How to show C:\Desktop as the only Desktop , NO OneDrive ?

Copper Contributor

Greetings :

How to show C:\Desktop as the only Desktop , NO OneDrive ? 

OneDrive is very confusing to me ,

It's Desktop shows gazillions of Folder ShortCuts . 

I have UnLinked OneDrive , but nothing has changed .

Thanks for your Help...

11 Replies

@vmars316 

To ensure that you're viewing the contents of the local Desktop folder (C:\Desktop) instead of the OneDrive Desktop folder, you can adjust the folder settings in Windows 11. Here's how you can do it:

  1. Open File Explorer: You can do this by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard or by clicking on the File Explorer icon in the taskbar.
  2. Navigate to the Desktop folder: On the left-hand side of File Explorer, you should see a list of folders. Click on "This PC" to expand it, then click on "Desktop" to view its contents.
  3. Check the path: Once you're in the Desktop folder, you can confirm that you're viewing the local Desktop folder by checking the path displayed in the address bar at the top of File Explorer. It should show something like This PC > Desktop.
  4. Disable OneDrive sync: If you've unlinked OneDrive but are still seeing its contents mixed with the local Desktop, you may need to ensure that OneDrive sync is completely disabled. You can do this by right-clicking on the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of your screen) and selecting "Settings." In the settings window, go to the "Account" tab and click on "Unlink this PC." Follow the prompts to unlink your PC from OneDrive.
  5. Remove OneDrive shortcuts: Even after unlinking OneDrive, you may still see shortcuts to files and folders from your OneDrive in the Desktop folder. You can remove these shortcuts manually by deleting them from the Desktop folder.
  6. Restart File Explorer: Sometimes, changes to folder settings may not take effect immediately. You can try restarting File Explorer to see if that resolves the issue. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, locate "Windows Explorer" in the list of processes, right-click it, and select "Restart."

By following these steps, you should be able to ensure that you're viewing only the contents of the local Desktop folder (C:\Desktop) in Windows 11, without any interference from OneDrive. The text and steps were edited with the help of AI.

 

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

 

Hope this will help you.

Was the answer useful? Mark as best response and Like it!

This will help all forum participants.

@NikolinoDE 

Hmm...

I see 3 Desktops:

3-Desktops.png

Can I just Delete the OneDrive Folder ?:

C:\Users\vmars\OneDrive

Thanks

 

I don't have Desktop listed under my C drive
I do not have Desktop listed under my C drive. Now what?

@Jeffrey_Hassen 

In Windows 11, accessing your Desktop is quite similar to previous versions of Windows. Here's how you can find it:

  1. Click on the Start button: You'll find the Start button in the bottom left corner of your screen, typically represented by the Windows logo.
  2. Click on "Desktop": Once you click on the Start button, you'll see various options on the left side of the Start menu. One of these options is "Desktop." Clicking on it will take you directly to your Desktop.

Alternatively, you can also access your Desktop by minimizing or closing any open windows. Your Desktop is the area behind all your open windows and applications.

If you've customized your taskbar to include a Desktop icon, you can also click on that to go directly to your Desktop.

These methods should help you easily locate your Desktop in Windows 11.

find_Desktop.jpg

 

I know what you are referring to. The problem is that Microsoft MOVED IT to the OneDrive. What you need to do is to find it on OneDrive, then MOVE it to your machine. The destination path will look something like this

C:\Users\specific profile name

Restart your machine, and then everything should look like what you are accustomed to. I wish that I could give you more specific steps. But I did it about two weeks ago, got it right the first time, did not write down each step, and have since forgotten the specifics.

The following video will give good instructions on how to permanently disable OneDrive. Good luck.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=registry+hack+disable+one+drive+windows+11&&vie...
Thank you. This is helpful.
THanks
I uninstalled and keep deleting
C:\Users\vmars\OneDrive Folder
But it just adds it again .
Still , what can I do ?
Thanks

@NikolinoDE 

Hi NikolinoDE :
< You can do this by right-clicking on the OneDrive icon in the system tray>
I have Uninstalled Onedrive and deleted all of its content
and I have no icon in task tray anymore .
so what I have left is 3 Blank virtual Desktops .
How can I Create a VirtualDesktop for what's in C:\Desktop ?
Maybe I can always run from there .
BTW I still havent been able to UNLINK OneDrive .
Thanks for your Help...

And it will continue to do that ad infinitum.  Because the software is written that way.  If it doesn't see a folder, it recreates it.  Deleting the drive isn't the answer.  Moving it is.  After you move it, please refer to the links I provided for the proper way to unlink OneDrive.  Best of luck, and I hope that helps.@vmars316