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Why are my desktop files located in a onedrive folder?

Anonymous
2022-05-21T17:45:58+00:00

When I right click on my files on the desktop, and look at the properties, the location isn't C:\Users\username\Desktop but C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Desktop.

In the left pane inside Windows Explorer, clicking on This PC and then the Desktop link right below it, gives the location as C:\Users\username\OneDrive.

Is there a way to make this simply the Desktop associated with the user account, and not OneDrive?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-05-21T19:02:44+00:00

    Hi Paul

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    In Windows 10 and 11, there are usually two sets of Library folders, one set in your user folder, and the other set in that OneDrive folder.

    There is a way to do this, but it involves editing the registry, because in Windows 10 and 11 the Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders in the OneDrive folder are the default

    1

    In File Explorer, go into your user folder in C:\Users

    if there is not a Desktop folder, right click in there, and create a new folder and name it Desktop

    Close File Explorer

    2

    Click your Start Button, type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

    Click View and make sure 'Address Bar' is turned on.

    Paste this into the Address Bar at the top and hit Enter.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

    3

    In the right hand pane, double click Desktop, set its Value Data to this and click OK

    %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

    4

    In the right hand pane, if {754AC886-DF64-4CBA-86B5-F7FBF4FBCEF5} exists, set its Value Data to this and click OK

    %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

    5

    Close the Registry Editor, then Restart (not shut down) your PC

    To tidy up, you will need to move any files that should be on your Desktop from the Desktop folder in the OneDrive folder into that Desktop folder in your user profile

    6

    If you want to do the same thing for any other folder, please let me knw, I am logging off for the night now, but I will be back first thing in the morning if you need any further help, I will check this thread first thing.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-21T19:19:52+00:00

    Thanks! That did it. You are correct, I had to move the files over but that wasn't a problem.

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  2. Craig Long 17,825 Reputation points
    2022-05-21T19:17:52+00:00

    When I right click on my files on the desktop, and look at the properties, the location isn't C:\Users\username\Desktop but C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Desktop.

    In the left pane inside Windows Explorer, clicking on This PC and then the Desktop link right below it, gives the location as C:\Users\username\OneDrive.

    Is there a way to make this simply the Desktop associated with the user account, and not OneDrive?

    If you are syncing your Desktop to OneDrive then you will need to turn off the Desktop backup by going to Windows notification area > cloud icon > OneDrive Help and Settings iconHelp & Settings > Settings, then Backup > Manage backup.

    If you are not actively syncing to OneDrive then this method will not work of course.

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