OneDrive File Issues

How to Move Your OneDrive Folder to Another Drive Safely

Khadija Khan Oct 7, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to change the local location of their OneDrive sync folder to a different, larger drive without losing any of their existing cloud files.

How to Move a OneDrive Folder to Another Drive Without Deleting Files

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reclaiming system drive space by shifting local cloud storage sync to a larger secondary hard drive.
Observed behavior: The user needs a safe procedure to relocate the sync folder because they fear that simply moving or deleting local files might trigger cloud deletions.

Before you start

Ensure all your current files are fully synced to the cloud (indicated by a solid green checkmark or cloud icon) before attempting to unlink your account, and avoid modifying files during the transition.

Solution 1Recommended

Relocate the OneDrive Folder by Unlinking and Relinking

The safest way to change your OneDrive directory without deleting cloud data is to disconnect your account, move the existing local folder, and then reconnect it to the new location.

By unlinking the account first, you sever the live connection between your PC and the cloud. This ensures that when you move the folder to the D: drive, OneDrive will not interpret the move as a mass deletion of files.

Unlink this PC

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, select the gear icon (Settings), navigate to the Account tab, and click 'Unlink this PC'.

Move the local folder

Open File Explorer, locate your current OneDrive folder (typically in C:\Users\[YourUsername]), and drag or cut-and-paste the entire folder to your new desired drive location (e.g., your D: drive).

Sign back in to OneDrive

Launch the OneDrive application again. Enter your Microsoft account email and password to sign back in.

Select the new folder location

When the setup screen displays 'Your OneDrive folder is here', click the 'Change location' button and select the folder you just moved to the new drive.

Enable Files On-Demand

Once synchronization is set up, right-click any large folders within your OneDrive directory and select 'Free up space' to keep those files online-only, saving even more local disk space.

Relocate the OneDrive Folder by Unlinking and Relinking

Avoid Data Loss: Never delete files from the old OneDrive folder while the account is still linked, as this will instantly delete them from your cloud storage and all other synced devices.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Boost Your Productivity with WPS Office

While optimizing your local disk space with OneDrive, consider upgrading your document workflow with WPS Office. It integrates flawlessly with local drives and cloud storage, providing a lightweight, fast, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it quickly on your PC.
2. Open Cloud Documents: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and navigate straight to your newly moved local OneDrive folder.
3. Edit and Auto-Sync: Work natively on your documents. All saved changes will automatically sync to the cloud via your background OneDrive client.

Seamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (docx, xlsx, pptx).Lightweight installation that takes up minimal space on your newly organized system drives.Built-in integration with popular cloud storage folders, allowing you to save directly to your relocated OneDrive directory.Familiar user interface with absolutely no learning curve required for Microsoft Office users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will unlinking my PC delete my files from OneDrive?

No, unlinking your PC simply stops the synchronization between your computer and the cloud. Your files remain completely safe and accessible in your online Microsoft account.

How do I free up local space without moving the entire OneDrive folder?

You can use the 'Files On-Demand' feature. Simply right-click any synced file or folder in File Explorer and select 'Free up space'. This removes the local copy from your hard drive but keeps the file visible and accessible from the cloud.

What happens if I try to move the OneDrive folder without unlinking first?

If you move or cut the folder while the OneDrive application is running and actively linked, OneDrive may perceive the missing local files as deleted and attempt to delete them from your cloud storage as well, leading to accidental data loss.

Can I sync a personal and business OneDrive account to different drives?

Yes, you can add both a personal Microsoft account and a OneDrive for Business account to the same computer. During the setup process for each, you can independently choose 'Change location' to assign them to different hard drives.

Document & File Issues