How to move OneDrive Folder to a Different Location in Windows 10 and 11

Running out of space on your C: drive? Want to keep OneDrive files on a different partition or external drive? Good news — Windows 10 and 11 let you move your OneDrive folder safely and easily. Here’s how to do it right.

Why Move Your OneDrive Folder?

By default, OneDrive stores files in C:\Users\[YourName]\OneDrive. That’s fine for most users — until your main drive starts filling up. Moving OneDrive to another drive or location can:

• Free up space on your primary drive
• Organize files the way you want
• Improve performance on devices with smaller SSDs

Let’s walk through the steps.

Step-by-Step: Move Your OneDrive Folder

1. Unlink OneDrive

Before you can move the folder, you need to disconnect OneDrive.

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your taskbar.
2. Select Settings > Account tab.
3. Click Unlink this PC.

This will stop sync temporarily without deleting your files.

2. Move the OneDrive Folder

Now physically move the folder to a new location.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Go to your current OneDrive folder (usually under C:\Users\[YourName]\OneDrive).
3. Cut and paste it to the new location (e.g., D:\OneDrive or an external drive).

Tip: Don’t rename the folder. Keep it as “OneDrive” to avoid sync issues later.

3. Reconnect and Point OneDrive to the New Folder

Now re-link your PC to OneDrive and tell it where the folder is now.

1. Open OneDrive again (start it from the Start menu if needed).
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account.
3. When it asks where to store your OneDrive files, click Change location.
4. Browse to the folder you just moved and select it.
5. Click Use this folder when prompted.

OneDrive will verify and resume syncing without duplicating files.

Things to Watch Out For

• External drives: If you use an external or removable drive, make sure it’s always connected before booting. If not, OneDrive may revert or create duplicate folders.
• Don’t delete the folder: Never manually delete the old folder before setup is complete. Let OneDrive handle it.

Final Thoughts

Moving your OneDrive folder gives you better control over your storage and system performance. It’s a simple tweak with big benefits — especially if you’re juggling multiple drives or limited space.

Got questions or ran into issues during the move? Drop a comment below and let’s troubleshoot together.