How to fix
“A newer version of OneDrive is installed” error
on Windows

"A newer version of Onedrive is installed. You need to uninstall it first before installing this version." This error message pops up every single time I attempt to use OneDrive. I was thinking switching from Dropbox, but I see it's not yet stable enough on Windows 10 to be relied on. Dropbox works fine, and now I am baffled if I should actually swap to OneDrive as I am already having issues with it. Or maybe it can be fixed easily? I am not sure. Please help!

Cloud-based services were prevalent right from the mid-2000s when it came into existence as we know it today.[ref en-1] It has been a great way to backup your data, be it to protect yourself from ransomware attacks or just to save space on the personal device. Nevertheless, cloud-based storage has been a great addition to any modern-day individual and is here to stay.

Unfortunately, users sometimes get problems when they want to use cloud services. OneDrive is not an exception, and users complained about consistent error messages and inability to properly use the virtual storage.

"A newer version of OneDrive is installed. You need to uninstall it first before installing this version" error occurs whenever the user is trying to stop using OneDrive and operate some other cloud-based service, or when a user wants to switch to OneDrive. 

It is also known that users are unable to uninstall OneDrive because of the error mentioned above. The solution would be to remove the pre-installed version of OneDrive with the help of PowerShell.[ref en-2] 

Although Cloud services are useful, we recommend users to take measures to protect their account, as data breaches are on the rise right now - the Fappenig[ref en-3] saga, for example, claimed personal X-rated pictures of countless celebrities since 2014. For that, use strong passwords and do not forget to enable two-factor authentication.

There is a possibility that malware[ref en-4] is causing errors on Windows. In some cases, viruses can be extremely hard to catch as they do not emit any signs or symptoms. Therefore, we suggest you scan your machine with [d1] before following up with solutions our security team prepared.
This video contains all the information you need to solve this problem:
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Solution 1. Run the troubleshooter

Make sure the pre-installed version is working correctly before proceeding with other solutions:

1. Download OneDrive troubleshooter from here
2. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your machine after the process is finished

   

Solution 2. Reset OneDrive to fix "A newer version of OneDrive is installed" error

The troubleshooter might have indicated that there are problems with your OneDrive. If that is the case, you can try to reset OneDrive before re-installing it:

1. Type in Command Prompt into the search bar
2. Right-click and select Run as administrator
3. Once Command Prompt opens, copy and paste the following: %localappdata%\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\onedrive.exe /reset and press Enter

   

Solution 3. Uninstall OneDrive

There may be multiple reasons why current OneDrive service is not starting properly. It could be potentially corrupt or damaged by malware. Thus, a good solution would be to uninstall the current version of OneDrive and then reinstall it with the clean, new install.

1. Right-click on Start menu and select Settings 
2. Pick Apps and then scroll down to Microsoft OneDrive
3. Click on it and press Uninstall
4. Wait till the removal process is complete
5. Then, navigate to the following location: C:\\Users\\[your username]\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\OneDrive\\Update
6. Click on OneDriveSetup and wait till the installation process is complete

   

If Windows is preventing you from uninstalling OneDrive, you can do it via Command Prompt:

1. Go to C:\\Windows and locate the SysWOW64 folder
2. While holding Shift, right-click on it and select Open PowerShell window here
3. Once PowerShell opens, type in the following: OneDriveSetup.exe /uninstall

   

Solution 4. Delete OneDrive from Windows Registry

Warning: make sure you are attentive while executing this step as the incorrect process might damage your system files! This is the final solution that will hopefully help you to get OneDrive working again. Follow these steps and then install a new version of OneDrive:

1. Type in regedit into the search bar, right-click on the program and select Run as administrator
2. Once Registry Editor opens, go to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\OneDrive
3. Right-click on the OneDrive folder and press Delete