[Solved] Problem with onedrive libraries

Question

Hi,

I have removed OneDrive a long time ago. Since then, I had 2 libraries of pictures and documents. They used different path.

The path I want to keep is this one : C:\Users%user%\Pictures

                                                      C:\Users\%user%\Documents

The folder I want to remove is that one : C:\Users%user%\OneDrive\Pictures

                                                              C:\Users\%user%\OneDrive\Documents

Even if I delete the folder OneDrive, the library in the section "This pc" will only say that the folder doesn't exist anymore as a error. I try to change the path in the pictures/documents properties for the libraries that used OneDrive to the local libraries but it deny the access saying that folder can't be moved here and the access was denied.

The libraries in the section libraries only show the local libraries. No libraries from OneDrive is there.

Note : It didn't happen to others library like video, music, etc.

What should I do to fix the problem? I want that the libraries in the section "This pc" to use the local one that already exist.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Hi Mike,

To restore the shell folder locations to default, open OneDrive and do the following:

Important: Before proceeding, copy the files in those special folders to another folder or external drive. Please don’t copy them anywhere under Desktop/Documents/Pictures. This is because disabling OneDrive backup for a folder erases the local copies of the files. Copying them to a different location beforehand will ensure that you don’t need to download them again from the OneDrive cloud.

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Notification area and click Settings.
2. Select the Backup tab, and click Manage Backup
3. In the Manage folder backup dialog, click on the Stop backup link under the special folder (Desktop, Documents, or Pictures)
4. Click Stop backup in the confirmation dialog that appears.
5. Repeat the step for each shell folder you want to revert to the original location.

See also:

Error “The folder can’t be moved here” Moving Documents/Pictures, Caused by OneDrive

Libraries are placed in onedrive folder instead of local folder - Microsoft Community

Answer 2

Hello Miko,

I am Jaspreet Singh.

OneDrive library backup needs to be disabled before deleting OneDrive to move the libraries back to the user folder.

To clear the issue now please reinstall OneDrive from store and login with your account then follow these steps:

Click on the small onedrive cloud icon in your taskbar (You may need to click on the up arrow to see it)

Then click on help and settings icon ( gear icon in top right) and then again on settings.

Then in the pop up window click on the first tab (settings)

Untick the last option that says "save space and download files as you use them"

(This will start the process of downloading all your data from the cloud back to your device)

In addition to this untick the first option that says "start onedrive automatically when I sign in to windows " (this will prevent its autostart)

Once the data has finished downloading (You can verify that by looking at the folders) click on backup tab in the same popup window.

click on manage backup and untick all three (desktop/documents and pictures)

once this is done close the backup window (This will return the associated folders back to onedrive root folder and you can move them back to where they were initially with the exception of anything that you deleted)

You can now delete OneDrive if you wish.

That is all please let me know if you face any issues.

Answer 3

Yes, the problem is solved! Thank you!