Whats on OneDrive, Whats On internal only?

So, on Windows 10, I was able to add content to the One Drive account. The One Drive directory had similarly named directories/folders, like Pictures, Documents, etc. But it was fairly easy to understand and keep track of what is being saves to which folder, manually or automatically. Images I had solely on internal, where Documents were on One Drive.

Ive recently backed up everything and done a fresh install of Win 11.

The issue Im renning into, is that All the One Drive content is automatically synced to my Computer. I want to go through and clear everything off One Drive, and start fresh. But unfortunately there are 2 issues. Windows directories automatically link to most One drive directories. One Drive no longer says "One Drive", but Personal, which confuses the bleep out of me. For some reason my brain can't stop associating "Personal" with "My PC" or even "User". I know its stupid. But this makes it very very very difficult for me to track what newly installed programs are using "Personal" (One Drive) directories or using internal (only) directories.

the 2nd issue is that some directories like Pictures, Videos, Documents, all share the same labels and icons. So, when I click one on the start menu, I don't know if Im in personal or internal.

Honestly, either way Im torn... I want to get away from One Drive to keep things better organized, and I have two 8TB drives that Ill be using as redundant backups. but in a recent issue where I corrupted an Adobe Illustrator file, one Id been working on for over a year, One Drive backs up information almost every 5-10mins allowing for restore points. I was able to restore my file thanks to that. Had I been relying strictly on manually doing updates to the External HDDs via goodsync, I would have lost a LOT of work.

Is there a way to know what directories are on One Drive and which are internal, which are set to default without "unsyncing" or deleting anything until I get my bareings? Possibly hide them without effecting programs files needed?

Anything in the OneDrive folder will be synchronised with The Cloud and then your other devices. My upload speed is only 1Mb/s so it slowed down my browsing and I uninstalled OD. This is ideal for me because any file or folder is still available at OneDrive.com.
I use Macrium Reflect to back up every week or so and that is enough for a retired old fart like me.
I moved all my documents, music, downloads etc from C:\ users\ marti\onedrive to C:\users\ marti but I'm not sure this was really necessary.

The folders under Home are connected to OneDrive and do not sync with the folders of same name in C:users. However, even setup this way, you can still access your files offline.
If you also want to save locally you can add your own folders and manually copy documents and pictures to save locally under C:users. But remember they do not sync with the OneDrive. It's backwards to how it used to be if you use OneDrive - previously files were saved to local computer and an option to sync to OneDrive, now it automatically syncs to OneDrive and you can create your own local location and copy or move files.

Where is this Home folder of which you speak?

kelper said:

Anything in the OneDrive folder will be synchronised with The Cloud and then your other devices. My upload speed is only 1Mb/s so it slowed down my browsing and I uninstalled OD. This is ideal for me because any file or folder is still available at OneDrive.com.
I use Macrium Reflect to back up every week or so and that is enough for a retired old fart like me.
I moved all my documents, music, downloads etc from C:\ users\ marti\onedrive to C:\users\ marti but I'm not sure this was really necessary.

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Plus you have to keep up with moving data as the two locations do not sync with each other. Correct it is not necessary because even though folders/files are mapped to OneDrive they are still accessible offline without also being stored in locally C:user. Basically using the c:users location for backup which is backwards to previous Windows where Overdrive was the backup and a choice. I changed the location of my Screenshot folder from OneDrive to c:users as I don't need those taking up OneDrive space.

kelper said:

Where is this Home folder of which you speak?

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The top left of File Explorer - folders listed there.

