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
    2023-10-12T15:46:06+00:00

    I had the same issue. My "Documents" folder was syncing with OneDrive. But the switch was off. The switch is still off as shown in the steps above, but my 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?

    It seems that the OneDrive folder is linked with the default Documents folder somehow. So I am not sure just moving files will fix it.

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  2. Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
    2023-10-06T01:04:47+00:00

    Thanks for help so far. The issue is not to do with the synchronization - I understand that.
    The issue is that Onedrive/Windows/? actually decided to move all my files from the local Documents folder into the OneDrive collection. From then onwards It did what it is supposed to do, ie; Upload all these files to the cloud.

    Did I inadvertently trigger this somehow?

    Files must be in the OneDrive folder in order to Sync/backup to OneDrive. So you need to turn the sync OFF at "Manage backup". Then you will be able to restore your files to their default locations.

    The sync probably triggered by itself. That's why so many users are complaining. They don't have the cloud storage space and therefore their files are stuck in limbo somewhere.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-05T07:11:24+00:00

    Thanks for help so far. The issue is not to do with the synchronization - I understand that.
    The issue is that Onedrive/Windows/? actually decided to move all my files from the local Documents folder into the OneDrive collection. From then onwards It did what it is supposed to do, ie; Upload all these files to the cloud.

    Did I inadvertently trigger this somehow?

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    10 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2023-10-05T07:05:38+00:00

    Thanks for your help.

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