How to Sign Out of OneDrive (Unlink Without Losing Files)

OneDrive doesn't have a button called Sign out on a computer. Microsoft calls it unlinking, and it's the right move when you're handing over a computer, switching to a different Microsoft account, or fixing sync problems. It doesn't delete anything from your OneDrive, but it does change what you can open on that computer, and that's the part to check first.

How to sign out of OneDrive on Windows

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar, near the clock. You may need to click the up arrow to see it.
2. Click the cog icon, then Settings.
3. Choose the Account tab.
4. Click Unlink this PC.
5. Click Unlink account to confirm.

How to sign out of OneDrive on a Mac

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the menu bar.
2. Click the cog icon, then Settings or Preferences.
3. Choose Account.
4. Click Unlink this Mac and confirm.

What happens to your files

File status before you sign out	After you sign out
Available on this device (solid circle)	Stays in the OneDrive folder on your computer
Available when online (cloud icon)	Only reachable on OneDrive on the web
Everything in your OneDrive	Still safe online at OneDrive.com

The catch: online-only files stop opening

Many people have Files On-Demand switched on without realising, so most of their files are online-only placeholders. After you unlink, those placeholders stay in the folder but won't open, because there's no longer a OneDrive connection to download them. If you need files on this computer after signing out, right-click the folders first and choose Always keep on this device, wait for them to download, and then unlink.

If you're handing the computer to someone else, it's the other way round: once you've unlinked, the files that were downloaded stay in the folder. Microsoft says those local copies can be deleted safely after unlinking, because the originals are still in the cloud. Delete them so the next person can't see them.

Don't delete files before you unlink

This is the mistake that loses people's work. While OneDrive is still linked, deleting a file in the OneDrive folder deletes it from OneDrive everywhere, on every device and online. Always unlink first, then delete local copies. Deleting from OneDrive in the cloud is permanent once the recycle bin is emptied.

Signing out of OneDrive on your phone

In the OneDrive app on iPhone or Android, tap your profile picture or the account icon, then choose to sign out. As on a computer, this only signs the phone out. Your files stay in your OneDrive online, and any files you'd saved for offline use on the phone are removed from it.

Signing in again

To sign back in, open OneDrive from the Start menu or Applications folder and sign in with your Microsoft account. Choose where your OneDrive folder should go. Any changes made online while you were unlinked sync back down once you're linked again.

Unlink, stop syncing or uninstall?

• Unlink when you want this computer disconnected from your account but might reconnect later.
• Pause syncing when you just need OneDrive to stop for a few hours, for example on a slow connection.
• Uninstall when you don't want OneDrive on the computer at all. Unlink first.

If you're moving files to a different service, my roundup of turning off Google Photos backup covers the same sort of switch for your photos.

Signing out on a shared or work computer

On a work computer, your IT team may have set OneDrive to sign you in automatically with your work account, so it can reconnect on its own after you unlink. That's expected. If you're leaving a job or returning a laptop, unlinking is still worth doing, but tell IT as well, because they'll usually remove your account and files from the device as part of the hand-back. On a shared family computer, unlink and then check the OneDrive folder is empty before anyone else uses it.

Switching to a different Microsoft account

If you're unlinking because you signed in with the wrong account, such as a personal one on a work computer, unlink first, then sign in with the right account when OneDrive asks. It's worth choosing a fresh folder location when prompted, so files from the two accounts don't end up mixed in the same folder. OneDrive can also hold a personal and a work account side by side if you'd rather keep both.

My verdict

To sign out of OneDrive on a computer, open OneDrive Settings, then Account, and click Unlink this PC or Unlink this Mac. Before you do, set any folders you need offline to Always keep on this device, because online-only files won't open afterwards. And never delete files from the OneDrive folder until you've unlinked, or you'll delete them everywhere. For more on keeping devices running smoothly, see my tips for a faster Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Does signing out of OneDrive sign me out of Outlook or Word?

Not necessarily. Office apps keep their own sign-in, so check File, Account in each app if you want to sign out there too.

How do I sign out of OneDrive on Windows?

Open OneDrive Settings, go to Account and click Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.

Does unlinking OneDrive delete my files?

No. Your files stay in OneDrive online at OneDrive.com.

Why can't I open my files after signing out of OneDrive?

They were online-only. Sign back in, or open them on OneDrive on the web.

Can I delete the OneDrive folder after unlinking?

Yes. Once unlinked, deleting local copies doesn't affect the files in the cloud.

How do I sign out of OneDrive on a Mac?

Open OneDrive Settings, choose Account and click Unlink this Mac.

Will my files sync again when I sign back in?

Yes. Changes made while you were unlinked sync when you link again.