OneDrive Screwed me over again...

Don Lee 0 Reputation points
2026-11-09T05:19:39.9966667+00:00

Onedrive moved all of my files off my PC and then started to delete my files... I pulled my files back and now all of my ESP32 library links are messed up. My OneNote links are messed up. And Some files are missing...

OneDrive is still pulling files off my machine. I told it to not backup since what it is doing is not a backup but a theft... Is the only solution to not use the default directories and relaod all my non-microsoft software and applications to those non-default directories?

All I really want is a true backup without OneDrive moving and deleting my files... I do EMC work in RF Shield rooms. OneDrive requires internet... I can't access anything on OneDrive with those doors closed...

Don

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | Other | Windows
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  1. Kai-H 30,565 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-09T10:04:41.9833333+00:00

    Hi, @Don Lee

    What you're seeing is OneDrive's folder backup feature. It moves Desktop and Documents into the OneDrive folder, so any app or link that pointed to the old path breaks. You won't need to reinstall your software. You only need to get OneDrive out of the way and point a couple of apps to a new location.

    Here are some suggestions you can try:

    Remove OneDrive from this PC. Once all your files are back on the PC, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Microsoft OneDrive, and select Uninstall. Your files stay where they are, and nothing gets moved again. If you need OneDrive later, you can reinstall it and only sync the folders you choose.

    Fix the ESP32 libraries. In the Arduino IDE, go to File > Preferences and set Sketchbook location to a folder outside OneDrive, like C:\Arduino. Move your old Arduino folder, including its libraries subfolder, into that location and restart the IDE. It's also recommended to install the IDE itself outside OneDrive, for example under Program Files.

    Fix the OneNote links. For each notebook that lost its location, go to File > Info > Settings > Properties > Change Location and point it to the folder where the notebook files are now.

    Set up an offline copy for the shield room. A simple copy command to an external drive works without internet. Open Command Prompt and run: robocopy "C:\Users\YourName\Documents" "E:\Backup\Documents" /E /XO This copies subfolders and skips files that are already up to date. It never deletes anything from the backup. If you'd rather click than type, a free tool like FreeFileSync does the same thing.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-09T05:20:30.0633333+00:00

    Quit OneDrive now, recover and pin every required file locally, then stop folder backup with Keep files only on my PC and use Windows File History for a genuine offline backup.

    1. Stop further synchronization temporarily

    Because disabling backup has not stopped the current activity:

    1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar.
    2. Select Pause syncing → Quit OneDrive.

    Do not move or delete more files while OneDrive is actively synchronizing. Quitting stops the current synchronization; pausing alone resumes automatically later. ^1^

    2. Recover missing files before changing folder locations

    With OneDrive stopped, inspect these locations:

    • C:\Users\<your-name>\OneDrive\Documents
    • C:\Users\<your-name>\OneDrive\Desktop
    • C:\Users\<your-name>\Documents
    • C:\Users\<your-name>\Desktop
    • Windows Recycle Bin

    Also sign in to the OneDrive website and check:

    • My files → Desktop and Documents
    • Recycle bin

    Restore deleted items before doing the folder repair. Cloud-only deleted files might appear only in OneDrive’s web recycle bin, not the Windows Recycle Bin. Microsoft 365 subscribers can also roll back the entire OneDrive to a point within the previous 30 days if many files were deleted or changed together. ^2^ ^3^

    3. Ensure everything needed in the shield room is physically downloaded

    Restart OneDrive temporarily from the Start menu. In File Explorer:

    1. Open the OneDrive folder.
    2. Right-click each required folder—especially ESP32 libraries, project folders, notebooks, Documents, and Desktop.
    3. Select Always keep on this device.
    4. Wait until the files show the solid green circle with a white check mark.
    5. Test representative files after disconnecting the PC from the network.

    A blue cloud means the item is online-only and cannot be opened without Internet access. “Always keep on this device” downloads the item and keeps it available offline. ^4^

    Do not proceed while any required folder still contains blue-cloud items.

    4. Stop OneDrive redirecting the standard folders

    Once all required files are local:

    1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon → Settings.
    2. Open Sync and backup → Manage backup.
    3. Turn off Desktop, Documents, Pictures, or any other redirected folder.
    4. When prompted, choose Keep the files only on my PC—not Keep the files only in OneDrive.

    Microsoft documents that the second choice removes the local copies, while only on my PC removes them from OneDrive. If cloud-only files remain, OneDrive will require them to be downloaded first. ^5^

    Check the Windows folder paths afterward:

    1. In File Explorer, right-click Documents → Properties → Location.
    2. If it points inside OneDrive, select Restore Default.
    3. The expected path is C:\Users\<your-name>\Documents.
    4. Repeat for Desktop and Pictures.
    5. If Windows offers to move files automatically, use a separate verified copy first; a case-matched recovery procedure recommends declining that prompt and manually moving the downloaded files from OneDrive into the repaired local folders. ^6^

    Restoring the original paths may repair software links that referenced the standard Documents location. Links containing the explicit old OneDrive path will still need to be updated. For OneNote notebooks not reopened automatically, use OneNote → File → Open. ^5^

    You should not need to reinstall applications merely to avoid the default directories.

    5. Replace synchronization with an offline backup

    For your RF shield-room requirement, configure File History to an external drive or network location:

    1. Connect an external backup drive.
    2. Open Control Panel → System and Security.
    3. Select Save backup copies of your files with File History.
    4. Choose Select drive, select the external drive, and click OK.
    5. Select Turn on.
    6. For ESP32 projects or libraries outside standard folders, right-click the folder → Show more options → Include in library.

    File History saves versioned copies without relocating the working files and does not require Internet access when using an external drive. ^7^

    After verifying the external backup, either leave OneDrive quit or go to OneDrive Settings → Account → Unlink this PC. Unlink only after confirming that every required file exists locally and in the independent backup. ^1^

    References

    1. How to cancel or stop sync in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    2. [PC or Mac](https://support.microsoft.com/onedrive/restore-your-onedrive-files)
    3. Restore your OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    4. Save disk space with OneDrive Files On-Demand for Windows | Microsoft Support
    5. Back up your folders with OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    6. How To Download Online Onedrive Files Onto My PC - Microsoft Q&A
    7. Backup and restore with File History | Microsoft Support
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