Reinstall OneDrive on Laptop

THarrington-0952 0 Reputation points
2026-09-19T23:39:13.0833333+00:00

I deleted OneDrive and need to reinstall to get my photos

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

    2026-09-19T23:39:29.7366667+00:00

    Reinstalling OneDrive can help restore syncing for photos. Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete data stored in OneDrive. Files remain available when signed in at OneDrive.com.

    On Windows:

    1. Select Start, type Programs, and select Add or remove programs.
    2. Under Apps & features, find Microsoft OneDrive.
    3. Select Uninstall. If prompted, enter the administrator password or confirm.
    4. Download the desktop sync app: Download the Microsoft OneDrive app from the website.
    5. Open the downloaded file.
    6. Follow the prompts to sign in and complete setup.

    Important notes:

    • OneDrive will perform a full sync after reinstallation.
    • If only certain folders were synced before, those folder choices must be set again after sync completes.
    • If photos are only needed for viewing, there is also a Microsoft Store OneDrive app, but the Microsoft OneDrive desktop app is the one that backs up and syncs files.

    If reinstalling does not resolve the issue, technical support is available through Contact Microsoft Support, and community help is available through Ask the Microsoft Community.

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

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  2. Jose Benjamin Solis Nolasco 12,691 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-20T00:01:36.43+00:00

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

     

    @THarrington-0952 I hope you are doing well,

     

    Quick steps so you can access your photos;

     

    1. If  You want immediate Access :

    Before reinstalling, you can immediately confirm and access your photos from any web browser:

    • Go to onedrive.live.com and sign in with the same Microsoft account you used previously.
    • Open the Photos tab in the left sidebar to browse and view your pictures right away.

     

    2. Download and Reinstall OneDrive

    1. Download the official installer directly from Microsoft: Download Microsoft OneDrive.
    2. Open the downloaded OneDriveSetup.exe file to run the installer.
    3. Once the installation completes, sign in with your Microsoft account email and password.
    4. When prompted to choose your OneDrive folder location, keep the default path (or select your preferred drive) and click Next.User's image

    3. Enable Backup for Pictures and Photos

    To sync your cloud photos back to your PC:

    1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar (bottom-right corner near the clock).
    2. Click the gear icon (Settings) > select Settings.
    3. Go to the Sync and backup tab and select Manage backup.
    4. Make sure the toggle for Pictures is turned On, then click Save changes.

     

    After setup, your photos will appear in File Explorer under OneDrive - Personal > Pictures. If files show a blue cloud icon, double-click them (or right-click and choose Always keep on this device) to download local offline copies.

     

    References:

     

    Help make this community better for everyone: if this answer resolved your issue, please accept it or leave an upvote. If not, share more details in a comment so we can continue the discussion and find the right solution.

     

     

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