How to Add or Remove OneDrive from File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11

Before modifying the registry, create a backup to restore if something goes wrong. This is essential when working with system-level changes.

Win + R

Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control.

In Registry Editor, click File > Export. Choose a location like your Desktop, name it OneDrive_Registry_Backup, and click Save.

The OneDrive navigation pane visibility is controlled by a specific registry key. We'll navigate to this key to modify the visibility setting.

In Registry Editor, navigate to this exact path by expanding the folders in the left pane:

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

Alternatively, press Ctrl + F to open Find, paste {018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}, and click Find Next.

You should see several values in the right pane, including System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree.

To hide OneDrive from the navigation pane for your current user account, modify the registry value that controls its visibility.

Double-click on System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree in the right pane. The Edit DWORD dialog will open.

Change the Value data from 1 to 0:

Value name: System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree
Value data: 0
Base: Hexadecimal

Click OK to save the change. Close Registry Editor.

Now restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

In Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab, right-click it, and select Restart.

To remove OneDrive from the navigation pane for all users on the computer, you need to modify permissions first, then change the registry value.

Right-click on the {018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} key in the left pane and select Permissions.

Click Advanced, then click Change next to the Owner field. Type Administrators and click Check Names, then OK.

Check the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects box and click OK.

Back in the Permissions dialog, select Administrators and check Full Control, then click OK.

Now modify the registry value as in the previous step:

System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree = 0

If you're running Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use Group Policy Editor for a more administrative approach to hiding OneDrive.

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Click Yes when prompted.

Navigate to this path in the left pane:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive

In the right pane, double-click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage.

Select Enabled and click OK. This policy will hide OneDrive from File Explorer and prevent its usage.

Apply the policy immediately:

gpupdate /force

Restart Windows Explorer using Task Manager as described in previous steps.

To restore OneDrive visibility in the navigation pane, reverse the registry modification or ensure OneDrive is properly configured.

First, ensure OneDrive is running. Look for the cloud icon in your system tray (bottom-right corner). If missing, search for OneDrive in the Start menu and launch it.

Sign in with your Microsoft account if prompted. OneDrive needs to be authenticated to appear in File Explorer.

To force OneDrive to appear via registry, navigate back to:

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

Double-click System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree and change the value to 1:

Value data: 1

Click OK and restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager.

If registry edits don't work or you prefer a simpler approach, try resetting Folder Options to restore default navigation pane settings.

Open File Explorer and click the three dots (⋯) in the toolbar, then select Options.

In the Folder Options dialog, click the View tab.

Click Reset Folders to restore default folder view settings:

View tab > Reset Folders > Apply > OK

Also ensure the navigation pane is enabled:

File Explorer > View > Show > Navigation pane (checked)

If OneDrive still doesn't appear, try toggling OneDrive folder syncing:

Win + I > Accounts > Windows backup > OneDrive folder syncing (toggle off/on)

If OneDrive still doesn't behave as expected, try these troubleshooting steps to resolve common issues.

Issue 1: OneDrive not signed in

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray and select Settings. Go to the Account tab and ensure you're signed in. If not, click Add an account.

Issue 2: Multiple OneDrive entries

You might see "OneDrive – Personal" and other variants. The same registry key controls all OneDrive entries.

Issue 3: OneDrive startup disabled

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the Startup apps tab, find Microsoft OneDrive, and set it to Enabled.

Issue 4: Corrupted OneDrive installation

Unlink and relink OneDrive:

1. Right-click OneDrive tray icon > Settings
2. Account tab > Unlink this PC
3. Sign in again with your Microsoft account

Issue 5: Explorer not refreshing

Always restart Windows Explorer via Task Manager rather than rebooting the entire system for faster results.