Windows 10: OneDrive and my desktop

This problem may or may not be connected with Windows 11 since the system was originally Windows 10, but migrated to Win 11 some time ago - I cannot recollect whether this problem existed prior to the migration. Basically every file or folder on my desktop is shown as being in OneDrive! I'm not terribly comfortable about this! If I go into File Explorer and look at C:\Users\User\Desktop I see one folder and two files - none of these three items appear on my actual desktop.If I go into File Explorer and look at C:\Users\User\OneDrive\Desktop I see all the folders and files that are visible on m

:)

 

Windows 10 - OneDrive

Right click on the app and one of the properties has an option to not automatically start it. Uncheck, restart the computer, and it should stop. If you want to go another step further, find the OneDrive app in the start menu, right click on it and uninstall.

If that is still insufficient, there is a batch uninstaller for OneDrive available online. I can copy the code here if you need it.

 

OneDrive is subfolder of Desktop in the Registry.

You don't specify the key you found that entry under, but I'm guessing it's:

• HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Then you say:

• " I have found the GUID of OneDrive is a different hex number."

But you don't tell us how you "found" this or the value of the GUID, but I'm guessing it's:

• {018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6}

Both are related to OneDrive. {A52BBA46-E9E1-435f-B3D9-28DAA648C0F6} is the KnownFolderID of the OneDrive folder. The ID/Path value is only found under HKCU\...\UserShellFolders if the file sytem location of the OneDrive folder has been changed from its default of %UserProfile%\OneDrive, which can only be done on setup or when re-linking your PC after un-linking.


{018D5C66-4533-4307-9B53-224DE2ED1FE6} is the CLSID of the virtual folder that is inserted into the Virtual Desktop namespace via:

• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

This is what allows OneDrive to appear in the Navigation Pane and on the Desktop. That is why it's the GUID you find most frequently in internet searches --- people frequently want to remove it from the Navigation Pane.


Before I make any suggestions, would like more info:

1. In the Explreor Address bar or a Run dialog, type shell:OneDriveEnter. Does a folder open, eror occur, or nothing happen?
2. Does the folder D:\Desktop\OneDrvie exist? Amy content?
3. Does the %UserProfile%\OneDrive folder still exist? Any content?
4. If you access OneDrive online via your MS account, and it contains folders/files, can you locate the corresponding items anywhere on your PC?

The one thing you might try is deleting the {A52BBA46-E9E1-435f-B3D9-28DAA648C0F6} value under HKCU\...\UserShellFolders, creating (if it doesn't exist) a folder named OneDrive in your user profile folder (the default location), restarting your PC, and then seeing if your can start OneDrive.

 

No onedrive

Hello Francis,

Doing the steps below to install the latest version of OneDrive may be able to help.

1. Download and install the latest version of OneDrive that's rolling out with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
2. Restart your computer.
3. After your computer restarts, select the Start button, search for “OneDrive”, and then select the OneDrive desktop app.
4. When OneDrive Setup starts, enter your personal account, or your work or school account, and then select Sign in.