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All my personal files, including my desktop, have been transferred onto my college OneDrive...

Anonymous
2022-05-09T21:30:01+00:00

My entire desktop is now and my College OneDrive including all my pictures and documents. I never asked for this or gave permission? How do I get my files back, I have tried everything I can think of.

(everything I had on my PC is now called 'where are my files')

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For education | Windows

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Anonymous
2022-05-11T04:13:17+00:00

Hello Toby,

Thank you for coming back and updating a case.

As I understand from your post your home PC files are stored at your college OneDrive. May I know if you set up your college OneDrive account on your home PC?

You can always download your files back to your computer from college OneDrive online.

You may also set up your school account on your home PC to download your files back.

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows taskbar.
  2. Select Help & Settings
  3. In Settings, select Account, and then select Add an account.
  4. When OneDrive Setup starts, enter your college account, and then select Sign in.
  5. Proceed the set-up process and make sure to disable Backup folders.
  6. After you sign in your college account, open File Explorer and navigate to the folders with your files on school OneDrive (Desktop, Documents and Pictures)
  7. Copy/Cut these files and paste them to the corresponding Folders on your PC local storage.

Best Regards,

Igor

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-10T15:29:22+00:00

    I have attempted to do this now.

    It seemed to have worked for the documents folder, however, most things in the folder are gone, and the folders are empty. Same goes for my photos folder; everything is missing.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-10T15:36:53+00:00

    (Update)

    I have signed into my college OneDrive on the website. All my PC (pc at home, not related to college) folders and relating contents are found there. I can't access them on my own PC (at home) but I can on the website.

    I am scared all my PC files have been deleted without my permission?

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-05-10T00:58:50+00:00

    Hello Toby,

    Thank you for posting to Microsoft Office Community and thanks for providing us an opportunity to assist you.

    According to description you have enabled backup folders on your OneDrive. You may have enabled this feature during your first sign in. Please check this article for detailed information Back up your Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders with OneDrive (microsoft.com).

    May I know if you recently stopped syncing the backup folders?

    In case you have disabled this feature all files will be stored on your OneDrive. Personally, I understand the inconvenience this behavior can cause. In case you want to stop syncing your backup folders and return your files to its original location you may follow these steps:

    1. Open OneDrive settings by clicking on OneDrive icon and select Help & Settings > Settings.
    2. In Settings, select Backup > Manage backup.
    3. To stop backing up a folder, select Stop backup, and confirm your request.  See important notes below.
    4. Open Where are my files icon and move your files back to its original location.

    If the provided information didn’t solve and issue, please post back to us for further assistance.

    Best Regards,

    Igor

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