Changing default Documents location in Win11

Question

I recently installed Windows 11 on my existing computer, after replacing some hardware. The C drive had to be overwritten during the install, so my existing defaults for storage were lost. I have an existing Documents folder on another (D:) drive, and I would like to redirect default storage to this location. My initial attempts to do this, generated an error message to the effect that the change couldn't be implemented because there was an existing folder, apparently in C. It seemed like this was likely a OneDrive issue, as changing the name of the target folder didn't solve the problem.

I tried uninstalling the OneDrive app, after pausing it, but that did not solve the problem. The change to the location of Documents could not be implemented.

I got error messages that suggested the problems were with the OneDrive installation, so I followed the directions in another reply from EmilyS726, which involved re-installing OneDrive and then uninstalling after unchecking the boxes for the backup folders within OneDrive, then unlinking the PC and uninstalling OneDrive.

Now, when I go to Documents properties (C:/Users/myaccountname/Documents), the documents folder properties no longer give me the location setting option. I'm stuck.

The default documents folder location shown, when I try to save a file from Word, is showing as "One Drive Personal", even though OneDrive is not installed.

Advice?

The article I used to try the fix was this one:

I am trying to move my WIndows 11 Documents Folder from - Microsoft Community

Answer 1

Hello, this is Emily.

There are actually two separate issues here.

I will address the last one first regarding Word, Excel, etc saving documents by default to OneDrive. I know you have already uninstalled OneDrive, but here is the thing. Microsoft 365 apps connect to OneDrive cloud directly whether you have a desktop OneDrive app or not. By default, the save location is directly to the OneDrive cloud. If you want to change this default save location, go to Word, File > Optins > Save. Uncheck the box "AutoSave files stored in the cloud by default in word". Then check "Save to computer by default" and then define the local file location.

Do that for Excel, Powerpoint, etc as well.

===========================

Ok, moving on to address the shell folder location issue. Please type regedit in the search on the taskbar to launch registry editor, and go to this path, then take a screenshot and share in your reply.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Answer 2

I tried Shawn's suggestion, and it appears that the system thinks that my Documents folder is in a folder called One Drive Old. However, no options were presented in Properties for restoring defaults. Here is the Properties dialogue to the left, along with the example in the tutorial Shawn referenced. I await Emily's response to my reply.

Answer 3

Hello,

You can try moving your Documents folder location using option one in the tutorial below using "shell:Personal" to open the current Documents folder location.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/move-or-restore-default-location-of-documents-folder-in-windows-11.8708/

If that doesn't help, then use option three above to restore the default location, then try moving the folder again.

Answer 4

If you like, option 3 below should restore the Documents folder back to its default location.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/move-or-restore-default-location-of-documents-folder-in-windows-11.8708/

Answer 5

Thanks.

Here is the Registry screenshot:

And here is the screenshot of the quick access part of the Explorer window. Note that no Documents folder is in there.