Missing documents folder on Window 11

Question

Hello.

I've had an issue with accessing my Documents file on my Windows 11 HP laptop. The issue started occurring after I organised my back-up using Onedrive. If I clicked on any folder that was pinned in the Quick Access bar that belonged to my Documents folder pre Onedrive upload, then an error would show up saying that the 'Location is not available'

I have run command prompt and it did detect corrupted files but did not fix the issue.

I have had a look at other advice provided here and came across using the regedit app and searched for my file. I can't upload the image so I will describe it instead. Next to 'Personal' the file location is the onedrive I back-up to. How do I change this to be back on my computer only?

Thank you and I hope I can get them back!

Answer 1

Hi Oliwia,

Please check if Microsoft OneDrive is listed in Apps and Features.

If it's *not* listed and "onedrive.exe" is not running in Task Manager, please do the following:

Open "Regedit.exe" and go to:

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

Backup the key by exporting it to a REG file using the File → Export.. option.

Double-click "Personal" and set its data to:

C:\Users\olive\Documents

Double-click "Desktop" and set its data to:

C:\Users\olive\Desktop

Double-click "My Pictures" and set its data to:

C:\Users\olive\Pictures

Right-click "{F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756}" and choose Delete.

Right-click "{0DDD015D-B06C-45D5-8C4C-F59713854639}" and choose Delete.

Exit the Registry Editor.

Open a Command Prompt window and type these commands:

md %userprofile%\Desktop

md %userprofile%\Documents

md %userprofile%\Pictures

(The shell folder settings are restored to the default location.)

Copy files from:

C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Desktop 
to
C:\Users\olive\Desktop






C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Pictures 
to
C:\Users\olive\Pictures






C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Documents 
to
C:\Users\olive\Documents

Log off and log in again.

Answer 2

Hi!

I think it's not installed on the computer.

Here's what I got from the command:

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

AppData    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming 

Cache    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache 

Cookies    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies 

Desktop    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Desktop 

Favorites    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\Favorites 

History    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History 

Local AppData    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local 

My Music    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\Music 

My Pictures    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Pictures 

My Video    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\Videos 

NetHood    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts 

Personal    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Documents 

PrintHood    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts 

Programs    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs 

Recent    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent 

SendTo    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo 

Start Menu    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 

Startup    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup 

Templates    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates 

{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    %USERPROFILE%\Downloads 

{F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756}    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Documents 

{0DDD015D-B06C-45D5-8C4C-F59713854639}    REG\_EXPAND\_SZ    C:\Users\olive\OneDrive - University of Bristol\Pictures 

Thanks.

Answer 3

Hi Oliwia, This is Ramesh.

Is OneDrive still installed on the computer? Please open a Command Prompt window and maximize it. Run the following command.

reg.exe query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" | clip

This queries the shell folder registry settings and copies the output to the clipboard.

Paste the contents (Ctrl + V) from your clipboard into your reply window.

Answer 4

Oh, thank you. So basically everything is as it should be?

Answer 5

Not a win Q

OneDrive is not a backup, it’s a cloud location of your data.

The default installation of Office 365 and its OneDrive component uploads all the contents of the PC  \My Documents\ folders to OneDrive, (syncs) and there will be a OneDrive folder in File Explorer containing cached copy of all the OneDrive content. And in Word etc the default Save location is set to OneDrive.

No Docs/data is stored on the local PC

You cannot remove OneDrive on a retail O365

If you dont wish to use OneDrive there are numerous settings that need to be changed in each O365 component, but OneDrive will still be the default save location.

O365 when installed under a Win user admin account, and run from that admin account, auto logs in when the PC is started. There is no separate login for any component.

Win search for Word > Resulting shortcut > Rt click > Pin to task bar > start Word from that shortcut (hover mouse over the shortcut gives access to the 10 most recent docs)