To reinstall OneDrive on Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select Microsoft OneDrive, and select Uninstall. Then download OneDrive from Microsoft’s OneDrive download page, run the file, and sign in. Your files stay safe in the cloud, and OneDrive syncs them again after you sign in.

Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.

If OneDrive is just not syncing, try a reset first. It’s faster and often fixes the problem. The checks to run before a reset, and how to confirm it worked, are in clearing the OneDrive cache on Windows 10.

Contents hide

1 Reset OneDrive first

2 Uninstall OneDrive

3 Install OneDrive again

4 Reinstall OneDrive with winget

5 If OneDrive won’t reinstall or sync

6 Frequently asked questions

Reset OneDrive first

Press Windows + R to open Run.
Paste %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and select OK.

Windows 10 Run box with the OneDrive reset command typed and OK highlighted — Paste the reset command (1) and select OK (2).

If you see Windows cannot find…, try C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset instead, or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset.
After a minute or two, select Start, type OneDrive, and open it again.

Resetting doesn’t delete your files. If you had chosen to sync only some folders, choose them again after it finishes syncing.

Uninstall OneDrive

Select Start > Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Find and select Microsoft OneDrive.
Select Uninstall and confirm.

Windows 10 Apps and features with Microsoft OneDrive selected and Uninstall highlighted — Select Microsoft OneDrive, then Uninstall (1).

You won’t lose any data. Your OneDrive folder stops syncing, but your files are still in the cloud at OneDrive.com.

Install OneDrive again

Go to Microsoft’s OneDrive download page (microsoft.com/microsoft-365/onedrive/download) and download OneDrive.
Open the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
Sign in and finish the setup screens. OneDrive then syncs your files again.

There’s also a OneDrive app in the Microsoft Store, but it only lets you view your files. For backup and sync, install the app from the OneDrive download page.

Reinstall OneDrive with winget

If you’re comfortable with commands, winget can do both steps. Right-click Start, select Windows PowerShell, and run:

winget uninstall Microsoft.OneDrive
winget install Microsoft.OneDrive

Winget comes with the App Installer app on Windows 10, version 1809 and later. If the command isn’t found, update App Installer from the Microsoft Store, or use the steps above.

If OneDrive won’t reinstall or sync

Setup reports that a newer version is already installed. Uninstall OneDrive, restart the PC, and run the setup file again.
Setup warns that your OneDrive folder already exists. Choose Use this folder. OneDrive matches the files already there with the cloud instead of downloading everything again.
Files show a cloud icon. That’s normal. They’re online-only and download when you open them. Right-click a folder and select Always keep on this device to store it on the PC.
It still won’t sync. Check that you have enough free space and that you’re signed in with the right account, such as your personal or work account.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use OneDrive after reinstalling it?

Once it’s set up again, you can learn to use and sync OneDrive on Windows 10.

I don’t want OneDrive at all. What should I do?

Uninstall it and don’t install it again. You can also turn off OneDrive in Windows 10.

Will reinstalling download all my files again?

It syncs your file list again. With Files On-Demand, most files stay online-only until you open them, so they don’t all download at once.

Will my Desktop and Documents backup keep working?

Backup pauses while OneDrive is uninstalled. After you reinstall and sign in, open OneDrive settings, select Sync and backup > Manage backup, and check that your folders are turned on.

Do I need to be an administrator to reinstall OneDrive?

Usually not. The normal setup installs OneDrive just for your account, so a standard user can run it. On a work PC, your IT team may install it for you instead.

Why did OneDrive disappear in the first place?

A cleanup app, a Windows reset, or someone at the PC may have removed it. It can also be hidden rather than gone. Select Start, type OneDrive, and open it to check before you reinstall.

How much free space does OneDrive need?

The app itself is small, but syncing needs room for any files you keep on the PC. Turn on Files On-Demand in OneDrive settings so most files stay online until you open them.

Both procedures are also on Microsoft’s support site: Reinstall OneDrive and Reset OneDrive.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.