Unlink and Re-link OneDrive in Windows (Without Losing Files)

Unlinking and re-linking is the cleanest way to clear stubborn OneDrive sync errors without a full reset.

Why: Unlinking disconnects your PC from the account and drops the broken sync state, then re-linking rebuilds it from scratch. Your local OneDrive folder stays on disk the whole time — nothing is deleted.

Fix 1: Unlink this PC

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
2. Select the Help & Settings icon (gear) → Settings.
3. Open the Account tab.
4. Click Unlink this PC, then confirm with Unlink account.

OneDrive stops syncing and the setup window appears.

Fix 2: Clear the stale sign-in cache (optional)

If the same error returns after unlinking, remove the cached config before re-linking:

1. Press Win + R, paste the path below, and press OK:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings

2. Delete PreSignInSettingsConfig.json.

Fix 3: Re-link your account

1. In the OneDrive setup window, sign in with your email and password (or open OneDrive from Start if the window closed).
2. When OneDrive says a folder already exists, choose Use this folder to keep your files in place — pick Choose new folder only if you want to move them.
3. Let OneDrive re-sync. It compares your local folder against the cloud, so files already on disk don’t re-download in full.
4. Once finished, set which folders sync if you previously synced only some.

FAQ

Will unlinking delete my files? No. The local OneDrive folder stays on your PC; unlinking only cuts the cloud connection. Choosing Use this folder when you re-link reconnects the same files.

Reset or unlink — which first? Try unlink/re-link first; it’s gentler. A full onedrive.exe /reset is the heavier fallback when relinking doesn’t help.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Unlink and re-link OneDrive