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ZDNET’s Key Takeaways
- Microsoft is robotically turning on OneDrive Backup in new Home windows 11 installations.
- Your information aren’t stolen — they’ve simply been moved to a brand new folder and synced to the cloud.
- This text contains step-by-step directions to show off OneDrive Backup and reset your native folders.
Microsoft is getting extra aggressive about tying its flagship productiveness merchandise to the Microsoft cloud. In the newest launch of Home windows 11, the OneDrive Backup function is turned on robotically whenever you sign up with a Microsoft account; in consequence, a number of the commonest knowledge folders — Paperwork, Photos, and Desktop — are moved out of their regular location and into OneDrive.
After I checked out this function a yr in the past, Microsoft’s setup process for a brand new account on Home windows 11, (also referred to as the Out of Field Expertise, or OOBE) included an possibility labeled “Solely save information to this PC.” It was a small hyperlink, simple to overlook, but it surely was there.
Additionally: Is OneDrive sending your Windows files to the cloud? Here’s why
On the newest public releases of Home windows 11, that possibility is gone. Whenever you get to the web page the place you add your Microsoft account, there is a paragraph of extraordinarily positive print that features this textual content: “We’ll additionally again up your information and images on this machine to OneDrive to assist maintain them protected.”
Right here, see for your self.
That positive print features a discover that your private information might be backed as much as OneDrive.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
Here is a better take a look at that positive print.
When you sign up with a Microsoft account, Microsoft will activate OneDrive Backup by default.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
There is no longer an choice to specify that you just favor your information saved domestically.
In the meantime, anybody with a Microsoft 365 Private or Household account will quickly discover that new files are auto-saved by default in OneDrive (or your most well-liked cloud vacation spot, when you’ve arrange that possibility). That change is rolling out to Phrase for Home windows this month and can arrive for Excel and PowerPoint later this yr.
Phrase will start saving information to OneDrive (or one other cloud supplier) by default.
Screenshot courtesy Microsoft
You may change this feature in order that information are saved domestically by default, however that requires a visit to the ever-confusing Phrase/Excel/PowerPoint Choices dialog field.
Why is Microsoft doing this?
Skeptics will level out that these modifications are in uncanny alignment with Microsoft’s enterprise pursuits. The corporate collects income from its cloud providers, and steering person information into the cloud encourages these clients to pay for extra storage, so … do the maths.
Additionally: How to upgrade an ‘incompatible’ Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 – 2 free options
However there’s additionally a major profit for Microsoft clients in these modifications. Information which might be saved domestically and never backed up might be misplaced and unrecoverable if the machine they’re saved on is stolen, falls sufferer to a ransomware assault, or experiences a catastrophic storage failure. All of these issues occur!
On the flip aspect, a few of Microsoft’s clients merely don’t need their information saved exterior of their very own management. They is perhaps involved about privateness or safety or having these information used for coaching AI, however the causes do not actually matter. If you do not need your information uploaded to the cloud, you’ll be able to simply say no. When you flip off these options, your information are saved domestically, and it is on you to again them up safely.
Easy methods to undo OneDrive Backup on Home windows 11
Here is some excellent news: OneDrive Backup does not delete any information out of your native storage — it simply strikes these information to a separate folder in your person profile after which syncs that folder to OneDrive. Undoing the change is normally a simple course of, turning off the backup function for every folder after which shifting the contents of these folders again to the default folder in your native profile.
These directions assume that you’re signing in with a private Microsoft account and that OneDrive Backup is enabled.
Begin by opening File Explorer.
1. Open OneDrive Backup settings
In File Explorer’s left navigation pane, discover the icon in your private OneDrive account — it must be named one thing like Username – Private. Proper-click that icon after which click on OneDrive > Settings. That opens a dialog field with the highest class, “Sync and backup,” chosen. Click on Handle Backup.
That opens a dialog field just like the one proven right here.
To disable OneDrive Backup, you must modify every folder’s settings individually.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
Make a remark of which folders are configured for OneDrive Backup, however do not change any settings but.
2. Open a tab for every folder you wish to reset
Let’s benefit from the truth that File Explorer in Home windows 11 helps a number of tabs. Right here, I’ve opened three tabs, one for every of the native folders at the moment arrange to make use of OneDrive Backup.
Use File Explorer’s a number of tabs to open a separate window for every of the folders at the moment synced to the cloud.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
3. Flip off OneDrive Backup for all folders
Return to the dialog field you opened in step 1 and slide the swap to the Off place for the primary folder within the OneDrive Backup checklist — on this case, the Paperwork folder. Click on Cease Backup to substantiate the change.
It’s important to click on this affirmation for every folder you wish to take away from OneDrive Backup.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
Repeat this course of for every of the opposite backed-up folders. Whenever you’re executed, every folder within the checklist ought to have a standing of “Not backed up.”
4. Open a brand new File Explorer window in your native folders
Press Home windows key + E to open a second File Explorer window. Within the handle bar, sort %userprofile% and press Enter, to show a listing of the native folders in your person profile. Open a tab for every of the folders you are shifting again to your native PC — on this case, Paperwork, Photos, and Desktop. Organize that window subsequent to the one you created in Step 2, as I’ve executed right here.
I’ve organized these two home windows subsequent to one another to make copying simpler. Notice the icons that inform you which profile is which.
Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET
Use the icon and label within the handle bar (I’ve highlighted each in purple) to see which folder is in OneDrive and which is in your native person profile.
5. Transfer the OneDrive information to your native folder
Click on anyplace within the OneDriveDocuments folder, then press Ctrl+A to pick out all information in that window and Ctrl+C to repeat them. Then right-click within the Paperwork folder in your native profile and press Ctrl+V to repeat the information again to their native house.
Additionally: How to upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro – without overpaying
Repeat that course of for the Photos and Desktop folders. Do not copy any duplicate subfolders (comparable to Screenshots or Digicam Roll) from the Photos folder; if these subfolders comprise any information, copy their contents individually from the OneDrive folder to its native equal.
After you affirm that every one your information are intact in your native person profile, you’ll be able to safely delete the duplicate copies in OneDrive.
Easy methods to undo Microsoft Phrase’s autosave-to-the-cloud possibility
Presently, this function is just accessible to clients operating preview releases of Microsoft 365. It will not roll out to the Present Channel till later this yr, and to Excel and PowerPoint after that.
But when and whenever you see this function, you’ll be able to flip it off by going into Phrase Choices and clicking the Save tab.
The choice to save lots of information domestically is grayed out and unavailable till you clear this checkbox.
Screenshot courtesy Microsoft
Clear the checkbox that reads “Create new information within the cloud robotically.” Whenever you do, you may see a “Save to native location” field you could choose. Specify your most well-liked house folder for Phrase, and also you’re good to go.
Any questions?