deleting my files from onedrive

Delete the contents through the OneDrive folder in Windows File Explorer; because this folder is synchronized, the deletion will also remove those items from OneDrive online.^1^

Delete everything from OneDrive

1. If you want to retain local copies, first move them to a location that is definitely outside OneDrive—for example, another local drive or an external drive.
   • Check the destination’s full path.
   • It must not be beneath your OneDrive folder or a Windows folder being backed up by OneDrive.
2. Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
3. In the left pane, select OneDrive – Personal.
4. Open the top-level OneDrive folder, press Ctrl+A, and then press Delete.
5. If OneDrive displays a warning about deleting many or shared files, confirm only after checking the selection. Deleting a shared item can remove it for everyone who uses it.^1^

Wait for OneDrive to finish synchronizing. Changes made in the synchronized folder are also made on the OneDrive website and vice versa.^2^

Permanently remove the deleted files

The initial deletion moves the files to OneDrive’s Recycle bin:

1. Open the OneDrive website and sign in.
2. Select Recycle bin in the left navigation.
3. Check that it contains nothing you need.
4. Select the items and choose Delete in the top navigation.

This final step is permanent. For a personal Microsoft account, items left in the OneDrive Recycle Bin are normally deleted automatically after 30 days.^3^

If OneDrive is not synchronized with File Explorer

Since the web selection you already tried did not show Delete, try this precise web sequence:

1. Open My files.
2. If there are many items, scroll to the bottom first so the complete list loads.
3. Press Ctrl+A.
4. Select Delete on the top bar, or right-click a selected item and choose Delete.^4^

If Delete is absent both from the top bar and the right-click menu, Microsoft indicates that you may not have permission to delete one or more selected items.^1^ In that case, select only files you own under My files, rather than items merely listed under Shared.

References

1. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/delete-files-or-folders-in-onedrive#delete-items-from-your-onedrive,-your-hard-drive,-or-both-in-windows)
2. Sync your computer's files and folders with OneDrive | Microsoft Support
3. What happens when you delete files in the cloud
4. ’OneDrive ‘delete all’ - Microsoft Q&A