Windows 10: Why is OneDrive backup moving files from another computer and placing them on my desktop?

OneDrive popped up asking me to back up files. I said okay, thinking it would work just like before. Now, I am starting to see files that were on my laptop appearing on the desktop of my tower, and also, some of the files appear to be incomplete or duplicates. I never checked anything saying it was okay to move files between machines, and now it's a mess. What is going on and how do I make this stop?This computer is running Windows 10. So is the laptop it seems to be moving files from.

:)

 

OneDrive moved my Desktop into a OneDrive folder and removed Google Drive

To revert the shell folder locations to default, open OneDrive and do the following:

Important: Before proceeding, copy the files in those special folders to another folder or external drive. Please don’t copy them anywhere under Desktop/Documents/Pictures. This is because disabling OneDrive backup for a folder would erase the local copies of the files. Copying them to a different location beforehand will ensure that you don’t need to download them again from the OneDrive cloud.

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the Notification area and click Settings.
   
2. Select the Backup tab, and click Manage Backup
   
3. In the Manage folder backup dialog, click on the Stop backup link under the special folder (Desktop, Documents, or Pictures)
   
4. Click Stop backup in the confirmation dialog that appears.
   
5. Repeat the step for each shell folder you want to revert to the original location.
   

See also:

• Error “The folder can’t be moved here” Moving Documents/Pictures, Caused by OneDrive
  
• Libraries are placed in onedrive folder instead of local folder - Microsoft Community
  

 

OneDrive moves desktop directory: why?????

Hi Anthony,

Thank you for writing us here in Microsoft Community.

I understand your frustration with OneDrive moving your desktop directory. The reason for this is that OneDrive is designed to sync your files across multiple devices, and moving your desktop directory to OneDrive ensures that your desktop files are backed up and accessible from any device.

However, if you prefer to keep your desktop files in their original location, you can change the OneDrive settings to not sync the desktop folder. Here's how to do this.

1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, select Settings, and then click the Backup tab.
   
2. Click Manage Backup.
   
3. Choose the three folders (Desktop, Documents, and Pictures) and click Stop backup.
   
4. The local three folders will occur on your PC while the files still store in your OneDrive folders. You could go to the OneDrive for Web (in the browser) and download the files to the related local folders.
   
5. Delete the three folders in the OneDrive for Web
   

This will prevent OneDrive from moving your desktop directory.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any concerns or clarifications.

Sincerely



Microsoft Moderator

 

OneDrive moves desktop directory: why?????

Why on earth does OneDrive on factory default windows move the desktop from c:\users into a OneDrive folder? If you are going to force the default OneDrive setup to make users do a desktop backup, surely MOVING their desktop directory is the most braindead possible way of achieving this? Is windows now programmed by people who have never used a computer before?

Just make a oneDrive folder for items the user wants backed up? Or only only move my pictures etc. there? That is such an absurd and extreme step to achieve something that users may not even want.

Whoever thought moving the new desktop directory into a OneDrive folder was smart needs to go into the same black hole as the guy who thought removing the start button was a good idea.

***Moved from windows***