One drive has messed up my whole PC. How do I get my files back on my PC, and switch off one drive forever. (Please dont answer a question I did not ask)?

I'm also upset , it emptied the folders on my laptop, and then if you try to download them back from one drive and it crashes you are stuck with this huge crdownload file that wont open and who knows if my files are just gone. It is not simple and easy it is very hard to do simple things , I even paid for the subscription and it's very very difficult to use. I am not especially elderly at 58 and have a decent knowledge of computers but I am really starting to regret ever using onedrive. I NEVER said take all the stuff out of the files on my desktop when I ok'd the onedrive, i was thinking I would have them both places and I'm super pissed off about this. Now I have to spend a couple days downloading it all back, that is if I can even recover the 'crdownload' that is a huge file that won't open. I trusted you microsoft and now I am sad and frustrated.

I can't find ". Select all the files you want to retain, then right click and select "Always keep on this device" so that it will be saved locally on your storage"

How many days is this operation supposed to take? It has been over 24 hours since I marked the files as "Always keep on this device"

I am still seeing lots of little blue arrows chasing each other's tail instead of a nice green check mark. AFTER 24 HOURS

I have a fast fiber connection so please do not use that as a potential troubleshooting reply.

I need specific instructions for:

Win 10 Pro
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎2/‎20/‎2023
OS build 19045.4291
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19056.1000.0

NOT the gobs of outdated versions I am finding on the internet, none of which correspond to the OneDrive in use on my machine.

Simply stated:

1. I want ALL my files back on my hard drive
2. I want them by tomorrow night
3. I want to be able to verify that all blue "syncing" arrows have gone to green (and yes, the files I am referring to are marked, "Always keep on this device"

This experience has left me with a "syncing" feeling toward Microsoft OneDrive.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

I can't find ". Select all the files you want to retain, then right click and select "Always keep on this device" so that it will be saved locally on your storage"

Hello Mikeharbour,

I truly understand what you've gone through on this, seems like you are having issues with the OneDrive backup feature. This feature is intended to backup your files and store it to OneDrive cloud storage, on your scenario possible reason is that the Files on Demand is not properly configured that's why whenever you want to access the files it will need first to download the files from the cloud instead of it being always locally ready on your device storage. Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows - Microsoft Support.

If you no longer want to use this feature and turn-off OneDrive, here are the steps you can perform:

Make sure to sync back the files first so that you can save a local copy of it:

1. Open OneDrive folder, then locate all of the files you want to retain.
2. Select all the files you want to retain, then right click and select "Always keep on this device" so that it will be saved locally on your storage. From there you should see this icon:

Once done saving back your files locally, you may proceed on unlinking your account on your OneDrive:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the OneDrive folder.
2. Right-click on the OneDrive folder and select "Settings".
3. In the "Account" tab, click "Unlink OneDrive".
4. Follow the prompts to complete the unlinking process.

I hope this answers your question. If you need further assistance, please do let me know.

Best regards,

Arquel C.

Microsoft Moderator

What useless platitudes you are spouting. Blaming the user for your mistakes - how cute - NOT. How about a little honesty here? The issue is not that your users are not configuring your **** software properly, the issue is that your goal is to steal my data to force me into paying you money to get it back. Can you say RANSOMEWARE? You greedy people just want me to pay more to store my photos on your insecure cloud. Let me be clear. I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR CLOUD. I want you to stay off my PC. I want you to stop interfering with my Toolkit backup. Most of all I want you to restore the photos you deleted to try to coerce me into paying you more money. Unfortunately it is probably too late now. Look at these comments. Stop forcing your onedrive on users. Make this an opt in service instead of opt out or at the very least make it far easier to disable. YOU SUCK.