How to Completely Remove the OneDrive Folder Icon from the Windows 11 Navigation Pane

Microsoft OneDrive is deeply integrated into Windows 11. By default, a prominent blue OneDrive folder icon sits permanently in the left-hand navigation pane of File Explorer. If you use a different cloud storage provider (like Google Drive or Dropbox), or if you prefer to keep your files exclusively on local hardware, this immovable icon wastes valuable screen space and creates unnecessary visual clutter.

Simply uninstalling the OneDrive app from Windows Settings does not always remove this pinned icon from File Explorer. To banish it completely and reclaim your navigation pane, you must make a small edit to the Windows Registry.

Important Warning

Editing the Windows Registry can cause system instability if you accidentally modify the wrong keys. It is highly recommended that you create a System Restore point or back up your registry before proceeding.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing the Icon

To hide the OneDrive folder, you need to change a single value from “1” (visible) to “0” (hidden) inside the Registry Editor.

1. Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit into the text box and press Enter. Click “Yes” if the User Account Control window prompts you for permission.
3. The Registry Editor window will open. In the top address bar, copy and paste the following path exactly, then press Enter:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

4. In the right-hand pane, look for a registry DWORD value named System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.
5. Double-click on System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree to edit its value.
6. A small box will appear. Change the “Value data” from 1 to 0. Ensure the base is set to Hexadecimal.
7. Click OK.
8. Close the Registry Editor.

Apply the Changes

The change is technically active immediately, but File Explorer caches its interface, so you will likely still see the icon. You do not need to restart your computer to force the refresh; you can simply restart the File Explorer process.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. On the “Processes” tab, scroll down until you find Windows Explorer (it will have a yellow folder icon).
3. Right-click on Windows Explorer and select Restart.

Your taskbar will briefly vanish and reappear. Open a new File Explorer window, and the OneDrive icon will be completely gone from the left navigation pane.

If you ever decide to use OneDrive in the future and want the icon back, simply repeat the registry steps above and change the value data back to 1.