Photos folder missing

Question

Photos folder missing

Jack Anderson 20

Because I deleted some files in One Drive, my whole desktop got screwed-up. I've restored most of it but the Photos folder normally on the left column and Quick Access, is missing. How do I get it back on my computer?

Screenshot 2026-06-01 074333

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Answer 1

Jack Anderson 20

Emily726I apologize for not using the correct term Pictures. Sorry for all the frustration caused by that.

Yes, the Pictures folder is in One Drive. I'm wondering why it isn't in File Explorer like it used to be. I'd include a snip but it doesn't work. All I get is Screenshots in the Pictures folder in One Drive and when I click on it it says it is empty.

Why would One Drive delete it there?

EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-02T12:34:43.44+00:00
No worries.

Not sure if you saw my comment from last night, buried in one of the answer/conversation branches.

Your Pictures folder is not deleted according to the registry screenshot you shared with me. It is current location is

C:\users\ander\OneDrive

You can copy this path and paste directly in your File Explorer's address bar to launch it. See if the Pictures folder is listed there. If you find it, right click on it, then choose Show more Options > Pin to Quick Access.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T13:47:12.0066667+00:00

Thank you a million times. I got my Pictures folder back on my Explorer's page just like before. Wow!!! What a relief. Again, thank you very much. Have a great rest of the week.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-02T13:56:00.27+00:00

You are welcome.

If you don't mind, I hope you would consider marking my answer for this thread, because earlier you marked that it didn't resolve the issue.

Thanks!!
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T14:48:19.22+00:00

You are a real asset to MS.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-02T14:54:19.36+00:00

Thank you

Answer 2

Jack Anderson 20

What I'm referring to is the Pictures folder that was listed on the left side of Explorer, just after downloads and before Documents. Right now, I'm supposedly restoring my One Drive to a point 3 weeks ago. The page said "restoring 0% return to One Drive. Don't know if that is going to work or not. Will wait until tomorrow to see if it was done. In the meantime, I appreciate your time and thank you for your patience.

Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T23:16:48.21+00:00

Just checked. Restore failed. Recycle empty. Wasted effort.

Thank you for your time and patience.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T23:16:59.09+00:00

Ok, so you meant the "Pictures" folder, not "photos" folder.

If you go into your OneDrive folder, you don't see the "Pictures" folder at all? I understand the files are gone from inside, but the Pictures folder according to the registry page, should be living in OneDrive folder.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T23:20:45.89+00:00

It is there. Just wondering why is isn't in the left column of Explorer, like it used to be. No problem. I'll live without it.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T23:22:37.4266667+00:00

You right click on that folder, go to Show more options, then choose Pin to Quick Access.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T00:32:52.1066667+00:00

Now, to prevent this from happening in the future, how do I get One Drive to sync again. Looked in Settings didn't see that option.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T00:35:11.6666667+00:00

Also, right clicked on the Pictures folder, no option to pin to Quick Access
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-02T00:36:24.92+00:00

You might need to click on "show more options" first.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T01:14:25.1333333+00:00

No "show more options' either. What it shows is: Share; Copy link; Manage Access; Delete; Download; Rename; Move to; Copy to; Folder color and finally Details.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-02T01:17:35.3933333+00:00

Sounds like you are in OneDrive online via the web. This needs to be done in File Explorer

Answer 3

Jack Anderson 20

Well, have tried that 3 times. Nothing there. That's because I deleted everything from One Drive and stopped Sync. It was creating problems on my computer. Had no idea it would delete everything on my computer. I guess that included the Photos folder that used to be listed on the left under Documents and before Videos. As a result, I've spent the last 6 hours reconstructing my desktop. Had no idea One Drive was a carbon copy of my desktop. I'll just create a Photos folder on my desktop and use that. Not as convenient but doable.

Thank you.

EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T19:12:37.1866667+00:00

So, this is a Photos folder that lived in Pictures folder, not the Pictures folder itself you are talking about?

If so, then it can be gone. Your Desktop folder is now on local path, so if you created another Photos folder there, it shouldn't sync to OneDrive.

Your Pictures folder is still synced to OneDrive according to your registry. If you want to return your Pictures folder to local path, if Onedrive is running, go to OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup tab > MAnage backup, turn the Pictures folder off.

If OneDrive is already uninstalled, then in that registry editor on that page, right click on "My Pictures", modify, change the value data to:

%USERPROFILE%\Pictures

Then restart the computer.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T20:44:35.0033333+00:00

I refer to the Photos folder that was in Explorer (see snip) but came up missing after I deleted a lot of files because I thought my storage was almost used up. Come to find out that was not the case. So, after deleting those files from One Drive and trash then turning sync off, when I opened my computer everything was gone including the Photos folder in Explorer. Even spent hours with Gemini trying to find out where that folder went and trying to find out if the photos were still somewhere on my computer. All failure. No idea how to get that folder back.
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T20:48:02.3833333+00:00

What was listed in the screenshot is what you put in quick access, kind of like a bookmark. But the actual location of that folder was in OneDrive > Pictures > Photos. That's why it is gone. I don't think that can be recovered at this point if you have already emptied the recycle bin as well.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T22:37:08.91+00:00

Curious as to why Video folder not gone. No big deal. I'll live with it. Seriously considering reinstalling Win11.

Answer 4

EmilyS726 236.6K Independent Advisor

Please type regedit in the search on the taskbar to launch registry editor, and go to this path, then take a screenshot and share in your reply.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T16:09:57.7233333+00:00

The info requested, isn't there.

CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Here's what I get
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T16:37:31.5833333+00:00

You can copy the entire path, and then paste it in the Registry address bar to get there. This is a standard registry item, it is very unlikely that it is not there.
Jack Anderson 20 Reputation points

2026-06-01T18:04:36.7366667+00:00

Here's what I got. I apologize for previous comment. Misunderstood it.

Answer 5

Jack Anderson 20

I'm not really interested in the photos, just the folder for them which is missing on my computer. If I want to download a photo/pic, where would it go if the Photos folder is missing?

EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T18:12:54.3266667+00:00

Thanks!

According to that screenshot, you should be able to find your Pictures folder by going this path:

File Explorer > This PC > C: > Users > Ander > OneDrive > Pictures.

Let me know if you can find it using this path? Also, can you tell me, do you want it nested in OneDrive, or do you want it to be directly under Ander folder?
EmilyS726 236.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-01T22:49:13.5933333+00:00

Video, Pictures, Desktop, Documents, Downloads folders are called "shell folders". They are the standard system folders for each user profile.

If I understand correctly, you deleted a folder called "photos" that lived inside Pictures folder. The Pictures folder itself is shell folder, but folders inside it are not.

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Photos folder missing

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