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

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

136 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-02T21:30:18+00:00

    It is absolutely shameful and scary how Microsoft is trying to control and have access to all information. Fortunately, I still have my info from my old PC. I had transferred everything -- a lot of stuff - via network. Took me a long time. Low and behold MS moved all my stuff including highly sensitive info to one drive - even after I kept declining all offers in settings. Could not get it out or my stuff in the personal vault which I know is what they were hoping for. Tried everything to no avail. As I said fortunately I still had a copy and I deleted everything from onedrive which deleted it all from my computer. , I also deleted one drive and now I am transferring to high capacity flash and will place it where I want it. I also uninstalled onedrive. Can't seem to totally delete though.

    When I went back to my old computer it started flashing and I thought OMG they are trying to delete from that computer too because I had just updated that one to win 11 so I quickly disconnected from the internet and thank God did not lose the original however my sensitive info that I did not want in the cloud in the first place was sent to one drive and even though deleted you know it is somewhere now.

    Years ago I got rid of MS office and use Libre Office which is fantastic. My next step is to get rid of MS totally and go with Linux.

    They bank on people like me that are not super techs to just go along with whatever they have set up and violate ones privacy. The programmers on here share great tips Thank God I caught this complete violation of my wishes--still too late though as I did not want any of the info transmitted and my info has been exposed and it was against my wishes.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-02T22:02:04+00:00

    Hi. I understand perfectly. This happened to my husband also on windows 10 version updates.

    I bought him a new phone but we are saving the old pc and not buying new until this has all settled.

    This on microsoft and probably apple too, is to force people to buy plans. I actually have a plan. They raised the price after saying, I had a year. It does not help. The pc is to share data on same plan but without the pc storage too much old stuff. They want us to buy more, no way. There should be a vault secure storage where you can drop stuff. For safety I suggest using all the apps you can, but not putting in too much data. As an auditor previously this vexs me. The microsoft updates for security have taken all data to the cloud. I am not sure but US politics seem to be blocking big companies from suits right now. Trump has taken over everything. I will be searching for new out of US, computer programs. Joining a suit if I can. Try being disabled and do all that work. Will investigate Libra use.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
    2025-03-03T02:12:09+00:00

    See the video at the top of this page. The advice he gives is one way to avoid OneDrive.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2025-03-03T04:30:20+00:00

    I hear you & agree 100%. One Drive is insidious with its tentacles into everything stored on your computer - regardless of whether you want it or not. Cannot understand how this is legal [yeah, yeah I know we agree to a whole lot of stuff when we start using MS] when you purchase the desktop, laptop, phone whatever, then purchase the subscriptions then they go into your info to steal & move your files without your permission. Microsoft is an unethical company & I rue the day I ever started with MS decades ago. Too naïve back then to see what would come. Have been toying with the idea of Linux too but the fact that I don't know what I'm doing with that has worried me. All I can do for now is unlink all computers from One Drive & leave them disconnected.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments