How to remove leftover OneDrive folders from Finder on Mac after unlinking the accounts

Rejina Marie 0 Reputation points
2026-09-11T10:37:12.3733333+00:00

I’ve already unlinked my previous work OneDrive accounts, and I no longer have access to log in or relink those accounts. However, some folders from those old OneDrive accounts are still appearing in my Finder/sidebar as leftover folders.

I can’t move, delete, or drag these folders to the Bin, so they’re essentially stuck there. I’d like to completely remove the old OneDrive folders and references without affecting my current OneDrive account or files.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-11T10:37:29.4333333+00:00

    If the old OneDrive folders are leftover Finder/File Provider entries after unlinking, use this cleanup path on Mac:

    1. Open the OneDrive menu bar icon.
    2. Go to Help & Settings or More > Preferences.
    3. On the Account tab, confirm the old account is already removed. If any old account still appears, select Unlink this Mac.

    If the stuck folders are under /Library/CloudStorage:

    1. In the OneDrive sync window, use Show in Finder if the app shows a message about multiple versions or duplicate sign-in.
    2. In Finder, open /Library/CloudStorage.
    3. Double-click each OneDrive folder.
    4. Check the top of each Finder window:
      • If a banner appears with a Delete button, select Delete. That removes the folder from the previous OneDrive version that is no longer installed.
      • If no folder shows a banner or Delete option, open OneDrive Preferences > Account > Unlink this Mac, then run OneDrive again to complete setup. The documented note states no data is lost; the Mac is only disconnected briefly.

    If the leftover Finder item is a stale File Provider/sidebar entry:

    1. In Finder, select Option+click the OneDriveCloudTemp folder and choose Remove from Sidebar.
    2. If Finder shows a stale provider entry such as a missing OneDrive File Provider and offers a delete option, use the Finder delete prompt for that stale entry.

    If the old references still remain, clear stored OneDrive sign-in credentials and relink only the current account:

    1. Open Keychain Access.
    2. If keychains are not visible, choose Window > Keychain Access.
    3. Select a keychain.
    4. Choose File > Delete Keychain [OneDrive/Office/MS].
    5. Select Delete References.
    6. Sign in again when prompted, and when OneDrive says a folder already exists, select Use this folder if keeping the current location.

    Important:

    • Deleting files online keeps them deleted.
    • Unlinking the Mac does not delete data; it disconnects the Mac from OneDrive temporarily.
    • If removing a local OneDrive folder in Finder, verify it is not the active sync folder for the current account before deleting anything.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Jhun Buala 5,535 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-11T11:29:54.8+00:00

    Hi Rejina,

    Good day. You can usually remove these leftover entries without affecting your current OneDrive account.

    Try to do this first:

    1. Open Finder > Go > Go to Folder.
    2. Enter /Library/ CloudStorage and press Enter.
    3. Look for folders related to your old OneDrive accounts. Don't delete your current OneDrive folder.
    4. If an old OneDrive folder can be removed from there, you can delete it.
    5. Then restart Finder: hold Option, right-click Finder in the Dock, and select Relaunch.

    If the old folders are only showing in the Finder sidebar, Control-click the folder and select Remove from Sidebar. This only removes the shortcut - it won't delete your files. If they're still stuck after this, don't force-delete them. They may be leftover OneDrive File Provider entries, which require a different cleanup method.

    Regards,
    Jhun

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