If you're using a Mac and have an old version of the OneDrive app installed, it's a good idea to delete it to free up space and ensure you have the latest features.
The old OneDrive app can take up valuable storage space on your Mac, making it harder to access other files and apps.
To delete the old OneDrive app, you'll first need to locate it in the Applications folder.
The Applications folder is where you'll find all your installed apps, including the old OneDrive app.
Uninstalling the Old OneDrive App
To uninstall the old OneDrive app on your Mac, you'll need to quit all processes of OneDrive before uninstalling it. This is because the app is still running in the background, making it difficult to uninstall successfully.
You can verify that all processes of OneDrive are not in use by navigating to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor. Search for OneDrive and click on it to force quit it if you find a process related to it.
Before uninstalling OneDrive, make sure you're logged in as an administrator, as admin privileges may be needed. This will ensure a smooth uninstallation process.
To uninstall OneDrive, you can drag and drop it to the Trash, but this won't completely uninstall it. You'll need to delete related cache files as well.
Here are some steps to follow:
- Quit OneDrive by navigating to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor and searching for OneDrive.
- Remove OneDrive files by dragging and dropping it to the Trash.
- Delete cache files by going to Library > Containers in Finder and deleting any folders with "com.microsoft.OneDrive" at the start.
Alternatively, you can use an app uninstaller like CleanMyApp to remove OneDrive and its related files with a few clicks. This is especially helpful if you're not comfortable dealing with the Library folder or worry about accidentally deleting important files.
To use CleanMyApp, download it from the Apple App Store, install it on your Mac, and then click Uninstall > Continue uninstall. Enter your admin password if asked to grant permission for the app and wait for it to finish uninstalling OneDrive.
By following these steps, you can successfully uninstall the old OneDrive app on your Mac and free up any storage space it may have been occupying.
Uninstall Issues
If you're having trouble uninstalling OneDrive on your Mac, you're not alone. The primary reason is that the app is still running in the background.
To fix this, you need to quit all processes of OneDrive. You can do this by navigating to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor, searching for OneDrive, and force quitting it.
Dragging and dropping OneDrive to the Trash won't uninstall it cleanly, leaving behind many of its leftovers on your Mac.
If errors show up during the uninstallation, don't worry, a simple restart of your computer might just fix the problem.
To ensure a smooth uninstallation, log in as an administrator before uninstalling OneDrive, as admin privileges may be needed.
After uninstalling OneDrive, don't forget to restart your device once more to help future software installations or updates work better.
To summarize the steps:
- Quit all processes of OneDrive in Activity Monitor.
- Log in as an administrator before uninstalling OneDrive.
- Restart your computer if errors show up during uninstallation.
- Restart your device after uninstalling OneDrive.
Manual Uninstallation Process
To manually uninstall OneDrive from your Mac, you'll need to quit the app and close all related services. You can do this by going to the Toolbar, clicking on the OneDrive icon, and selecting Quit OneDrive.
First, make sure you log in as an administrator before uninstalling OneDrive, as admin privileges may be needed. If you're experiencing any issues during the uninstallation, restart your computer and try the steps again.
To remove the OneDrive application from your Mac, open the Applications folder in Finder and right-click on the OneDrive icon. Choose Move to Trash, or you can drag the blue OneDrive cloud to the trash bin. Enter your Mac credentials and click OK.
After removing the app itself, you can also remove manually all of its related contents. Press Command+ Shift+ G in Finder and enter /Users//Library/Containers. Search for the two folders: com.microsoft.skydrive-mac and com.microsoft.SkyDriveLauncher. Drag these folders to the Trash.
Before you start the uninstallation process, it's a good idea to back up any important OneDrive files, as uninstalling the app will delete all its contents. Make sure to empty the trash bin to totally remove OneDrive from Mac and free some space.
Here are the steps to manually remove OneDrive from your Mac:
- Quit the OneDrive and close all related services.
- Remove the OneDrive application from your Mac by dragging it to the Trash.
