Windows 11 or Onedrive has moved all my files into Onedrive. What is going on?

Anonymous
2023-10-04T10:54:25+00:00

A couple of days back I found that somehow all my files and folders on my Win 11 PC under C:\users.. have suddenly been moved into my Onedrive.
I keep many files under local storage intentionally so that they DON'T get uploaded into Onedrive. Now I see all these files being uploaded into Onedrive, which I DON'T want.
I have been using Onedrive for over 2 years.
How did this happen? How do I reverse it?
Microsoft, you are too much!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
2023-10-13T02:51:52+00:00

"So here is my supposition: OneDrive, by default, at some update in the last few months, automatically turned on SYNC, and my Documents folder (and Pictures and Desktop) all got moved to OneDrive folders.

I since then, used the info here to turn off the sync of these folders. But that did not move them back, so they continued to live in OneDrive and continued to sync."

Yes. The OneDrive folder is always there even when you uninstall OneDrive. However, if OneDrive is uninstalled, then it no longer syncs to the online OneDrive.

"PS - I am assuming that if you turn sync on, it moves those folders from the username folder to the OneDrive folder."

Yes, that's right. There is no problem leaving them in the OneDrive folder unless they start syncing again.

"But if you turn sync off, it does nothing, as it does not move the folders back again. And the only thing that will sync in OneDrive, are the actual folders and files in the OneDrive folder structure. Hence why you have to manually move the folders back again."

Yes

To stop the "Sync and Backup" of your folders, go to Manage Backup in the OneDrive Settings. In Windows 11, you will find Manage Backup at OneDrive Settings > Sync and Backup tab > Manage Backup.

"C:>Users>username>ManilaFolders" is a good location on the C drive to hide data from OneDrive**.** An external drive and a separate data partition are great ways to avoid OneDrive.

Create and format a data partition

If sync turns on by itself or OneDrive reinstalls without asking, you may want to avoid the Documents folder and the other standard folders.

A YouTube video explaining more about this is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yXgyrsqraE

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-01-05T06:30:44+00:00

    Everything was working well until I paid for MS Office subscription. Somehow One Drive granted for itself unlimited powers and I cannot even copy now MY FILES to a flash drive. Effectively MS now owns my files.

    Disgraceful, last Windows PC I buy.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-11T00:03:10+00:00

    I have the same feeling. Now my diary goes from left to right instead of from top to bottom. I have to deal with it according to Microsoft. They seem to be butting into private concerns and messing things up. Another time my page opens on a black page instead of a white one. They seem more interested in making things out the way they want than letting the owner of the machine choose. And while I began my new writing downloading to One Drive suddenly I looked and ALL my poems are on ONE DRIVE whether I like it or not.

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  3. Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
    2023-10-13T01:09:04+00:00

    Documents folder still syncs with OneDrive. So turning it off seems is not the complete solution. I am not sure how to get it to stop. Do I have to physically move that folder and its contents from OneDrive, to the C;\Users\username\ folder?

    If the sync is OFF at OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup then you can move the files back to the folder at C:\Users\username\Documents.

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  4. Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
    2023-10-04T22:30:52+00:00

    In the first reply shollybee's answer "Switch the synchronization for the folders to the OFF position" is the correct solution. That may not straighten out your files but should stop any further syncing to OneDrive.

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