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
    2024-08-11T07:51:39+00:00

    Why did the morons at Microsoft decide to do this without asking or explaining? This is almost as vexatious as a lot of the other "hidden features" no one asked forbut are being crammed down our throats with each new version of Windows.

    Instead of constantly trying to reinvent the wheel, Microsoft should concentrate on making Windows bugproof and stable without the need for constant security updates and new shnick-shnacks nobody needs or wants. If 0 users somewhere are all clamoring for a new feature, let them go find it on the open market instead of forcing the rest of us to have to spend hours of time undoing whatever **** Gates & Co. have decided is de rigeur at the moment.

    I want what I save on my PC on my PC, not in a cloud somewhere, not on Microsoft's or anyone else's servers for any bogus reason they might give us. It's my data and not any corporation's. Kindly instruct your hive masters to respect that and undo this latest stupid idea.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-07-24T07:47:28+00:00

    microsoft   onedrive stole all of my files! now they say, if I don't add storage , they will HAVE to delete 15.5 gigs worth of my my folders ! is there any help, out there?

    they stole my files now they are black mailing me, to buy more storage. all I want are my files back . and don't worry, I would rather die! than ever again buy anything from windows! plenty of people use apple. i learnt how to use windows i can learn how to use apple!

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-06-22T17:27:42+00:00

    HOURS of time spent trying to get my files back where they belong. ONEDRIVE recently moved all my photos, desktop, and docs to itself and blew past my storage limit.

    What a mess!

    It seems that we cannot trust ONEDRIVE to behave itself with each new update.

    This is a bug or malware or a virus by definition

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-29T12:07:36+00:00

    I have the same problem - this is a disgrace microsoft!

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