How did C:\Users\Name\ become C:\Users\Name\OneDrive?

I was bopping along backing up some files (before I ditch W11 for good) when I noticed Desktop, Documents, and Pictures are hiding in this folder.

I have uninstalled OneDrive the moment I finished installing W11.

That's what my W11 shows, but those Onedrive subfolders are empty on mine because I don't use Onedrive for sharing.

The idea is good, files are automatically backup up/synced when one is using MSA, thus protected from ransomware.
But the flaw is, that MS assumes that everyone, who can afford Windows 11 compatible PC, can afford onedrive.
I have to disable onedrive sync upon clean install otherwise everything is messed up due to this feature.

TairikuOkami said:

The idea is good, files are automatically backup up/synced when one is using MSA, thus protected from ransomware.
But the flaw is, that MS assumes that everyone, who can afford Windows 11 compatible PC, can afford onedrive.
I have to disable onedrive sync upon clean install otherwise everything is messed up due to this feature.

View attachment 29156

Click to expand...

I could've sworn this was not the case previously (I reinstalled W11 many times).

Do you have a link to the process to disable the sync and if it can be done AFTER the fact?

Good explanation here

I just don't use it for anything, so nothing to see. Ignore it, create your own 'Documents' folder such as C:\Users\MyUserName\MyPCUserDocs\folder1, \folder2, etc. and put your stuff there.

Or, click the tri-colon on the right, uninstall it (I think this works, didn't try it.)

@FJRMarty

Thanks, but that link was of no help, and it doesn't apply to my version of Windows 11.

I have already removed W11 and reverted to a [more] stable W10 where this doesn't occur.

TairikuOkami said:

The idea is good, files are automatically backup up/synced when one is using MSA, thus protected from ransomware.
But the flaw is, that MS assumes that everyone, who can afford Windows 11 compatible PC, can afford onedrive.

Click to expand...

I'm one of those that can not only afford a Windows 11 computer but can also afford $69 to add Microsoft 365 to my Microsoft Account. Microsoft 365 includes all of Microsoft Office and, very importantly, 1 Terabyte of OneDrive Cloud storage!

My computer has a 1 Terabyte SSD. I keep all my data, including all my picture files, in OneDrive. This gives me an automatic real-time cloud sync backup of all my data. I do a nightly local Microsoft File History backup to a portable Samsung T7 SSD, and the combination of OneDrive and File History are my secure backup system.

I love it when I get a new computer, the minute I log in to Windows all my data is instantly there in my OneDrive folder, no muss, no fuss.

@TraderGary How is your comment related to removing OneDrive as a "User"?