Windows 11 - documents folder is linked to onedrive instead of the pc storage. can't unlink it.

Anonymous
2022-08-26T22:34:31+00:00

I recently got a new laptop and I'm not sure how windows 11 works. I noticed that my documents folder was just my OneDrive, which i don't want.

When i tried to redirect it to the main storage, i get:

I'm not sure how to get it to work.

I don't want to unlink my onedrive completely because i use it often to transfer files.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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Brian Tillman 27,030 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2022-08-26T23:08:01+00:00

Hi. I'm Brian and I will do my best to help you.

Go into the Settings on OneDrive, select the Backup tab and uncheck Documents (and Desktop and Pictures if you wish) and those folders should get moved back to their position under C:\Users<youraccount>, unless you've manually created folders of the same name, which is not the correct approach.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-17T17:10:20+00:00

    Fwiw, I uninstalled OneDrive and don’t miss it at all. Google Drive works well and offers more storage space. And it’s a free download.

    If you decide to uninstall it, before starting, you should make backup copies of all your important documents and files onto a usb thumb drive or other external drive. And then disconnect that drive from your computer before doing the uninstall, just in case OneDrive does something funky in the process. That way, you can be confident your data is protected.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-17T15:16:41+00:00

    My default was already sent.

    The very annoying thing was when OneDrive first launched it "backed up" my files and several gigabytes of photos. Turned out it did not back them up - it moved them. I discovered this when I launched Capture One and all photos were missing. Solved this by copying everything back to my PC, then making sure all folders on OneDrive were empty.

    It also cleared all the random things I have on my desktop. - this may be something I did in trying to solve the above. Was a shock.

    My documents folder's default is the c drive.

    What I would like to do is either delete/uninstall OneDrive (but I am afraid of what that might break) or remove it from that favorites list and ensure it is not the default location for anything.

    Think it is safe to uninstall?

    thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-14T00:45:27+00:00

    But I have never set up one drive!! If I follow your instructions that is what it wants me to do. I just want all my stuff on my new computer and when I did the restore off my Seagate it went to one drive now I can't get them.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-06T20:12:47+00:00

    I did that but they still don't show up. To locate the documents folder I have to go to

    This PC

    OS (C;)

    Users
    
       MyUserName
    
            Documents
    

    This is maddening and truly makes me want to throw out 365 and OneDrive.

    How do I have them show up - I have checked every box that says don't save to OneDrive, default location my PC - yet still OneDrive cloud Personal is the top item followed by Desktop. I was able to "pin" documents, photos etc.

    Do I need uninstall OneDrive to solve this permanently?

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