I can no longer access files saved on my laptop and am being redirected to onedrive

It sounds like you may be experiencing an issue where your documents are being redirected to OneDrive instead of being saved locally on your laptop. This can happen if the OneDrive settings are configured to prioritize saving files to the cloud.

To resolve this issue, you can try the following steps:

1. Check OneDrive Settings: Open OneDrive and check the settings to see if it is set to save files automatically to OneDrive. You can change this setting to save files locally.
2. Use File Explorer: When saving a document, make sure to select the option to save it to your local drive instead of OneDrive. You can usually navigate to "This PC" or "Documents" in the save dialog.
3. Unlink OneDrive: If you do not wish to use OneDrive at all, you can unlink it from your device. To do this, right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray, go to settings, and choose the option to unlink your account.
4. Check Group Policy Settings: If you're on a work or school account, there might be group policy settings that enforce saving to OneDrive. You may need to contact your IT administrator for assistance.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider checking for any updates to Windows or OneDrive, as sometimes updates can fix bugs related to file saving and access.

References:

• "UPLOAD BLOCKED" error when you save OneDrive-synced files in Microsoft 365 apps
• Error 0x80070005 when you install or access OneDrive

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for reaching out. It sounds like OneDrive has taken over as the default location for your Documents folder, which can happen if the backup feature was enabled or if your account synced settings recently. Your files are likely still on your laptop, but File Explorer is pointing to the cloud version.

Let’s check a couple of things: open File Explorer and look under “This PC” for your local Documents folder, do you see it there? If not, go to OneDrive settings and turn off “Backup” for Desktop, Documents, and Pictures, then restart your computer.

After that, you can move your files back to the local Documents folder. Did you notice any recent updates or sign-ins that might have triggered this?

Regards,

Rez