My Desktop folder is embedded in itself

Sufi_m · Mar 25, 2024

I was trying to change location of my desktop folder but all I did was mess up the original structure. Now, my desktop location is in one of the OneDrive folders. However, when I was changing the location of desktop folder, at one point I think I used the path in screenshot as desktop folder. I don't remember it's original name, maybe it's user folder. Whenever, I add any new file on my desktop, it appears in this folder. Even if I change my desktop location using properties now it doesn't affect this folder. It still syncs all files from desktop to this destination. How do I sort this out?

BamaInArk · Mar 25, 2024

Isn't the Desktop one of the Folders that is incorporated into the default One Drive schema? If so then your Desktop had already been moved.

Brink · Mar 25, 2024

Hello Sufi_m, and welcome.

Check using the tutorial below to make sure the Desktop folder is turned off to backup to OneDrive, and copy the files back from OneDrive to your Desktop folder.

Turn On or Off OneDrive Folder Backup Syncing Across Windows 11 Devices Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off OneDrive folder sync for your Microsoft account across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. You can use OneDrive to sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to...

www.elevenforum.com

Flashorn · Mar 25, 2024

@Brink Could a restore point be used in this case?
Just asking.

Brink · Mar 25, 2024

Flashorn said:
@Brink Could a restore point be used in this case?
Just asking.

Unfortunately no. A restore point doesn't cover user profile folders.

Flashorn · Mar 25, 2024

Brink said:
Unfortunately no. A restore point doesn't cover user profile folders.

Thanks Shawn. I was thinking the same but, wasn't sure.
Always the answer at hand.

Sufi_m · Mar 25, 2024

BamaInArk said:
Isn't the Desktop one of the Folders that is incorporated into the default One Drive schema? If so then your Desktop had already been moved.

It seems there may have been some confusion about the issue I'm facing. I have the flexibility to move the desktop folder as needed, and currently, it's located within one of the OneDrive folders shown in the screenshot (image 1). However, my problem lies in the fact that regardless of where I relocate the desktop folder, Windows always synchronizes it to the path displayed in the screenshot (image 1).
Currently, image 2 is my desktop's current location. When I add a new folder to the desktop, it automatically syncs to the path shown in image 1, even though my desktop's actual location is under the path depicted in image 2. To make it clear, the path of image 2 (i.e., my desktop location) is nested within the path of image 1.

Sufi_m · Mar 25, 2024

Brink said:
Hello Sufi_m, and welcome.

Check using the tutorial below to make sure the Desktop folder is turned off to backup to OneDrive, and copy the files back from OneDrive to your Desktop folder.

Turn On or Off OneDrive Folder Backup Syncing Across Windows 11 Devices Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off OneDrive folder sync for your Microsoft account across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. You can use OneDrive to sync files and folders between your computer and the cloud, so you can get to...

www.elevenforum.com

Please check my response to an earlier comment. I have tried to explain my problem in more details. (My response)

Edwin · Mar 25, 2024

The Desktop Folder is always nested within the Desktop Proper. It's normal.

antspants · Mar 25, 2024

Brink said:
Unfortunately no. A restore point doesn't cover user profile folders.

How about resetting the default?

Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11

Move or Restore Default Location of Desktop Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to move or restore the default location of the Desktop folder for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Desktop folder (shell:Desktop) is a component of the user profile that is used as a unified location for storing personal data. By default, the...

www.elevenforum.com

antspants · Mar 25, 2024

Sufi_m said:
Even if I change my desktop location using properties now it doesn't affect this folder. It still syncs all files from desktop to this destination.

Well, by default, if you have OneDrive enabled, the desktop is the desktop as the picture folder is the picture folder. Moving these locations will also inform OneDrive that this is where they live and OneDrive will act accordingly. The only way to discourage this, to my knowledge is to disable syncing of the Desktop Folder?
I realise that I too, may be confusing the issue.