How to Reinstall OneDrive on Windows 11

To reinstall OneDrive on Windows 11, uninstall it from Settings > Apps > Installed apps (search for Microsoft OneDrive, click the three dots and choose Uninstall), then download it again from Microsoft’s OneDrive page or the Microsoft Store and sign in. Your files stored in OneDrive stay safe in the cloud. If OneDrive is only misbehaving, try a reset first, which fixes most sync problems without reinstalling.

Before you start

• Your cloud files aren’t deleted by uninstalling. They stay in your OneDrive account online.
• Check files that are only on this PC. If some files never finished syncing (red X or sync icons), copy them somewhere else first.
• Know your Microsoft account password, since you’ll sign in again afterwards.

Step 1: Try a reset first

1. Press Windows key + R.
2. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter.
3. Wait a minute or two. If the OneDrive cloud icon doesn’t reappear in the taskbar, run %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe the same way to start it.

A reset disconnects and resyncs all your folders without deleting files. If you get “Windows cannot find…”, OneDrive may be installed for all users; try C:\Program Files\Microsoft OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset instead.

Step 2: Uninstall OneDrive

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Search for OneDrive.
3. Click the three dots next to Microsoft OneDrive and choose Uninstall, then confirm.

The OneDrive folder in File Explorer stays, along with any files that were fully downloaded. Online-only files are no longer available from this PC until you reinstall.

Step 3: Install OneDrive again

Use any one of these:

• Microsoft’s website: download the installer from Microsoft Support and run OneDriveSetup.exe.
• Microsoft Store: search for OneDrive and click Get.
• Terminal: run winget install Microsoft.OneDrive.

Step 4: Sign in and choose your folder

1. OneDrive opens a setup window. Enter your Microsoft account email and sign in.
2. When asked about the folder location, keep the existing OneDrive folder so files don’t download twice. Click Use this folder if it says the folder already exists.
3. Choose whether to back up Desktop, Documents and Pictures.
4. Finish the setup. Files sync again in the background.

If you have more than one account, see how to add another OneDrive account. To get OneDrive back into File Explorer’s sidebar, see how to turn on OneDrive in Windows 11.

Troubleshooting

“A newer version of OneDrive is already installed”

OneDrive is still installed for another user or system-wide. Restart the PC and run the installer again, or uninstall it from Installed apps first.

OneDrive won’t sign in

Check the date and time are correct, sign out of the account in Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts and back in, and try again. See how to sign in to OneDrive on Windows 11.

Files are duplicated with the PC name added

These are sync conflict copies. Open both, keep the right one, and delete the other.

If you don’t want OneDrive at all

You can leave it uninstalled. Windows 11 works fine without it. If it keeps coming back after updates, see how to turn off OneDrive in Windows 11. On Windows 10, see how to reinstall OneDrive on Windows 10.

Summary

1. Try onedrive.exe /reset first.
2. Uninstall from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
3. Reinstall from Microsoft, the Store or winget.
4. Sign in and keep your existing OneDrive folder.