OneDrive’s presence is deeply embedded in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and as Microsoft continues to enhance its cloud functionalities, this integration is expected to grow even more. However, if you’re looking to eliminate OneDrive while maintaining the benefits of cloud storage on your desktop, there are alternatives available.
Reasons to Remove OneDrive
The Choice is Yours
Given that OneDrive is built into Windows and offers competitive pricing, one might wonder why someone would want to uninstall it.
The decision to remove OneDrive primarily stems from three motivations:
- Desire for greater control over my own computer
- Preference for supporting smaller, independent businesses
- Commitment to promoting open-source solutions
Over time, my computer has felt less like my own and more controlled by an outside entity, with Microsoft playing a significant role. Interestingly, this sentiment began during the transition from the “My Computer” label to “This PC” on Windows.
Choosing an Alternative to OneDrive
A Focus on Privacy
While Microsoft 365 includes Office and OneDrive, I’m not particularly concerned about finding a complete substitute for Office itself.
Instead, I plan to host my own solutions, which simplifies the replacement process since I won’t be looking for all features in a single package. The criteria I established were straightforward:
- Prioritize privacy
- Require end-to-end encryption
- Need Windows and Android applications for easy transition
Several cloud service providers fit these criteria, but I ultimately chose Proton due to its reputable standing. Additionally, it offers an email service similar to Microsoft’s.
Proton’s pricing is slightly higher than OneDrive, with an annual fee of $180 for 1TB of storage, equivalent to $15 per month. However, if you’re in the market for a VPN, there’s a potentially better value.
The Proton Unlimited plan offers a VPN along with 500GB of storage, 15 email addresses, and a password manager for $96 annually for the first two years, then $120 afterward.
I selected the standard Proton Drive 1TB subscription as I don’t currently need a VPN or password manager, but I do require the full amount of storage. If I were interested in those services, I would find the Proton Ultimate plan very appealing.
Transitioning from OneDrive to Proton Drive
Manual Migration Required
Unfortunately, there is no automated method to transfer files directly from OneDrive to Proton Drive. The files need to be downloaded from OneDrive and then uploaded to Proton Drive manually.
Downloading files is relatively easy. Log into OneDrive, navigate to the “My files” section, and click the checkbox next to the Name column, which won’t be displayed by default.
Note that the download button might disappear when selecting the Personal Vault; ensure to uncheck this option first.
Once all files are downloaded, you can upload them to Proton Drive either through their web interface or desktop app. I preferred using the desktop app for convenience.
Configuring Proton Drive on Windows
Follow the Steps Carefully
Setting up Proton Drive was relatively straightforward. After choosing my plan, I created an account on the Proton Drive website. A crucial aspect of this process is obtaining a Recovery Kit, which is a passphrase that allows you to regain access if you are ever locked out.
I downloaded the Recovery Kit PDF and will securely store copies in multiple locations. It’s essential to take the necessary precautions concerning this document.
Once my account was ready, I installed the desktop app and customized the settings. By default, Proton Drive syncs only the Documents folder, but as I mainly need it for my work files, I redirected it to the specific folder containing all my work documents.
The app also creates a “Proton Drive” folder in File Explorer, similar to OneDrive or Google Drive, making it simple to copy and paste files into that folder.
Removing OneDrive from Windows 11
Simple for Everyone
Despite its deep integration into the system, removing OneDrive is quite easy.
Open the Settings app by pressing Windows+i, then navigate to Apps > Installed apps and search for OneDrive. Click the three dots next to it and select “Uninstall.”
Interestingly, I noticed a “Microsoft OneDrive Setup” executable attempting to connect to the internet while trying to uninstall it. Blocking this connection initially prevented the uninstallation, but once I allowed it, the process completed successfully. I also ensured that my subscription wouldn’t renew automatically by accessing the “Subscriptions” tab on my Microsoft account.
Farewell Forever, OneDrive!
So far, Proton has functioned flawlessly. I no longer face the synchronization issues that plagued me with OneDrive.
