Files still saving to OneDrive despite it being unlinked and uninstalled

Question

Files still saving to OneDrive despite it being unlinked and uninstalled

Hevesta6978 20

After trying to mod a game, I found that I needed to access the directory the game had saved to. I found that directory on OneDrive, when it should be pointing to the C drive. I unlinked and uninstalled OneDrive, uninstalled Steam (the service providing the game), and the game itself, along with all cache and AppData files.

Despite this, after re-installation the game is still pointing to OneDrive and somehow saving there despite OneDrive not being installed or linked on my PC. Looking further, I found OneDrive collecting files from other games, and programs not related to Steam.

The only factor I can think of is that I installed ProtonDrive for storage reasons. I had uninstalled that months ago, but it did rely on OneDrive to work. Not if that makes a difference.

I need to completely break this link, as several games require direct access to files that cannot be in the Cloud as it messes with their saving system. Besides, I want to be in control of my data -- it should not be saving to OneDrive for any reason other running files needed for the operation of my PC once it is unlinked and uninstalled. How do I stop this reticent behavior :) ??

Charles Prowse 0 Reputation points

2026-02-09T09:49:29.7466667+00:00

same problem. W11 will not allow me to disable sync on documents folder. It is complete BS. I tried all of the help posts to disable, prevent starts, uninstall and it just creates another onedrive folder and puts my steam saves into the one drive documents! It has made playing any of my games impossible. Waiting on Microsoft support now. I am furious. Should not be so difficult and this is intrusive. Not everyone wants this onedrive and at only 5gb is a joke without subscribing to their service I do not need but looks like they force you to. Only reason I have W11 is a new c drive as my old one packed up. ANyone have a fix I am anxious to hear it. F ed up my msfs 2024 too.

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Charles Prowse 0 Reputation points

2026-02-09T09:49:29.7466667+00:00

same problem. W11 will not allow me to disable sync on documents folder. It is complete BS. I tried all of the help posts to disable, prevent starts, uninstall and it just creates another onedrive folder and puts my steam saves into the one drive documents! It has made playing any of my games impossible. Waiting on Microsoft support now. I am furious. Should not be so difficult and this is intrusive. Not everyone wants this onedrive and at only 5gb is a joke without subscribing to their service I do not need but looks like they force you to. Only reason I have W11 is a new c drive as my old one packed up. ANyone have a fix I am anxious to hear it. F ed up my msfs 2024 too.

Answer 1

Kimberly Olaño 23,545

Hi Hevesta6978 , this is Kimberly. I'm glad to assist you today.

This happens because uninstalling OneDrive doesn’t automatically restore your Known Folders (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.) to their original C:\Users<YourName> locations, Windows just keeps using the OneDrive path if it was set before.

Check Known Folder Paths

Games (and even non-Steam apps) often save to %USERPROFILE%\Documents or %USERPROFILE%\AppData. If those are still pointing to a OneDrive path, you need to change them back.

Steps:

Open File Explorer.

Go to C:\Users<YourName>.

Right-click Documents → Properties.

Go to the Location tab.

If it says something like:

C:\Users<YourName>\OneDrive\Documents

→ Click Restore Default → Apply.

Repeat for Desktop, Pictures, Music, Videos folders.

Should you have more questions, please let me know.

Best regards,

Kimberly

Hevesta6978 20 Reputation points

2025-08-14T16:42:24.1633333+00:00

That seems to have worked perfectly. Thank you!
Charles Prowse 0 Reputation points

2026-02-09T09:54:43.2+00:00

not on W11. says It can not because ther eis afolder that can not be redirected. access denied! this is a joke. Onedrive has hijacked all of my game files and only saved half so no game works. I have tried everything to disable, uninistall, still populates a new folder under onedrive. There is no reason for this to be so intrusive and hard to get rid of other than Microsoft wants you to subscribe and even then it will screw up your games that need a open registry in c drive.
onehoop 0 Reputation points

2026-02-20T04:20:43.92+00:00

When I try this it fails, it says: "Can't move the folder because there is a folder in the same location that can't be redirected. Access is denied.

I believe the problem is that I have already done this and apps still generate onedrive folders. There must be something in Windows telling them to do so.

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Files still saving to OneDrive despite it being unlinked and uninstalled

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