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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.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
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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.
I was referring to your statement, "There is no location tab in Windows 11."
"Always keep on this device" is in the context (right-click) menu for a file in a OneDrive folder.
For the rest, try asking that in a new thread. It's not really on-topic for this one, and you'll have a better chance of getting a good answer if you give it its own thread. Be sure to include information about how your system is set up. There isn't enough information here for anyone to help diagnose the issue. If you're on a tight deadline, use tech support.
I am not sure of the reason, but the, "Always keep on this device" option is not included in the right-click drop down menu of any of my files, programs or documents. This showed up after the last big Windows 11 Cumulative update during the first week of April.
Not sure where it went, as it was there before. Also when I try to email a single .pdf or Word document it sends a link to my windows explorer page instead. This link is fully functional and allows the receiver to search all of my files. I have never encountered this problem. It seems no one else has either. Short of a new computer, I am at a loss.
Me too. Multiple "Documents" folders in the navigation pane. Everything tries to save to OneDrive and fails becaue I have unlinked the PC from OneDrive. It shouldn't even show them oin the navigation pane, let alone always try to save to OneDrive. And the "local" one should now point to my local folders, but it points to OneDrive.
Rthere are huge problems with the OneDrive implementation which make navigation confusing and fails to remove duplication when Onedrive is disabled.
I am not sure of the reason, but the, "Always keep on this device" option is not included in the right-click drop down menu of any of my files, programs or documents. This showed up after the last big Windows 11 Cumulative update during the first week of April.
Not sure where it went, as it was there before. Also when I try to email a single .pdf or Word document it sends a link to my windows explorer page instead. This link is fully functional and allows the receiver to search all of my files. I have never encountered this problem. It seems no one else has either. Short of a new computer, I am at a loss.
That is bizarre, no question! If I encountered this, I'd do the following:
If that didn't work, I'd do a Windows upgrade in place, which (unlike a refresh) doesn't mess with your files or apps but does require a download and bit of technical knowledge. (I'm not putting the link here because if you don't know how to do this already then you shouldn't try it on your own.)
And if that didn't work, I'd bite the bullet and do a clean install. Given how deeply OneDrive is embedded in Windows today (there are many features that rely on it, and they grow more numerous with each major update), you might well end up here if you've gotten into a mess earlier.
During the new install, when/if OneDrive or Automatic Backup shows up, uncheck all the options. That might prevent the "OneDrive Kidnap" from happening. If not, then before you do anything else, once the install is complete, take the steps I listed earlier to move the system Documents, Pictures, Music, and Desktop folders out of OneDrive. Only then move them to different drives.
You can then go ahead and reconnect OneDrive so that all the features that rely on it will work. Be sure to keep all the automatic backup options unchecked. It won't grab any of your system files. You also won't be able to sync settings among your different Windows machines, if you have them. That's the trade-off.
On my desktop system I have Desktop and Downloads on my system drive; Documents, OneDrive and Dropbox on a second internal drive; Pictures and Music on a third, and Videos on a fourth. It all works fine, but I used the steps I outlined in the earlier post to get there. There might be an easier way. I didn't find one.
NOTE: If you don't understand all of the above, take your machine to a local computer tech instead. As you've already found out, you can get in a real mess trying to boldly go where no folder has gone before.
