How can I write my deployment app to force local document folder and not OneDrive?

Wayne McHugh 0

I'm using Visual Studio 2022 using the Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Projects extension for my deployment app. It installs working files into my app folder under documents, but I've learned that sometimes (maybe often), it is going to documents under OneDrive instead of the local computer's documents folder. How can I, from the deployment app end, force it to the local documents folder. Most of my users don't have the computer knowledge to unlink OneDrive, and they shouldn't have to.

1 answer

Anna Xiu-MSFT 28,761 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-27T08:03:50.9866667+00:00

Hi @Wayne McHugh,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

You can open the File System editor > right-click on the Application Folder node > select Properties Window > set DefaultLocation to [PersonalFolder][Manufacturer][ProductName].

For PersonalFolder property, it points to the local Documents folder for the current user.

Sincerely,

Anna

If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.
Please sign in to rate this answer.

1 person found this answer helpful.
Wayne McHugh 0 Reputation points

2024-09-27T08:23:53.5066667+00:00

Thanks Anna, but that is what I have done. But I was contacted this morning by someone who said it installed to OneDrive/Documents instead of the local Documents. That sort of thing happens a lot in Windows 11. There must be a way to prevent this happening for an installation.

Anna Xiu-MSFT 28,761 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-09-27T08:48:13.5766667+00:00

Hello, on my side, the file is installed to the folder C:\Users\[username]\Documents.

You can right-click on the Documents folder > Properties > Location > check if the location is changed to OneDrive/Documents path.

Or you can refer to the following link to unlink OneDrive from your computer.

Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive - Microsoft Support

RLWA32 45,476 Reputation points

2024-09-28T13:01:47.6833333+00:00

@Wayne McHugh, You could try asking your question on the Q&A section for the Visual Studio Installer Project Extension at https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=VisualStudioClient.MicrosoftVisualStudio2022InstallerProjects

Wayne McHugh 0 Reputation points

2024-09-28T19:22:49.38+00:00

@Anna, as it is on mine. I know you can unlink OneDrive, since I referred to that in my OP. You shouldn't have to, to stop this happening, and it is an unrealistic requirement for any person actually using OneDrive. @RLWA32, I have done that, thank you.

RLWA32 45,476 Reputation points

2024-09-28T20:54:30.7933333+00:00

@Wayne McHugh, I don't use OneDrive so I can't test this idea but maybe you can test it. Instead of specifying [PersonalFolder] in the Installer Project properties try using an environment variable. For example -

RLWA32 45,476 Reputation points

2024-09-30T20:11:58.0233333+00:00

@Anna Xiu-MSFT Do you have a Windows 11 system that is using OneDrive's Known Folder Move feature? If you do it would be informative to test if the Windows Installer PersonalFolder property resolves to OneDrive's Documents folder.

Anna Xiu-MSFT 28,761 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2024-10-01T03:24:38.8066667+00:00

@RLWA32 Sorry, I don't use OneDrive.

RLWA32 45,476 Reputation points

2024-10-02T07:07:54.2566667+00:00

@Wayne McHugh, Did you have a chance to test my suggestion about using an environment variable instead of the Installer's PersonalFolder property?
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Share via

How can I write my deployment app to force local document folder and not OneDrive?

1 answer

Your answer