Reset Windows locations hijacked by OneDrive

Apparently Windows 10 pulled a smart one and decided that OneDrive should be the default location for My Documents and I would much rather it not be. I have searched alternative options and found this:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-this-pcdocuments-points-to-onedrive/deae70e8-fdc1-4165-a37d-ead64a1f361b?auth=1

Which seems to point to non-existent options in the OneDrive application.

Are there any registry entries I can edit that reset where My Documents etc. are?


If you have uninstalled your OneDrive, you may set the path for My Document fodler via registry.

Locate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders, then find the "Personal" value. Make sure its data value is C:\Users<user name>\Documents.

More information, you may refer to "Configuration of the My Documents folder".

(Please note, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.)


You have to turn off OneDrive "Backup" (which relocates the users default folders to OneDrive). That will reset the folders under This PC to the default locations, but not move any files that have been stored in the OneDrive folders. You have to move them back manually.

To access OneDrive settings, right-click the icon in the Notification Area. If you don't see the icon there, click Start, type OneDrive and launch the OneDrive app.

  1. From the context menu of the OneDrive icon, select Settings.
  2. Click the Backup tab and select Manage Backup.
  3. De-select all three folders and close the dialog.