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
    2024-08-16T22:54:55+00:00

    ALL of my cherished photos, videos, letters, spreadsheets... EVERYTHING.... simply disappeared from my computer when I turned off one drive.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-28T03:45:38+00:00

    Agree 1000%! It's helpful just to find someone else that's as furious as I am over this MS OneDrive overreach. I'm well over it too! SICK & TIRED. I've bought my desktop & paid subscription to Microsoft for use of their software. Too late I realised I could unlink my desktop from OneDrive but this seems to go back to default on any Windows Update. I've also turned their updates off for 5 weeks at a time to avoid this. Microsoft have NO right to upload, copy or move anything that I expressly saved to My PC as standalone documents that I don't want backed up by OneDrive. OneDrive is a terrible cloud storage option anyway. I'm sure there's something to protect MS for doing so in the spiel I would have agreed to use their software. OneDrive is an abomination with it's tentacles invading every part of my desktop & I'm looking at other MS options e.g. Linux. The fact that I've been using Microsoft for personal & business for decades wont' be enough to override the fear of lack of knowledge & concern for compatibility issues that I have for converting to anything that's NOT MS. To that end I've purchased a new Dell laptop so going to experiment there first. In the meantime I'm going to follow all the instructions given here to move my documents BACK to where I WANT THEM on MY desktop, unlink & uninstall OneDrive in all it's forms & see how I go. Oh, as if OneDrive isn't enough of an issue, now my HP Laserjet no longer works properly since the last MS update.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-07-26T02:15:38+00:00

    If I uninstall onedrive from my apps, will I be able to access the folders online? How do I then copy or move the documents folder from the cloud based one drive to the hard drive on my computer without having to download each individual file independently? Thank you for your previous reply and your assistance.

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  4. Craig Long 18,550 Reputation points
    2024-07-25T22:10:29+00:00

    Can you explain, step by step, how to manually move the documents folder from one drive once One Drive is turned off. I think I turned off one drive (it is gray in the system tray but when I go to the file explorer and try to move the folder, it just provides me with a link to access them online. HELP!

    First, turn off the sync atManage Backup in the OneDrive Settings at Sync and Backup tab. Then right-click and go to the Properties of your Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos folders, then to the Location tab and to the Restore Default button. 

    Uninstall OneDrive at Windows Start > Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > scroll down to Microsoft OneDrive > 3 dots.

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