Windows 11 Browse For Folder Dialog Issue - Only Desktop

Thanks. OneDrive seems to be the culprit. The workaround is to stop syncing your Desktop folder with OneDrive.

Important: Before proceeding, copy the files in those special folders to another folder or external drive. Please don’t copy them anywhere under Desktop/Documents/Pictures. This is because disabling OneDrive backup for a folder erases the local copies of the files. Copying them to a different location beforehand will ensure that you don’t need to download them again from the OneDrive cloud.

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Notification area and click Settings.
2. Select the Backup tab, and click Manage Backup
3. In the Manage folder backup dialog, click on the Stop backup link for "Desktop"
4. Click Stop backup in the confirmation dialog that appears.

Thanks. OneDrive seems to be the culprit. The workaround is to stop syncing your Desktop folder with OneDrive.

Important: Before proceeding, copy the files in those special folders to another folder or external drive. Please don’t copy them anywhere under Desktop/Documents/Pictures. This is because disabling OneDrive backup for a folder erases the local copies of the files. Copying them to a different location beforehand will ensure that you don’t need to download them again from the OneDrive cloud.

 

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Notification area and click Settings.
2. Select the Backup tab, and click Manage Backup
3. In the Manage folder backup dialog, click on the Stop backup link for "Desktop"
4. Click Stop backup in the confirmation dialog that appears.

Your analysis is correct. Turning off the sync of Desktop resolved the problem. I did not need desktop sync to OneDrive, and I had forgotten it was on. I will note though that my OneDrive configuration has not changed for months so it is likely there is a very recent Windows software change that exposed this problem. It was not obvious to me that OneDrive configuration would have been a factor in this problem.

Thank you for your original script suggestion and then your analysis and solution for this problem!!!!

Run browse.vbs. Does the same issue occur?

Also, please post back if you've relocated the desktop folder to another drive/location.

I am running Windows 11 22H2 and have the problem being reported with a specific application Fujitsu PaperStream Capture scanner software version 3.2.0. Both Windows 11 and PaperStream are updated to current. I ran the above test, and the test shows the issue of showing only access to the desktop. The desktop folder has not been relocated.

Hi Elise,

I have the same problem, and it happens on two machines of mine. Both are personal machines so there are no restrictions . One is a Surface Pro 8. I've completely reinstalled Windows, and the problem remains.