Why are my desktop files located in a onedrive folder?

Hi Paul

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

In Windows 10 and 11, there are usually two sets of Library folders, one set in your user folder, and the other set in that OneDrive folder.

There is a way to do this, but it involves editing the registry, because in Windows 10 and 11 the Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders in the OneDrive folder are the default

1
In File Explorer, go into your user folder in C:\Users

if there is not a Desktop folder, right click in there, and create a new folder and name it Desktop

Close File Explorer

2
Click your Start Button, type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Click View and make sure 'Address Bar' is turned on.

Paste this into the Address Bar at the top and hit Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

3
In the right hand pane, double click Desktop, set its Value Data to this and click OK

%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

4
In the right hand pane, if {754AC886-DF64-4CBA-86B5-F7FBF4FBCEF5} exists, set its Value Data to this and click OK

%USERPROFILE%\Desktop

5
Close the Registry Editor, then Restart (not shut down) your PC

To tidy up, you will need to move any files that should be on your Desktop from the Desktop folder in the OneDrive folder into that Desktop folder in your user profile

6
If you want to do the same thing for any other folder, please let me knw, I am logging off for the night now, but I will be back first thing in the morning if you need any further help, I will check this thread first thing.