I appreciate the information. So, I guess my main issue is as you mention, things are defaulting to Onedrive. System Files and Appdata are the acception (to the best of my knowledge) as they save to internal by default. But what about programs that install necessary files (usually profile or settings related - Blizzard and Logitech are good examples) to "Documents". Would this be be "internal" Documents, or "One Drive" Documents? Ill be getting a new computer soon that will have 2 TB, but my One Drive account/subscription is the standard 1TB. I know that when you're generally saving pictures, videos, music, and downloaded content, it's never automatic. You are directed to choose where to download/Save. With windows 10, if I go to save to "Documents", "Pictures", etc... there was no confusion that these are internal directories. But as you say, it seems like it's the reverse now. The confusion for me is that both internal and one drive contain directories with same name and same icon. For me, it makes it impossible to tell where Im saving. Are those programs saving to internal documents or One Drive documents. One Drive was always an Option... something where you could delete files and folders freely without concern of how itll affect the system. An internet/online thumb-drive. Ugh, I feel more like Im venting than anything else. I don't know how to form my question. I Just had hoped to know that with windows 11, Programs only install related data to internal and thats it. I hoped that If I wanted to save photos, there's just one folder titled photos that's strictly internal, and then if I wanted to copy folders to One Drive, then I can. I just don't know if Im looking at Internal or One Drive now for the most part.

varxtis said:

confusion

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The confusion is by design, i.e. W11 makes it deliberately confusing for you to discern where your data is stored, locally or in the cloud (or both) I guess the lofty MS objective is tight local-cloud integration.

If you want to store your data locally only and clearly discern that that's the case, then, IMHO, it is best is to eliminate the OneDrive app that is the vehicle for the 'tight local-cloud integration':

> backup your data on an external local storage medium. you may have to piece your data together from local sources and from the cloud
> disconnect the external local storage medium
> stop OneDrive sync
> uninstall the OneDrive app altogether
> restore your data from the external local storage medium
> your data is now stored locally and will only be stored locally (since there is no OneDrive app anymore) Note that you can still use your OneDrive in the cloud as a USB stick in the cloud
> you can always re-install the OneDrive app

More info here

You have to specifically choose where to manually save files on the local drive.
I choose to save some files I don't want on OneDrive to This PC-Windows(c)-username-documents. The documents folder in this location and the one under Home are 2 different folders and do not sync with eachother.

CharmaineK said:

You have to specifically choose where to manually save files on the local drive.
I choose to save some files I don't want on OneDrive to This PC-Windows(c)-username-documents. The documents folder in this location and the one under Home are 2 different folders and do not sync with eachother.

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I wanted to see what File Explorer showed when I clicked on Home. I was surprised to see that it shows where the files are being stored.

Winuser said:

I wanted to see what File Explorer showed when I clicked on Home. I was surprised to see that it shows where the files are being stored. View attachment 48309

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The screenshot is where the 'confusion' starts, another poster used the word 'invasion' etc etc etc

Haydon said:

another poster used the word 'invasion

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MS is trying their best to invade us with OneDrive.

The answer is simple. All the "ones" go on OneDrive (that's why it's called: OneDrive), and all the "zeroes" go on the local storage. (Just kidding ofc)

Well, I myself found the issue important enough to uninstall OneDrive from my W11 laptop and from my W10 desktop, which is a pretty radical measure. Normally, you can expect to get into some kind of long term trouble when you go against MS mainstream. I guess I am lucky that I have been able to duck all troubles so far.

Folks, if you want to stay with MS mainstream, follow @CharmaineK and similar advice

I don't have a problem with OneDrive. I use it for my pictures and documents. I do have a problem with MS trying to take away our options to setup and run our computers the way we want. For an example, they want to force us to use an MS account the first time we setup our computers. Then they have the nerve to force us to use the first five characters of our email. Would it really be that hard for them to give us the option to choose our username? Another example is how they make it too easy to miss the option not to use OneDrive for our user folders. It should be an opt in and not an opt out setting.

Winuser said:

I wanted to see what File Explorer showed when I clicked on Home. I was surprised to see that it shows where the files are being stored. View attachment 48309

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Well. . . . Ill admit, I have nothing. Ya, I missed that minor, non-unimportant obscurely obvious detail. >_> Im gonna go over here now with resolved but thankful shame.