How to move Desktop out of OneDrive folder

I don't want to use OneDrive (OD) with my W10 (2004) PC because I don't need to access files via other devices and I back up important files to an external hard drive. Also, I don't want to be beholden to Microsoft for monthly fees.

Microsoft keeps sending me email messages saying I have exceeded the free storage capacity in my OD account and threatening to freeze it. I contacted MS support and asked if I simply deleted files out of the OD account, will that also delete them on the PC? He said it would. Seems rather bizarre, but he said something about "policy." Anyway, went on to day that, in order to prevent OD from messing with my data, I should "move" it from the OneDrive folder and save it to a different location. One of the OD folders is "Desktop." I have unlinked OD from my PC, but presume that doesn't resolve the above.

How do I "move" my Desktop? And to where? The C: drive? Thanks much!

Thanks, Rich. I followed the reg edit approach, since I on have the W10 home edition. I'd still like to move all files out of the OneDrive folder, though. Any ideas?

I only wonder what that might do to the desktop or, more specifically, the files and folders stored there (I tend to park a lot of stuff within eyesight, so to speak). I've set a restore point, so time to experiment!

If opening the Desktop folder under This PC shows your Desktop contents, then the OneDrive\Desktop folder is still your "official" Desktop folder. That means if you view the folder's Properties dialog, it should have a Locatioin tab.

You can use the Move​ button found there to both move your files to a different folder (c:\Users\<UserName>\Desktop) and designate that folder as your "official" Desktop folder. Make sure the new folder exists or you create it from the dialog. Don't select the parent folder & expect the Desktop folder to be creat That's the most common error made when redirecting folders.

Ztruker said:

Good point Keith. You can do that whether OneDrive integration is enabled or disabled. I need to remember that. Thanks.

If OneDrve is enabled, you to turn off its "Backup" of user folders, as that is what places them under the OneDrve folder. When you do it that way, the User Shell folder paths are reset to their defaults, but you have to move the files manually. When OneDrive backup is enabled, attempting a move via the Location tab will throw an error and direct registry editing will be over-written at some point.