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
    2024-06-14T00:46:24+00:00

    agree.. 365 stinks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-17T14:58:22+00:00

    When I tried to move the location I got a OneDrive error that there's already a folder that can't be moved from there, something like that. Finally I resolved it by:

    (1) stop backup on the onedrive Documents folder (this also took a few entries sometimes access to do this was denied)

    (2) open properties on the Documents shortcut in Windows Explorer, modify location

    (3) still got the error, so I clicked "Restore Default" then the local C: drive documents location came up

    (4) [my own wish] changed it to D and this time it worked.

    So if you're getting hit by errors in the Location screen, keep fiddling you will get it :-)

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  3. 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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  4. 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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