 

On your original right-click pic, see if you can click Share and go thru the options to stop sharing it. May give you the option to delete if you can stop sharing it. Also, you may need to take ownership of it, because you're getting that security tab message.

Change Owner of File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 10 Windows 10 Security System Tutorials

(I keep the Take Ownership on my right click context menu options)

 

If I click "stop sharing", nothing happens.

When I tried to take ownership with the elevated command prompt, I get the error message "The system cannot find the file specified."

 

post the command line you did here.

 

C:\Windows\system32> takeown /F "C:\Users\MyUsername\OneDrive"

I also tried C:\Windows\system32> takeown /F "C:\Users\MyUsername\OneDrive" /R /D Y

 

Right Click on it and choose delete.

 

There isn't an option to delete when I right click on it.

 

In the end, this is all rather pointless - onedrive is a relatively integral part of windows 10, and as other say just disable it from start-up.

People have to get it into their heads that things like Cortana, Onedrive etc. are not the same as traditional win32 apps, and removing by unofficial means can create all sorts of problems, up to and including breaking windows.

The obsession with "bloat" by many is silly (imo) - I can understand in the past when disk space was at a premium, getting rid of things not needed was useful, but nowadays (unless on tablets e.g. with 32GB drives or similar), most have plenty of storage space. Hell, the WHOLE of the windows operating system is barely any bigger than the contents of just 1 dual layer DVD! So in simple terms, if you do not needed something, just ignore it.

 

Hate to point out something obvious, but you did put your user name there instead of "MyUsername"?

At a command prompt, copy and paste this command and run it. Post a screenshot of the result.

dir /s /o %userprofile%\desktop