How to purge OneDrive from the default user folders

What you’re running into isn’t just “sync on/off”—it’s that Microsoft OneDrive has taken ownership of your known Windows folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop). Disabling sync doesn’t fully undo that; Windows and some apps still think those folders live inside OneDrive.

You need to unlink OneDrive from those folders and restore their original locations, not just turn sync off.

Here’s the clean way to fix it:

1) Turn off OneDrive backup (this is key)

• Click the OneDrive cloud icon → Settings
• Go to Sync & backup → Manage backup
• Turn OFF Pictures, Documents, Desktop
• Choose “Keep files on this PC”

2) Restore the real folder paths

• Open File Explorer → C:\Users\cherr\
• Right-click Pictures → Properties → Location
• Click Restore Default → Apply
  (should be C:\Users\cherr\Pictures)

Repeat for Documents/Desktop if needed.

3) Move your files back

Move files from:

C:\Users\cherr\OneDrive\Pictures

to:

C:\Users\cherr\Pictures

4) Done

Keep Microsoft OneDrive if you want—but don’t re-enable backup. Then it behaves like a normal folder and won’t hijack your system folders.

If it’s still broken (last resort)

You may need to fix the registry paths manually (I can guide you through that safely), but in most cases the Location tab reset fixes it completely.

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

Hope this will help you.