How to change OneDrive’s location in Windows

In both Windows 11 and Windows 10, OneDrive is embedded into the operating system, and it serves as the default service for storing your files to the cloud, synchronizing them with other devices, syncing your Windows settings, etc. Some of the most common questions when working with it are: “Where is OneDrive located on my computer?” and “How do I change OneDrive’s folder location?”. If you want to find out where your OneDrive data is located on your Windows PC and how to move your OneDrive folder to store your files in another location than the default, read on:

Where is OneDrive data located by default?

Regardless of whether you’re using Windows 11 or Windows 10, OneDrive is also a user folder. What does that mean? If you open File Explorer (Win + E) and go to the drive where Windows is installed, you’ll find a folder called Users. Access it, and then open your user account folder. There, you’ll see all your standard user folders: Documents, Pictures, OneDrive, and others. The default folders from a Windows user account This means that, in Windows, all your OneDrive data is located in: If you want to move the OneDrive folder to store your files on another drive, partition, or folder, there’s no obvious way to change OneDrive’s location. You might assume this folder’s location change works the same as for other user folders, but that’s not true. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

How to change OneDrive’s location in Windows

Regardless of whether you have Windows 11 or Windows 10, if you want to change the location of your OneDrive folder, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open OneDrive’s settings

Start by looking for OneDrive’s icon in the system tray, on the right side of the taskbar. It shouldn’t be hard to identify; it looks like a small cloud. Once you find it, click or tap on it. The OneDrive icon from the taskbar If you don’t see OneDrive there, click or tap the small arrow found to the left of the system tray icons. You’re going to find OneDrive in the list of hidden icons. The OneDrive icon in the hidden icons list TIP: If the OneDrive icon is nowhere to be found in the system tray or among the hidden icons, open the OneDrive app from the Start Menu. Its shortcut is in the list of apps starting with the letter O. Opening OneDrive from the Start Menu The previous action opens a pop-up window with details about OneDrive and its last actions on your Windows computer. Click or tap the Help & Settings button. Help & Settings in the OneDrive window This brings up a menu with various options: select Settings from it. Opening the Settings for OneDrive TIP: Did OneDrive stop syncing on your computer? Here’s how to force OneDrive to sync in Windows.

Step 2. Unlink your Windows PC from your OneDrive account

Next, Windows shows you another window called OneDrive Settings. Select the Account tab on the left sidebar, and click or tap “Unlink this PC” on the right side of the window. Choosing to Unlink this PC from OneDrive When OneDrive asks you if you’re sure that you want to unlink your PC, confirm the action by pressing the Unlink account button. This makes OneDrive stop syncing your files, and it’s a mandatory step if you want to move the OneDrive folder somewhere else. Unlink account from OneDrive After you confirm that you want to unlink your computer, Windows will prompt you to log in or create a Microsoft account to use OneDrive on your PC. Ignore it for now, but leave the window open, as you’ll need it later. Set up OneDrive TIP: Do you dislike OneDrive and would like to get rid of it from your computer? Here’s how to disable and remove OneDrive from Windows.

Step 3. Move the OneDrive folder to another location (file path)

The next step is to move your OneDrive folder from its original location to the one where you want it to be. Open File Explorer and navigate to OneDrive’s current location. As you know now, OneDrive’s default file path is: Go to the location of the OneDrive folder Once you’ve found it, right-click (or press and hold) the OneDrive folder and select Cut in the context menu. Alternatively, you can select the folder and press Ctrl + X on your keyboard. Cut the OneDrive folder Next, use File Explorer to browse through your Windows computer and select the drive, partition, or folder where you want your OneDrive data to be located from now on. Once you get there, right-click (or press and hold) to show the context menu, and choose Paste to move the OneDrive folder. Paste the OneDrive folder Wait for Windows to move your OneDrive folder and all its data to the new location. Depending on the number and size of your files, this step might take a while. OneDrive's folder new location After the operating system finishes moving your OneDrive folder, you can close File Explorer.

Step 4. Set up and change OneDrive’s folder location

Go back to the OneDrive login window, which you left open earlier. In it, enter the email address associated with your Microsoft account. Then, click or tap Sign in and, if requested, type your password or use an alternative way of authentication, such as your Microsoft Authenticator app, to access your account. Sign in with your Microsoft account Once you’ve signed in, OneDrive shows you where it intends to store your files. As you want to change the location of your OneDrive folder to something other than the default file path, click or tap the Change location link. Selecting to Change location for OneDrive OneDrive now opens a File Explorer window called “Choose your OneDrive location.” Use it to browse through your Windows computer to select the place where you moved your OneDrive folder earlier. Once you’ve done that, press the Select Folder button. Browsing to the new OneDrive location OneDrive will detect that “A OneDrive folder already exists on this PC.” You now have to confirm that you still intend to “Use this folder.” Choosing to Use this folder for OneDrive Now you should see that the location of OneDrive was changed according to your instructions. Click or tap Next to continue. The location of OneDrive has been changed Although the location of your OneDrive folder is now modified, there is still one thing left to configure. That’s to select whether you want to back up your Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos folders to OneDrive. Choose the ones you want, and click or tap the Start backup button. If you don’t want to do this now, you can click/tap on “I’ll do it later.” Choosing what folders are backed up to OneDrive Then, OneDrive shows you a few slides with some information about it and the benefits of upgrading to a paid plan if you’re using the free one. Go through the slides by clicking or tapping the Next button a few times until you see the last one telling you that “Your OneDrive is ready for you.” Click or tap “Open my OneDrive folder.” Open my OneDrive folder This makes File Explorer launch and take you to your new (changed) OneDrive location. The new OneDrive location That was all: your OneDrive folder is now moved to where you wanted it to be.

Can you change OneDrive’s folder name?

Some people asked us whether they could change the name of their OneDrive folders. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. We found evidence on the internet that some managed to toy with it, using some registry hacks, but the results were not good and often caused more trouble than it was worth.

Why did you change OneDrive’s location?

As you’ve seen, changing the location of the OneDrive folder requires a few steps, but they’re not overly complicated. However, it could have been even more straightforward if Windows provided an option for this purpose in OneDrive’s settings. Why did you want to change your OneDrive’s location? Did you move it to another drive to keep it safe? Or did you need more free space on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 drive? Let me know in the comments section.