How to Fix OneDrive Moving Files to C Drive and Re-Enabling Files On-Demand
Question details
The user needs to prevent OneDrive from automatically recreating its folder on the C: drive and turning on Files On-Demand, which ignores the intended D: drive configuration.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Managing local storage space and forcing OneDrive files to sync to a secondary drive (D:) instead of the system drive.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive repeatedly downloads files to the C: drive and forcefully enables Files On-Demand, consuming system drive space and internet data limits despite previous configuration.
Verify the online status of your synchronized folders and ensure any locally modified files are backed up to an external drive before unlinking your account or resetting configurations.
Reset OneDrive Configuration and Reinstall
Completely clear the existing OneDrive configuration from your Windows registry and reinstall the app to cleanly select the D: drive during setup.
Sometimes the OneDrive client holds onto corrupted configuration data, forcing it to revert to default settings (C: drive and Files On-Demand) upon restart. Resetting the registry key clears these saved states.
Press Windows Key + R, type 'regedit', and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft, locate the OneDrive registry key, right-click it, and select Delete.
Uninstall Microsoft OneDrive from your 'Apps & features' menu, then download and install the latest production version from the official Microsoft website.
During the new setup process, when prompted for the folder location, click 'Change location' and manually select your existing OneDrive folder on the D: drive.
Test with a New Local Windows User Profile
If the setup process fails or loops in your current Windows account, a corrupted user profile might be forcing OneDrive back to the C: drive.
Remove Auto-Created C: Drive Folders Before Setup
Prevent OneDrive from instantly locking into the C: drive by clearing out the automatically generated subfolders before initiating the setup process.
Manage Your Documents Effectively with WPS Office
While dealing with Microsoft OneDrive sync issues, you might want a simpler, more reliable way to manage and edit your documents locally. WPS Office is a lightweight, fully compatible alternative that offers seamless local and cloud file management without the hassle of forced syncing behaviors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive keep turning on Files On-Demand automatically?
Microsoft frequently updates OneDrive to default to Files On-Demand to save local disk space. You can manually disable this in the OneDrive settings under the 'Sync and backup' or 'Advanced settings' tab, though major Windows updates may occasionally reset this preference.
Will unlinking OneDrive delete my files from my hard drive?
No, unlinking your PC only stops the active syncing process between your computer and the cloud. Your files will remain safely in their current location on your local hard drive.
How do I move my OneDrive folder to another drive without downloading everything again?
First, unlink your PC in OneDrive settings. Next, physically move the existing OneDrive folder to your new drive using File Explorer. Open OneDrive, sign back in, and click 'Change location' during setup to select the folder you just moved. OneDrive will verify the existing files instead of re-downloading them.
