Microsoft accidentally rolled out a OneDrive app to everyone's PCs, and there's no simple way to fix it

Published Aug 9, 2026, 12:12 AM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Microsoft accidentally pushed OneDrive Photos to enterprise PCs via the OneDrive background sync. It auto-installed without consent; enterprise PCs often lack permissions to open it. Microsoft says it's fixing this and will build a tool; in the meantime, remove OneDrive or wait. As big as Microsoft is, it can make mistakes sometimes. Recently, people noticed that Windows 11 had installed a new OneDrive app on their PCs, even if they didn't ask for it. Worst of all, the app arrived on enterprise PCs, which don't have the right permissions to even open it. Well, it turns out that Microsoft had slipped up and pushed it out too far, too quickly. Microsoft's new OneDrive app push went further than the company wanted There's no simple way to get rid of it Windows Latest recently got in touch with Microsoft to ask it why people were reporting a new OneDrive app appearing on their computers. As it turns out, the company's recent, strange push to get the OneDrive app on as many PCs as possible wasn't meant to go quite as far as it did. “We are incubating a new photos experience in OneDrive that went more broadly than it should have in Windows,” Microsoft said to Windows Latest. “We’re fixing that. Windows Photos will always give you the option of local and cloud photos and the choice to use OneDrive or not.” The app in question is called OneDrive Photos, and it was meant to only release on personal computers. It downloaded through the OneDrive background sync client, meaning it would download without user intervention. However, it somehow managed to worm its way onto enterprise computers, too. IT admins at businesses were pretty angry with Microsoft over the rollout, especially given the only way to get rid of OneDrive Photos is to remove OneDrive entirely. Microsoft is currently working on a tool to fix this. For the time being, you'll either need to scrub OneDrive off your PC or hold on tight for now. And hey, if you do decide to get rid of OneDrive, you can try something far more private and powerful instead. Sounds like a win-win to me.