How to Delete a Microsoft OneDrive For Business Account Permanently: Quick Guide

Microsoft OneDrive for Business is a widely used cloud-based storage service. It is a part of the Microsoft 365 productivity suite. Users can easily access their files from any remote location using the internet. It offers users the ease and convenience of storing their files. The requirement of deleting a Microsoft OneDrive account permanently rises when users want to switch their service provider, multiple accounts need to delete one or may no longer be in use.  Once you delete your account, you will no longer be able to use integrated Microsoft apps. This guide will cover the key considerations and steps for how to delete a Microsoft OneDrive for Business account permanently.

Important Points to Consider Before Deleting a OneDrive For Business Account Permanently

• Before deleting the account, inform the people you are collaborating with and sharing. So, they can download the files shared with them for future preferences.
• You should save the content of apps used within that Microsoft account.
• If you have an active Microsoft subscription plan, cancel it immediately to avoid unnecessary charges.
• You can recover your Microsoft account within 60 days of deletion, but after that, all data linked to your account will be permanently deleted.
• You can download files on your local system or upload them to another OneDrive account.

Remove OneDrive For Business Access For Users

To completely delete a OneDrive for Business account, you have to delete the entire Microsoft 365 tenant. There is a way to restrict users or remove OneDrive for Business access for them. An administrator might want to do this for security purposes because users can easily download, share, and sync files with their local devices. So, to restrict the user or multiple users’ access, you can use Microsoft 365 Manager Plus License Modification.

Steps to Remove OneDrive For Business Access For Users Using Microsoft 365 Manager License

1. Open the Microsoft 365 Manager Plus web console.
2. Navigate to license management and click on the “Management” tab from the top pane.
3. Go to Azure Directory and choose “License Management” > “License Modification”.
4. Select users and licenses using the “Assign and Remove” option. Click on “Remove Selected Licenses”. Now select your current Microsoft 365 subscription plan.
5. Click on the “Edit Licenses” option and select “SharePoint Online(Plan 2) only. Users will lose access to OneDrive for Business when they select the SharePoint online plan without it.
6. Choose your Microsoft 365 tenant from the “Find Users and Modify” section.
7. You can enter an individual name to block OneDrive for Business access or you can upload a CSV file containing multiple usernames to block access.

Steps to Delete a OneDrive For Business Account Permanently

1. Sign in to your OneDrive account using your credentials.
2. Click on settings in the top right corner. Choose “Options” from the settings and navigate to “Personal Vault”.
3. Verify your identity to access other account settings. The identification code was sent to your associated mail.
4. After successful verification, you will see a “Close your Account” option. Click on it.
5. Now you will see a page with full instructions to know what will happen to your account after deletion. Click next to continue account deletion.
6. Check all boxes and select the reason for closing the account.
7. Click on the “Mark Account for Closure” button. The account will be permanently deleted after 60 days.

We have seen the steps to delete OneDrive for Business Account permanently. Before deletion, it is necessary to keep your critical data for future preferences. The two methods are discussed for keeping your files.

Download and Upload OneDrive Files Manually to Another Account

1. Sign in to your OneDrive account using https://onedrive.live.com/login/.
2. Choose the files you want to download and click on the download option from the menu.
3. After the files get downloaded on your local computer, you can upload them to another account for future use.

Disadvantages of Using the Manual Method

• It is a time-consuming process and error-prone process.
• Transfer of large files can take time. Even days or weeks, So not feasible for large data.
• There is enough space required to store files on your local computer.
• Any disruptions can cause data loss because you have to download and upload each file manually.
• Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a reliable power supply.

Note

We have covered the steps to delete a Microsoft OneDrive for a business account permanently. Also, discussed the method to save your files using the manual download and upload method. The manual process is complex, and any minor interruption can lead to data loss.  If you download data to your local device, your hard disk may corrupt the data, causing it to be lost. The manual method is not feasible for large data and has several complexities. So, for a smooth and secure data migration use a automated approach. We recommend using a professional and secure SysTools OneDrive to OneDrive Migration software.

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Conclusion

The article covers the steps and important points to permanently delete a Microsoft OneDrive for Business account. We also discussed the ways to save your files before deleting your OneDrive account. By following this detailed guide, you can effectively delete your unnecessary accounts to maintain a more collaborative and productive work environment within your organization.

FAQs

1. How do I permanently delete OneDrive data?

You can easily delete your OneDrive data permanently, by going to the Recycle bin in the left navigation pane.

• To delete specific folders or files from the recycle bin, choose those items and choose delete from the top navigation.
• To permanently delete all items from the recycle bin at once, choose empty recycle bin in the navigation.

2. Can I permanently delete my Microsoft account?

Yes, you can delete your Microsoft account permanently. After you delete your account, you will lose access to all services associated with the account like emails, files, and subscriptions. Your account will permanently get deleted after 60 days, in case you want to recover your account, recover it within the set time.

3. What are the potential risks of not properly deleting a OneDrive for Business account?

It can lead to unauthorized access to crucial data, unnecessary increases in licensing costs, and other potential security attacks. So, make sure whenever you are deleting an account, you have the necessary permissions and authority to delete the account.

4. What happens if I Uninstall OneDrive?

After uninstalling OneDrive, you will not lose your data. Your data will be available when you sign in to your OneDrive on the web, only your folders will stop syncing.

5. Can I access shared files after deleting an account?

The collaborators can no longer access shared files after deleting an account. So, it is important to reassign ownership of crucial files to someone before deleting an account.