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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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-09T03:42:09+00:00

    I have several clients who have this problem. Windows 11 is a real pain versus Windows 10. The same directions we used for Windows 10 do not work for Windows 11.

    Whatever you do DO NOT UNISTALL IT until you follow these steps. Here is a YouTube Video that can help.

    Before you do this, BACKUP (i.e., COPY) files from your Documents folder (really it is in the c:\user\username\Onedrive\Documents folder. COPY those files to an external drive. Do the same for the hijacked DESKTOP folder and the PICTURES folder.

    While searching for answers, I created folders in the c:\user\username folder -- not in the Documents folder, they could use temporarily while we cleaned up File Explorer. It was a REAL pain on some of my clients systems.

    Then do the suggestion in the Youtube video

    I hope someone files an anti-trust lawsuit for this hijacking of files.

    Lesson to be learned --- NEVER synch files with the cloud. Upload files manually to the cloud that you want others to access (sharing files), or that you want backed up. Never store confidential or private files in the cloud.

    Hope that helps. Even MICROSOFT'S HELP guide misses some vital steps that cause problems for restoring File Explorer back to normal.

    After all is cleaned up and back to normal, then and only then, uninstall that hideous ONEDRIVE.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-08T10:31:50+00:00

    There is no Settings tab when I open One Drive in Windows 11 - just a dropdown witj Properties and options neither of which takes me to a Backup tab

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