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

I can't find the settings and backup tab in one drive.

Reply to MelvinBraun

Please watch this video to get a better view of what the process is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=119bYD_A9mI&t=6s

This has to be followed in a certain sequence. I've had to help at least a handful of clients get their computer back to "normal" (i.e., before Onedrive hijacked the user\documents, and user\desktop and user\pictures folders and moved everything to

user\ONEDRIVE\documents, and user\ONEDRIVE\desktop and user\ONEDRIVE\pictures

Un-synching and unlinking still leaves your files in the ONEDRIVE folder on your computer. You have to move them to the proper (normal) folders. Sometimes, when you un-synch, and unlink, the files "disappear" from the user\onedrive folder on your computer.

That is why it is important to BACKUP your files to an external drive BEFORE you un-synch and unlink.

See my reply to Madi about watching this video

DO NOT ATTEMPT without FIRST BACKIING UP YOUR FILES TO AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE.

Someone should file an anti-trust lawsuit against Microsoft......

This is ridiculous and I have had over a handful of clients where I had to clean up this mess. One should not have to fiddle with the registry or have to reinstall windows. The video goes over the process so you have a better understanding of what is involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=119bYD_A9mI&t=6s

If you fiddle with the registry, you may run into problems when Windows updates to a new version or their usual monthly updates.

Careful what data you store in the cloud versus your own computer. Sensitive data does not belong in the cloud.

reply to Madi

Before you do that -- look at this video. It will help you understand what is going on, OneDrive hijacks your normal user Documents, Pictures and Desktop folders and moved all that information to the User\ONEDRIVE\ folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop). That means anything in that ONEDRIVE folder is being uploaded to ONEDRIVE in the cloud.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=119bYD_A9mI&t=6s

If you delete the file in OneDrive in the cloud (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onedrive/online-cloud-storage),  then it will also delete from your computer and vice versa. It does not act like an external drive when it synchs; rather it acts as an extension of your computer. Automatic synching is not good if you have confidential info that you do not want stored in the cloud (i.e., Microsoft servers).

I have mine un-synched and unlinked. If I want a file in the cloud, I will manually put it there --- that way I have control of what files are uploaded.

I warn others not to activate ONEDRIVE on their computers. I show them that they can manually go to the OneDrive website and upload the files they want to share with others.

Also, you can supposedly choose which folders in the ONEDRIVE folder on your computer you can synch ("backup)") to the cloud. Again, it mean you have to keep that info in your ONEDRIVE folder on your computer. I thoroughly hate that that is why I don't do it that way and un-synched and unlinked my computer. But before I did that, I

BACKED UP ALL MY FILES TO AN EXTERNAL DRIVE. That way if they disappear from the ONEDRIVE folders on my hard drive, I can copy the back to the proper folders (...use\Documents) or (...user\pictures) or {... user\desktop) and not

{....user\onedrive\documents) etc.

Do watch that video so you have a better picture of what it means to get your computer back to normal before it was ruined by ONEDRIVE.