How Do I Get Windows 11 to Stop Saving Everything To OneDrive Folder Location?

Anonymous
2022-09-23T07:43:59+00:00

Howdy!

I just recently got a new laptop, OS Windows 11, and I was trying to ensure that despite not having OneDrive installed, that things were not saving to it, but...

As I was accessing some files online, I noticed that the location was C:\Users\ADMINUSERNAMEREDACTED\OneDrive for the Documents, Photos, DESKTOP(??why??) and Downloads files.

This error in file-folder path LITERALLY cost me a job opportunity!! I am absolutely beside myself and genuinely bummed about this.

I DO NOT want ANYTHING AT ALL, literally ever, in a OneDrive path.

I have looked for information regarding this, but it is all out of date.

I would like to keep the fancy icons, instead of just the regular file folder icon, if at all possible.

I appreciate any assistance. I can definitely provide information if need be.

Also, I have no idea what kind of "Product" and "App" this qualifies as, so I hope that what I have selected is okay.

Toodles!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Craig Long 18,635 Reputation points
    2023-05-29T06:43:54+00:00

    You can just turn off the sync at the OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup > toggle the sync to OFF. This will remove OneDrive from the file paths.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-05-29T09:45:06+00:00

    Thank you, here you just stopped storing in OneDrive, but photos and files are still saved to the device via OneDrive, and to confirm, point to any picture, then display the information and location, and you will find that it is also within OneDrive.

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  3. Craig Long 18,635 Reputation points
    2023-05-29T20:27:28+00:00

    After you turn off the sync of the Pictures folder, move the photos from C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Pictures to C:\Users\username\Pictures.

    The Pictures folder at C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Pictures is no longer the system folder since the sync has been turned OFF.

    With the sync OFF the sytem folder has returned to C:\Users\username\Pictures. It now has the Camera Roll folder and the Screenshots folder, etc. Any apps that use the Pictures folder should go there.

    Camera Roll is the album where your phone's photos and screenshots may be stored locally .

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-29T23:54:16+00:00

    I noticed that my Documents and Desktop were being backed up to OneDrive. When I backed up my phone, I realized that 35 GB worth of backup was being uploaded to OneDrive in the background. I end up deleting OneDrive from my laptop and deleted the OneDrive folder and realized my Whole Desktop was gone.

    Later i found out that everything on my laptop was in the OneDrive folder all my files were not in "C:\Users\myname\Desktop" but in "C:\Users\myname\ONEDRIVE\Desktop"

    because of this dmn OneDrive all my files are now gone.

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  5. Craig Long 18,635 Reputation points
    2023-05-30T01:43:50+00:00

    I noticed that my Documents and Desktop were being backed up to OneDrive. When I backed up my phone, I realized that 35 GB worth of backup was being uploaded to OneDrive in the background. I end up deleting OneDrive from my laptop and deleted the OneDrive folder and realized my Whole Desktop was gone.

    Later i found out that everything on my laptop was in the OneDrive folder all my files were not in "C:\Users\myname\Desktop" but in "C:\Users\myname\ONEDRIVE\Desktop"

    because of this dmn OneDrive all my files are now gone.

    I know. What you are experiencing is terrible.

    Normally all your deleted files would go to the online OneDrive Recycle Bin. But without purchasing more OneDrive storage only a few will be there. You should check the online recycle bin anyway.

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