Windows 10: Remove OneDrive Folders from Libraries?

That has absolutely nothing to do with my issue...

 

If you would take the time to open that app you will see that it has the ability to completely remove OneDrive and other apps. Something that you came here to get help for. Use it or do not, I can guarantee you that it will do what you want.

 

Except I don't want to delete OneDrive... read my other posts.

I already know how to do that, and it's possible without using a third-party app. I JUST want it to stop adding itself to my libraries.

 

Source

 

That's still not the issue -_-

Hiding the icon does not prevent it from adding itself to your libraries.

I have another idea in mind, which I will test shortly.

 

OK, I've come up with a really awkward temporary solution. Hopefully somebody who's knowledgable about Libraries can help refine this a bit.

Basically, a recap for those just seeing this thread, the ONLY issue I have with OneDrive is that it will add itself to my Libraries (Documents, Music and Photos, for some reason Videos isn't modified even though I have a Videos folder in OneDrive too) every time the app is run - usually this is only at boot-time, but exiting the app and starting it again will do the same thing.

If I remove the OneDrive location from a library, it stays gone until the next time the app starts, when it adds it back.

So what I did was go to where the libraries are stored, reset the four main libraries (documents, music, pictures, videos) to default (there's a button to do that) which removes the OneDrive folder location and changes the default back to what it should be - since there's now only one folder, clicking the library in Explorer doesn't show separate categories, just the contents of that one folder.
After that, I removed ALL permissions from the .library-ms file. This is only possible by navigating directly to the Libraries folder, clicking Properties (it will have a separate Security tab this way, if you just right-click the library in the Explorer side pane it will not), clicking Advanced under security. Disabled inheritance and then removed everything.

It gave a warning saying if I continue, nobody will be able to access the file and only the owner (which is me) can change permissions. Fine.

The result: My libraries are still viewable (even though there's no 'read' permission, apparently this doesn't matter), but they cannot be modified by anybody including SYSTEM since I removed the permissions. If I right-click the library in the Explorer pane, it gives an error:





But if I just click the library, it shows the contents as it should. The good news: since I removed all the permissions, the OneDrive app cannot modify them either! Success... for now! I can close and reopen the OneDrive app as many times as I want and it doesn't get added to my libraries anymore.

But like I said... this is a relatively stupid workaround for this problem - it would be nice to still be able to modify the libraries myself. I wonder if there's a way to deny the OneDrive app permission while letting myself have permission? I'd need somebody who deals more with Windows permission to assist here.

And if it helps anyone, the folder where the .library-ms files are kept is:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

EDIT:

Removing all permissions meant I couldn't open any of my files. I was able to see the thumbnails, but trying to open them gave me a permissions error. I've found a more permanent solution:





I greyed out my username as this is my computer at work *Zip

But anyway, basically you need that read/execute permission for it to work properly. The good news: I can still write, modify, whatever the contents of the Pictures folder, as after all, that's a different folder! It's JUST the library-ms file I changed permissions to. What's interesting: if I try to modify the library and add a folder, I can hit apply and OK, it doesn't stop me or give any errors... but as expected it doesn't work, the folder does not get added *Tongue

I'm thinking this is as close to a proper solution as we'll get unless Microsoft makes a proper way to disable library-adding of OneDrive.

 

Five pages of users trying to help you , users have given you several ways that it would work. The best being Group Policy. I know that works as I have used it./

 

5 pages of people not understanding my question is more like it.

For the empteenth time, I am not trying to remove, disable, or otherwise turn off OneDrive!!
All of these suggestions were how to uninstall, remove, disable OneDrive. Seriously, people need to re-read my question!

I managed to solve it myself in my most recent post, but I'd appreciate a more "proper" solution.

 

Remove OneDrive Folders from Libraries? - Page 3 - Windows 10 Forums

I used the above fix and it worked on my release of Windows 10 build 10240. I do not have any library's and they are of no use in Windows 10. Maybe if you filled in your System Specs it would help. There is no need to reply as I won't see it.

 

Since you went this way, why not just remove those extra permissions from OneDrive itself, play with it more. *Smile

 

Well, is there a way to set permissions of a program so it can't write to your hard drive? The OneDrive program itself is just a single EXE in local appdata, obviously my user would need execute permissions but removing all others, I think it would still do the library adding.

Thanks for actually trying to help though DTG1!

 

Permissions work both ways, you need it to read, so assume that it needs some to write, however pointing a program where it can write can be a bit harder. I dont know enough about dll's to say much, but Onedrive has to save its settings somewhere, in "some-kind" of file, typically *.ini's, normally not within the .exe itself. Knowing that M$ doesnt want us to change how OneDrive works, the settings file maybe an encrypted. hidden system file, idk. Personally, I dont trust M$ or OneDrive, if I need online storage ill go with something less intrusive like Dropbox or even Mega, something I know I can uninstall when something better comes along. Plus I know its easier to safely install Dropbox/Mega on any device I want, and safely uninstall them.

 

There are some .ini files, I mentioned it in one of my earlier posts. I didn't see anything in there pertaining to libraries, though, but there might be a hidden command... hence why I brought it up in case anyone did some tinkering.

 

I'm not sure if this thread is still alive, but I have a solution, which works fine for me. If you don't care about the OneDrive default folders like camera, music etc. just delete these.

Hope this input helps some people.

Best regards,
Patrick

 

Not sure why everyone is worried about Onedrive folders. MS is removing it soon. Everyone should have received their email from MS.
Here is a short version.
We’re emailing you because you’re a member of one or more groups in OneDrive. Groups will no longer be available in OneDrive after October* 16, 2015, and all group files and info will be deleted.

So why worry about deleting folders in onedrive?? unless you actually use the piece of crap. *Smile