New to OneDrive on Windows 11

perkinwarbeck · Jun 28, 2023

Today I began setting up a new Windows 11 PC. Before today, I had been using OneDrive on a Windows 10 PC, but I was not syncing Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to OneDrive. I kept those folders on my local D:\ drive and backed them up daily with Macrium. Today, when Windows 11 installed the OneDrive app, it apparently configured the app to sync those folders to OneDrive. I want them on the D:\ drive, just as they were on Windows 10. What is the easiest (novice) way to fix the problem? Should I uninstall OneDrive, redirect the location of Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to D:\, and then reinstall OneDrive? I should add that those folders are currently empty, so I am not worried about losing data. I have not yet moved data from my old PC to my new PC.

johnlgalt · Jun 28, 2023

perkinwarbeck said:
Today I began setting up a new Windows 11 PC. Before today, I had been using OneDrive on a Windows 10 PC, but I was not syncing Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to OneDrive. I kept those folders on my local D:\ drive and backed them up daily with Macrium. Today, when Windows 11 installed the OneDrive app, it apparently configured the app to sync those folders to OneDrive. I want them on the D:\ drive, just as they were on Windows 10. What is the easiest (novice) way to fix the problem? Should I uninstall OneDrive, redirect the location of Documents, Pictures, and Desktop to D:\, and then reinstall OneDrive? I should add that those folders are currently empty, so I am not worried about losing data. I have not yet moved data from my old PC to my new PC.

Just have OneDrive stop Synchronizing them and reboot (not necessary, but won't hurt). Then when the system creates the normal libraries, move them to the new location where the files already are going to be, then copy the files from the old system over to the new location.

but, if you really want to play it safe, stop the synchronizing, so the folders are created locally in C:\Users. Then, open the libraries for Documents and Pictures, and just add the new folders on D: drive.

That way, even if OneDrive gets updated and tries to synchronize those folders again, the ones you have on D are still safe, and not messed with by OneDrive, and still accessible from the corresponding library as if it was a single location.

perkinwarbeck · Jun 28, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Just have OneDrive stop Synchronizing them and reboot (not necessary, but won't hurt). Then when the system creates the normal libraries, move them to the new location where the files already are going to be, then copy the files from the old system over to the new location.

but, if you really want to play it safe, stop the synchronizing, so the folders are created locally in C:\Users. Then, open the libraries for Documents and Pictures, and just add the new folders on D: drive.

That way, even if OneDrive gets updated and tries to synchronize those folders again, the ones you have on D are still safe, and not messed with by OneDrive, andstrill accessible from the corresponding library as if it was a single location.

Just to be sure, do I stop synchronizing by clicking Stop Backup?

johnlgalt · Jun 28, 2023

Click on OneDrive, Click the gear at the top right, then Settings, then the Manage backup button. Depending upon if it has updated or not, you might see 3 items (Desktop, Documents, and Pictures) aligned horizontally, just move the slider on each one to turn it off, or you might see 5 of them stacked vertically (Docs, Pics, DT, Music, Vids) - same thing, move the sliders so they are turned off.

One thing to note - I have Microsoft Office installed, so it may be a bit different than the OneDrive that comes installed with Windows 11 by itself - but the gear icon should be the same, and if not settings, it may say Preferences.

The one that comes with Windows 11 definitely uses the 3-folder sync, the one with Office may be the only one with the 5 folders instead of just 3. But no matter which interface you get, it's a matter of moving those sliders so they are gray, not colorful.

perkinwarbeck · Jun 28, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Click on OneDrive, Click the gear at the top right, then Settings, then the Manage backup button. Depending upon if it has updated or not, you might see 3 items (Desktop, Documents, and Pictures) aligned horizontally, just move the slider on each one to turn it off, or you might see 5 of them stacked vertically (Docs, Pics, DT, Music, Vids) - same thing, move the sliders so they are turned off.

One thing to note - I have Microsoft Office installed, so it may be a bit different than the OneDrive that comes installed with Windows 11 by itself - but the gear icon should be the same, and if not settings, it may say Preferences.

The one that comes with Windows 11 definitely uses the 3-folder sync, the one with Office may be the only one with the 5 folders instead of just 3. But no matter which interface you get, it's a matter of moving those sliders so they are gray, not colorful.

That seems to have worked. Thank you very much for your help.

glasskuter · Jun 28, 2023

I might add that turning off syncing is only part of it. This tutorial shows you the complete procedure and how to move your files back to a drive in your PC.

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

perkinwarbeck · Jun 28, 2023

glasskuter said:
I might add that turning off syncing is only part of it. This tutorial shows you the complete procedure and how to move your files back to a drive in your PC.

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

Those folders were not being backed up, so there are no files to move back to the PC.

johnlgalt · Jun 29, 2023

glasskuter said:
I might add that turning off syncing is only part of it. This tutorial shows you the complete procedure and how to move your files back to a drive in your PC.

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

perkinwarbeck said:
I should add that those folders are currently empty, so I am not worried about losing data. I have not yet moved data from my old PC to my new PC.

He said that.