OneDrive File Issues

How to Hide the OneDrive Icon from File Explorer Quick Access

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to remove or hide the old OneDrive icon from the File Explorer Quick Access navigation pane without fully uninstalling the OneDrive application.

Product: Windows File Explorer / OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Organizing the File Explorer interface by removing unneeded or duplicate cloud storage icons from the navigation pane.
Observed behavior: An old or unwanted OneDrive icon remains pinned in the File Explorer Quick Access sidebar, cluttering the interface.

Before you start

Before making changes to the Windows Registry, it is highly recommended to create a system restore point or back up your registry, as modifying the wrong key can cause system instability.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide OneDrive Icon via Registry Editor

Use the Windows Registry Editor to change the pinning value of the OneDrive namespace, which hides the icon without affecting the actual OneDrive sync application.

This method modifies how File Explorer reads the OneDrive shortcut in its navigation tree. By setting the namespace tree pin value to zero, the icon is hidden from view, but the OneDrive application remains installed and continues to sync your files in the background.

Open the Registry Editor

Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog. Type 'regedit' into the box and press Enter. Click 'Yes' if prompted by User Account Control.

Navigate to the CLSID Key

In the Registry Editor address bar at the top, copy and paste the following path and press Enter: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

Modify the Pinned Value

In the right-hand pane, locate the DWORD entry named 'System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree'. Double-click on it to open its properties.

Change Value Data

In the 'Value data' field, change the number from 1 to 0. Click 'OK' to save your changes.

Restart Windows Explorer

Restart your computer, or open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find 'Windows Explorer', right-click it, and select 'Restart' for the changes to take effect.

Reverting the Change: If you ever want the OneDrive icon to appear in File Explorer again, simply navigate back to the same registry key and change the System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree value back to 1.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding the OneDrive icon stop my files from syncing?

No, hiding the icon from the File Explorer Quick Access using the Registry Editor only removes the visual shortcut. The OneDrive desktop app will continue to run normally and sync your files in the background.

Can I hide the OneDrive icon without using the Registry Editor?

The most reliable way to remove the native File Explorer integration without completely uninstalling the application is through the Registry Editor. Alternatively, you can uninstall OneDrive from the 'Apps & features' menu, but this will stop all cloud syncing.

Why do I see multiple OneDrive icons in File Explorer?

Multiple icons usually appear if you have both a personal OneDrive account and a OneDrive for Business account linked to your computer. Each account creates its own namespace shortcut in the File Explorer pane.

Document & File Issues