OneDrive File Issues

How to Sync Folders on the D Drive with OneDrive

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to automatically back up and synchronize folders located on their D drive using Microsoft OneDrive.

How to Sync Folders on the D Drive with OneDrive

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to sync specific folders or an entire secondary drive (D:) to the cloud via OneDrive.
Observed behavior: OneDrive does not automatically sync arbitrary folders spread across the D drive; it only synchronizes files placed directly inside the designated OneDrive folder.

Before you start

Ensure you have the OneDrive desktop client installed, you are signed in to your Microsoft account, and your D drive has sufficient storage space to accommodate the synced files.

Solution 1Recommended

Change OneDrive Folder Location to the D Drive

To sync files on your D drive, you must set the main OneDrive folder location to the D drive and move your desired folders inside it.

OneDrive does not support selecting a root drive (like D:\) as a sync location, nor does it natively sync folders outside of its main directory. You must unlink your current account and set up a specific OneDrive folder on your D drive.

Unlink this PC from OneDrive

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your taskbar, select the gear icon to open Settings, navigate to the 'Account' tab, and click 'Unlink this PC'.

Sign back in

Once unlinked, the OneDrive setup screen will appear. Enter your Microsoft account email and password to sign in again.

Change the folder location

On the 'Your OneDrive folder' setup screen, click the 'Change location' link. Browse to your D drive and create or select a designated folder (e.g., D:\OneDrive).

Move folders to the new location

Complete the setup wizard. Open File Explorer and manually drag or copy the folders you want to sync on your D drive into this newly created OneDrive folder.

Change OneDrive Folder Location to the D Drive

Syncing Limitations: Any folders left outside the designated OneDrive folder on the D drive will not be automatically synchronized to the cloud.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Your Synced Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office

While organizing your OneDrive folders on the D drive, try WPS Office for your document needs. It is a lightweight, fully compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office that saves perfectly to any local or cloud-synced folder.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Open Synced Documents: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and navigate to your newly created OneDrive folder on the D drive.
3. Edit and Auto-Sync: Edit your documents and hit save. OneDrive will automatically detect the changes in your folder and sync them to the cloud.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight installation that saves valuable drive space on your PC.Easily save and edit files directly within your new D drive OneDrive folder.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface for seamless migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sync the entire D drive to OneDrive?

No, OneDrive does not support selecting a root drive (such as D:\) as the sync location. You must create a specific folder on the drive and place your files inside it for syncing to work properly.

Will unlinking my PC delete my cloud files?

No, unlinking your PC and changing the OneDrive folder location only affects where files are stored locally on your computer. Your files in the cloud remain safe and will sync down to the new location you choose.

How do I sync existing folders without moving them into the OneDrive folder?

Officially, OneDrive only syncs files placed inside its designated folder. To sync folders located elsewhere on your D drive, the recommended method is to move them into the OneDrive folder. While advanced users sometimes use symbolic links, it is not officially supported by Microsoft.

Document & File Issues