- Remove manually all of its related contents by deleting the com.microsoft.skydrive-mac and com.microsoft.SkyDriveLauncher folders.
- Empty the trash bin to totally remove OneDrive from Mac and free some space.
Note that simply dragging and dropping OneDrive to the Trash won't uninstall it from your Mac cleanly. Many of its leftovers are still on your Mac.
Additional Files
You'll also need to remove some additional files to fully clean up old OneDrive support files. These files can be found in the following locations: ~/Library/Application Support/OneDrive, ~/Library/Caches/OneDrive, and ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.OneDrive.plist.
Delete the com.microsoft.OneDrive.plist file to remove OneDrive's preference settings.
In addition to these files, you may also find OneDrive-related files in the following folders: ~/Library/Cookies/, ~/Library/Logs/, and ~/Library/LaunchAgents/. Be sure to remove any files you find in these locations.
Part 1. Deleting
To delete the old OneDrive app on Mac, you'll need to locate the app in the Applications folder.
You can find the Applications folder by clicking on the Finder icon in the dock and then navigating to the Applications folder. The old OneDrive app is likely to be named "OneDrive" or "OneDrive for Mac".
You can delete the app by dragging it to the Trash.
Uninstalling Guide
To uninstall OneDrive on your Mac, you'll need to quit the app and remove its related files. This can be done by dragging the OneDrive icon to the Trash, but that's not enough for a complete uninstallation. You'll also need to delete its support files, which are usually hidden in the Library folder.
The first step is to log in as an administrator, as admin privileges may be needed to uninstall OneDrive. If you encounter any errors during the uninstallation process, restarting your computer can help resolve the issue.
To ensure a smooth uninstallation process, it's essential to restart your device after uninstalling OneDrive. This clears any leftover cache or temp files that might be causing issues.
If you're experiencing problems uninstalling OneDrive, it's likely because the app is still running in the background. You can check this by opening Activity Monitor and searching for OneDrive processes. If you find any, force quit them before attempting to uninstall.
Some people find it helpful to use an app uninstaller like CleanMyApp to completely remove OneDrive from their Mac. This can be especially useful if you're not comfortable dealing with the Library folder or worry about accidentally deleting important files.
Here are the steps to uninstall OneDrive using CleanMyApp:
- Download CleanMyApp from the Apple App Store and install it on your Mac.
- Launch CleanMyApp and select OneDrive from the list of installed apps.
- Click Uninstall > Continue uninstall.
- Enter your admin password if asked to grant permission for the app and wait for it to finish uninstalling OneDrive.
Alternatively, you can follow the manual removal guide provided by Microsoft Community, which involves deleting OneDrive's support files from the Library folder. However, be careful not to delete any important files in the process.
Should I Uninstall?
Uninstalling OneDrive on Mac might be a good idea if you're running low on storage space, as the app itself and its support files take up some space on your hard drive.
Limited storage space is a valid reason to consider removing OneDrive, especially if you're already struggling to free up space on your Mac computer.
If you notice that your computer is running slower due to OneDrive's background processes and syncing files, uninstalling it can help alleviate resource usage and optimize your Mac's performance.
You might also want to uninstall OneDrive if you're switching to alternative cloud storage services or local storage solutions, to streamline your file management system and avoid conflicts.
Make sure to back up or download your important files stored in OneDrive before uninstalling the application, as you won't have direct access to them once it's gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I delete old Applications on my Mac?
To delete old Applications on your Mac, drag the unwanted app to the Trash or use the keyboard shortcut Command-Delete. This will remove the app from your computer, freeing up space and decluttering your system.
Sources
- https://www.process.st/how-to/turn-off-microsoft-onedrive/
- https://iboysoft.com/howto/uninstall-onedrive-mac.html
- https://vocal.media/lifehack/can-t-delete-one-drive-from-mac-here-are-some-fixes
- https://www.imymac.com/powermymac/uninstall-onedrive-on-mac.html
- https://medium.com/technology-woes/why-im-deleting-microsoft-onedrive-mac-edition-1661c3497bef
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