How to Fix OneDrive Backing Up Files to an Old Microsoft 365 Tenant
Question details
Users need to switch their OneDrive Known Folder Backup from an old Microsoft 365 tenant to a newly connected tenant account.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Migrating to a new Microsoft 365 tenant while both the old and new OneDrive accounts are connected to the same computer.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive continues to back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to the old Microsoft 365 tenant account and ignores the new account.
Verify that you have the login credentials for both your old and new Microsoft 365 tenant accounts, and ensure your computer has an active internet connection to sync final changes before unlinking.
Switch Known Folder Backup to the New OneDrive Account
To resolve this issue, you must manually stop the backup service on the old tenant account, unlink it from your computer, and then activate the backup feature on your new Microsoft 365 tenant account.
While the OneDrive sync client supports connecting multiple accounts simultaneously, the Known Folder Backup feature (which secures your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures) can only be enabled for one OneDrive for Business account at a time.
Because the backup was originally enabled on the old account, Windows reserves those folders for the old tenant until you explicitly disable the connection.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, select the gear icon to open 'Help & Settings', and choose 'Settings'. Navigate to the 'Sync and backup' tab, click 'Manage backup', and toggle off the backup for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures on the old account.
Open File Explorer and navigate to your old 'OneDrive - [Organization Name]' folder. Manually copy your existing files and folders to a separate local folder on your hard drive to ensure they are available for the new account.
Return to OneDrive Settings, go to the 'Account' tab, locate your old Microsoft 365 tenant account, and click the 'Unlink this PC' link. Confirm the action when prompted.
Restart your computer. Open OneDrive and sign in using your new Microsoft 365 tenant credentials. Go to Settings > 'Sync and backup' > 'Manage backup', and toggle the switches to turn on backup for your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures.
Create a new test file (like a blank text document) on your local Desktop. Log into OneDrive on the web using your new tenant credentials to confirm the test file successfully appears in the cloud.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is OneDrive only backing up to my old Microsoft 365 account?
OneDrive allows multiple accounts to be connected, but Known Folder Backup (for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures) can only be active for a single OneDrive for Business account. If it was configured on your old account first, it remains locked to that tenant until you manually disable it in the OneDrive settings.
Will I lose my files when I click 'Stop backup' on the old account?
No. Turning off 'Manage backup' simply stops new changes from syncing. Your existing files will remain in your old OneDrive folder and in the cloud. However, to migrate them to your new account, you will need to manually copy them into the standard Windows folders or the new OneDrive folder.
How do I ensure my new Microsoft 365 account is properly syncing my Desktop?
After enabling 'Manage backup' on your new account, create a test document on your local Windows Desktop. Then, sign in to OneDrive via a web browser using your new account credentials. If the test document appears in your cloud storage under the Desktop folder, synchronization is working correctly.
