Forum Discussion
How to delete old OneDrive folder from computer
I removed the OneDrive-folder months ago (method 1) because I cannot log on to the OneDrive-account to which it is linked.
The OneDrive-folder is long gone, but Windows explorer still shows it in the side-pane and on the Desktop (Bureaublad).
- If I try to open OneDrive-folder, it says: Folder location does not exist... bla bla.
Yes, that is true. I deleted it (method 1)! - Selecting the OneDrive-folder on the Desktop (Bureaublad) and pressing the Delete-key has no result, no message whatsoever.
- If I shift+right-click the OneDrive-folder, I cannot choose to remove/delete it. If I choose "Properties" I get the same kind of error in it's properties on location, security et cetera.
- I tried: "OneDrive.exe /reset" as mentioned in the https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reset-onedrive-34701e00-bf7b-42db-b960-84905399050c to fix this problem, with no result.
- I also tried running "wsreset.exe" as mentioned in the https://support.microsoft.com/nl-nl/office/onedrive-opnieuw-instellen-34701e00-bf7b-42db-b960-84905399050c?WT.mc_id=365AdminCSH_Smc. Again with no result.
- At last I removed OneDrive from my pc. Then rebooted my pc and reinstalled OneDrive.
This resulted in some other syncing problems mentioned here, but the OneDrive-folder still shows up!
Notes
- I'm a Dutch Windows 11 Home and Professional user on two different pc's. All updates (25H2) installed. Both have the same issue.
- Since I'm using a Dutch Windows-version, I had to translate some terms.
- I cannot log on to my company Microsoft-account because my company turned on the https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/conditional-access/policy-all-users-app-enforced-restrictions.
Ah, the registry key in: Gemo53's comment did the trick.
By starting the registry editor and removing the unwanted name(space) from:
HKCU\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\desktop\namespace
I was able to remove the non-functioning OneDrive-folder from the Desktop (Bureaublad)!
It is still strange that you have to do it by editing the registry manually and Microsoft is not removing it's garbage when you remove the software (OneDrive) from your computer. But well, the trick worked 🙂
Thanks Gemo53​ !