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To move the entire OneDrive folder in Windows 11 or Windows 10, unlink OneDrive, move the existing folder in File Explorer, and then link OneDrive again while choosing the folder’s new location. This is Microsoft’s supported method; changing the folder’s Properties location or changing Windows’ default save location does not move the OneDrive sync root.
Before moving OneDrive
Check the destination before you start:
- An internal drive such as D:\ is supported.
- An external drive must be non-ejectable and formatted as NTFS.
- A removable USB flash drive is not a supported OneDrive location.
- Make sure the destination has enough free space for any files that are stored locally.
- If you use selective sync, note which folders are selected. You may need to select them again after relinking.
Unlinking the PC does not delete your OneDrive files. It temporarily disconnects the local folder from your account. Changes made while OneDrive is unlinked are synchronized after you link it again.
Move the OneDrive folder to another location
- Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows notification area. You may need to click the small up arrow to show hidden icons.
- Click OneDrive Help and Settings, then select Settings.
- Open the Account tab.
- Click Unlink this PC.
- Confirm by selecting Unlink account.
- Open File Explorer.
- Find the existing OneDrive folder. It is commonly under C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive.
- Move the entire OneDrive folder to the new drive or parent folder. For example, move it to D:\OneDrive.
- Start OneDrive again. If it does not open automatically, press the Windows key, type OneDrive, and select the OneDrive app.
- On the OneDrive setup screen, select Get started and continue until you reach the screen showing the folder location.
- Select Change Location.
- Browse to the new location of the moved folder and select it.
- Select OK.
- When OneDrive warns that the destination already contains files, select Use this location. Depending on the setup flow or client UI, the options may instead be labelled Choose new folder and Use this folder.
- Finish the setup process.
For example, if the original folder was C:\Users\Alex\OneDrive and you moved it to D:\OneDrive, select D:\OneDrive as the OneDrive folder during setup. Do not select only a subfolder such as D:\OneDrive\Documents.
What happens after relinking?
OneDrive compares the moved local folder with the files in the cloud and resumes synchronization. It normally does not download every file again. If Files On-Demand is enabled, files that were not stored locally can appear as online-only placeholders until you open them.
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Synchronization can still take time, particularly if you changed files while OneDrive was unlinked. Check the OneDrive cloud icon for its status. Wait for synchronization to complete before deleting the old folder or disconnecting the destination drive.
Move OneDrive to a second internal drive
The same unlink–move–relink process works for an internal drive such as D:\ or E:\. A typical destination is:
D:\OneDrive
Moving OneDrive to another internal drive can free space on the Windows system drive without changing the cloud copy. Keep the drive connected and available whenever OneDrive is running. If the drive is missing, OneDrive cannot synchronize the local folder.
Can OneDrive use an external USB drive?
Microsoft does not support a removable USB drive as the OneDrive folder location. An external storage device used for the supported procedure must be non-ejectable and use the NTFS file system.
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To check the file system:
- Open File Explorer.
- Right-click the external drive and select Properties.
- On the General tab, find File system.
The supported value is NTFS. FAT or FAT32 drives must be converted to NTFS before using the supported external-drive setup. Back up important data before converting; Microsoft recommends a backup even though its conversion procedure is designed to preserve files.
Folder Backup for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures is not available when OneDrive is installed on external memory. If your goal is simply to reduce space used on the system drive, Files On-Demand or selective synchronization is usually a better option than an unsupported USB location.
Use Files On-Demand instead of moving the folder
You may not need to move OneDrive if the problem is low disk space. Files On-Demand keeps files visible in the OneDrive folder while allowing online-only files to use zero local hard-drive space.
Online-only files show a cloud icon. They download when opened. To keep a file or folder locally, right-click it in File Explorer and select Always keep on this device. To remove its local copy while keeping it visible, right-click it and select Free up space.
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Selective sync is another option. It controls which OneDrive folders are synchronized to the PC, but it does not move the OneDrive root folder.
Folder Backup is separate from moving OneDrive
OneDrive’s backup of Desktop, Documents, and Pictures is managed separately from the location of the OneDrive folder. Open it through:
OneDrive cloud icon → OneDrive Help and Settings → Settings → Sync and backup → Manage backup
Stopping Folder Backup does not automatically move files back to the original Windows folders. Existing files remain in the OneDrive folder, and a Where are my files shortcut is placed in the formerly protected device folder. Move the files manually if you want them returned to Desktop, Documents, or Pictures.
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New files added to a folder after backup is stopped are not backed up by OneDrive.
Problems when changing the OneDrive location
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| OneDrive does not start after unlinking | Press the Windows key, type OneDrive, and open the OneDrive app. |
| Setup says the destination already contains files | Choose Use this location or Use this folder. Select the folder you moved rather than creating a second OneDrive folder. |
| Some folders are missing | Open OneDrive settings and review selective sync. Previously selected folders may need to be selected again. |
| Files show cloud icons instead of local files | This is normally Files On-Demand working as designed. Open a file to download it or select Always keep on this device. |
| The external drive is rejected | Check that it is non-ejectable and formatted as NTFS. A removable USB drive is unsupported. |
| OneDrive repeatedly asks for sign-in or setup fails | Press Windows key + R, enter %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings, select OK, and delete PreSignInSettingsConfig.json. Then start OneDrive and try the relinking process again. |
Do not use these methods
- Do not use the folder’s Properties → Location tab as the normal way to move the OneDrive sync root. Use unlink, move, and relink instead.
- Do not change only Windows’ default save location if you want to move existing OneDrive files. That setting controls where applications save new files; it does not relocate OneDrive.
- Do not stop Folder Backup expecting files to return automatically to Desktop, Documents, or Pictures.
- Do not select a newly created empty OneDrive folder when the moved folder already contains your files. Select the existing moved folder and confirm the use-location prompt.
Verify the move
- Open OneDrive settings and check the folder path on the Account tab.
- Confirm that the path begins with the new drive, such as D:\OneDrive.
- Create a small test file in the OneDrive folder and wait for it to synchronize.
- Check OneDrive on the web to confirm that the test file appears.
- Only after synchronization is complete should you consider removing any unused old folder. Never delete the old folder while it is still the active OneDrive location.
FAQ
Does unlinking OneDrive delete my files?
No. Unlinking disconnects the PC from OneDrive; it does not delete the cloud data. The existing local folder is moved and then selected again when OneDrive is relinked.
Can I move OneDrive from C: to D:?
Yes. Unlink the PC, move the entire OneDrive folder to a location such as D:\OneDrive, then choose that folder with Change Location during OneDrive setup.
Can I put OneDrive on a USB flash drive?
No. Removable USB drives are not supported as a OneDrive location. Microsoft’s supported external-drive procedure requires a non-ejectable NTFS drive.
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Will OneDrive download all files again after the move?
Usually not. OneDrive normally reuses the moved local folder. Online-only Files On-Demand items may appear as placeholders and download when needed.
Why did my Desktop or Documents files not move back after I stopped backup?
Stopping Folder Backup does not move existing files back to the Windows folders. Move them manually from the OneDrive folder if you want them restored to Desktop, Documents, or Pictures.
What is the difference between selective sync and moving OneDrive?
Selective sync limits which folders are stored locally. Moving OneDrive changes the location of the entire synchronization root. Selective sync does not relocate the root folder.
The Bottom Line
The supported way to change OneDrive’s location is unlink the PC → move the entire OneDrive folder → relink OneDrive and choose the moved folder. Use an internal drive or a supported non-ejectable NTFS external drive, and use Files On-Demand or selective sync if you only need to reduce local storage usage.
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