How to Remove Old OneDrive Sync Roots From File Explorer

When you stop syncing a OneDrive folder or unlink an old account, the folder often remains listed in the left navigation pane of File Explorer. This leftover entry, called a sync root, can clutter your workspace and cause confusion when you try to access files that are no longer available. The sync root persists because Windows stores a registry key and a shell extension that continue to display the folder even after the sync relationship ends. This article explains how to permanently remove those stale OneDrive sync roots from File Explorer using two reliable methods: the Unlink button and manual registry editing.

Why Old Sync Roots Stay in File Explorer

When you link a OneDrive for Business account to your Windows PC, the OneDrive sync client creates a registry entry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive\Accounts. This entry stores the folder path, the account identifier, and a display name that File Explorer uses to show the sync root in the navigation pane. Simply deleting the local folder or signing out of OneDrive does not remove this registry key. The key remains until you explicitly unlink the account or edit the registry manually.

The same behavior occurs when you switch to a different OneDrive account or when an IT administrator changes your tenant. The old sync root remains visible even though the folder no longer syncs. The navigation pane entry is a shell namespace extension that reads from the registry. As long as the registry key exists, File Explorer continues to display the sync root.

Methods to Remove Old OneDrive Sync Roots

Method 1: Unlink the OneDrive Account

The safest way to remove the sync root is to unlink the OneDrive account through the sync client. This method deletes the registry key automatically and stops all sync processes. Use this method first before trying registry editing.

1. Open OneDrive Settings
   Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray notification area. If the icon is hidden, click the up arrow to show hidden icons. Select Settings from the menu.
2. Go to the Account tab
   In the OneDrive settings window, click the Account tab at the top. This tab shows your linked accounts and the amount of storage used.
3. Unlink the account
   Under the account you want to remove, click Unlink this PC. A confirmation dialog appears. Read the warning, then click Unlink account. The sync root disappears from File Explorer within a few seconds. If it does not, restart File Explorer by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Task Manager. Find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and choose Restart.

Method 2: Remove the Registry Key Manually

If the Unlink button is unavailable or does not remove the stale sync root, you can delete the registry key directly. This method works for orphaned entries left after a failed unlink or when you have already removed the OneDrive client but the navigation pane entry remains.

1. Open Registry Editor
   Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes when the User Account Control prompt appears.
2. Navigate to the OneDrive Accounts key
   In the left pane, expand the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > OneDrive > Accounts. Under Accounts, you will see subkeys named Business1, Personal, or similar. Each subkey represents a linked account.
3. Identify the old sync root subkey
   Click each subkey and look at the DisplayName or MountPoint value in the right pane. The MountPoint value shows the local folder path. The DisplayName shows the name that appears in File Explorer. Select the subkey that matches the stale sync root.
4. Delete the subkey
   Right-click the subkey and choose Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted. Do not delete the entire Accounts key, only the specific subkey for the old sync root.
5. Restart File Explorer
   Open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart. The old sync root should no longer appear in the navigation pane.

What to Do If the Sync Root Still Appears

OneDrive Sync Root Shows After Registry Deletion

If the sync root remains visible after deleting the registry key, the shell namespace extension cache may still hold the entry. Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run the command taskkill /f /im explorer.exe followed by start explorer.exe. This completely restarts the Windows shell and forces a cache refresh. If the entry still appears, sign out of Windows and sign back in.

Multiple OneDrive Accounts Are Listed

If you see multiple sync roots for the same account type, check the Accounts key in Registry Editor. Each subkey with a different GUID represents a separate sync relationship. Delete only the subkeys that correspond to accounts you no longer use. To confirm which account a subkey belongs to, look at the UserEmail value inside the subkey.

Sync Root Returns After Restart

If the old sync root reappears after a system restart, the OneDrive sync client may be configured to re-add the account automatically. Open OneDrive Settings, go to the Account tab, and verify that the account is fully unlinked. If the account still shows as linked, repeat the Unlink process. For persistent re-addition, check Group Policy settings under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive. The Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage policy can block automatic re-linking.

Unlink Account vs Registry Deletion: Key Differences

Item	Unlink Account	Registry Deletion
Description	Removes the sync root and stops sync through the OneDrive client	Removes the registry key that stores the sync root reference
Effect on sync	Stops all sync immediately and deletes local cached files	Does not affect sync but removes the navigation entry
When to use	First choice for active accounts or clean removal	Use only when Unlink is unavailable or fails
Risk	Low, guided by the OneDrive client	Moderate, requires careful key selection to avoid breaking other accounts

You can now remove stale OneDrive sync roots from File Explorer using either the Unlink method or manual registry editing. Start with the Unlink option in OneDrive Settings because it is safer and removes the entry automatically. If the Unlink button is missing or the entry persists, use Registry Editor to delete the specific subkey under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive\Accounts. After either method, restart File Explorer to see the result immediately. As an advanced tip, you can create a .reg file with the subkey path to automate the deletion for future cleanup tasks without opening Registry Editor each time.