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 18,630 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. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2024-07-23T22:39:11+00:00

    Even if the sync is OFF in Manage Backup, you still need to remove your files from the OneDrive folder located at C>users>username>OneDrive.

    Don't go to Choose Folders to stop the sync.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-22T04:07:52+00:00

    So I actually have to acknowledge I want to use OneDrive (i don't and have never) in order to tell OneDrive to stop syncing my files, which they should not have been doing in the first place. My wife can have her surface tablet back. I stopped using Microsoft when I left the military 20 years ago, for a reason, and I just remembered why.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-27T11:55:35+00:00

    I have the same problem and am so frustrated.

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  4. Craig Long 18,630 Reputation points
    2024-05-08T07:08:23+00:00

    Thanks @CraigLong I appreciate your ongoing support. Sorry, I couldn't sleep, so I paid $3 for 100Gb on OneDrive for a month - effectively the same strategy as you suggested. Interestingly, it shows up as a 365 subscription in my account! I managed to recover all my files including some in the OneDrive Recycle Bin. I have cancelled the extra capacity so it won't renew.

    Great! Then it did work. I wasn't absolutely sure it would.

    Since you have canceled your subscription, you will have the same problem soon unless you prevent your files from going to OneDrive.

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