OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Folder Settings Reverting After Restart in Windows 10

Natalie Taylor Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent OneDrive folder location settings from resetting to their defaults in the Windows registry every time the computer reboots.

How to Fix OneDrive Folder Settings Reverting After Restart in Windows 10

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Attempting to change or move the default OneDrive sync folder (including Desktop and Documents) to a new directory or drive.
Observed behavior: After a system restart, OneDrive ignores the newly configured path, reverts to the previous directory settings in the registry, and creates duplicate file locations for the Desktop and Documents folders.

Before you start

Verify that your current OneDrive sync is completely up to date by clicking the cloud icon in the taskbar and confirming it displays 'Your files are synced' before you attempt to change folder paths.

Solution 1Recommended

Properly Unlink and Relink the OneDrive Account to Change Folder Location

This is the official and safe method to change your OneDrive folder location. Moving the folder directly in File Explorer without unlinking first causes Windows to revert the path after a restart.

When changing the OneDrive directory, the application requires you to sever the connection between your PC and the cloud first. If you skip this, Windows 10 will fail to update the registry paths permanently, causing duplicate Desktop and Documents folders upon reboot.

Unlink your PC from OneDrive

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Windows taskbar. Click the gear icon to open 'Settings'. Navigate to the 'Account' tab and click the 'Unlink this PC' link, then confirm your choice.

Move the OneDrive folder

Open File Explorer and navigate to your current OneDrive folder (usually C:\Users\[YourUsername]\OneDrive). Select the folder, press Ctrl+X to cut it, navigate to your desired new drive or location, and press Ctrl+V to paste it.

Sign back into OneDrive

Open the OneDrive application again. You will be prompted to sign in with your email address and password. Complete the sign-in process.

Update the folder location

When you reach the 'Your OneDrive folder' screen during setup, do not click Next immediately. Click the 'Change location' button, browse to the new location where you just moved your folder, and select 'Use this folder' to finalize the new path.

Properly Unlink and Relink the OneDrive Account to Change Folder Location

Do Not Lock Registry Values: Avoid locking the OneDrive registry keys to force the path. The OneDrive sync client requires permission to dynamically update these values during account synchronization. Locking the registry will cause persistent sync failures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Desktop and Documents folders appear in multiple locations?

This happens when OneDrive's registry paths conflict with default Windows paths after an incomplete folder migration. Properly unlinking and relinking the OneDrive app synchronizes the registry paths and prevents these duplicates from generating.

Can I fix the reverting folder issue by locking Windows registry keys?

No. Locking registry keys is strongly discouraged. The OneDrive application needs continuous permission to update these values during regular cloud synchronization. Modifying or locking them manually will lead to sync crashes.

How do I safely move my OneDrive folder to an external or secondary drive?

You must first unlink your PC in the OneDrive Account settings, move the physical folder to the secondary drive using File Explorer, and then sign back in. During the sign-in setup, click 'Change location' to point the app to your new drive.

Document & File Issues