How Can I Move OneDrive Files to a Local Drive

Author

Reads 541

A sleek portable external hard drive with a connected cable, ideal for data storage.
Credit: pexels.com, A sleek portable external hard drive with a connected cable, ideal for data storage.

If you're looking to free up space on your OneDrive account or simply prefer working with files stored locally, moving files to a local drive is a great option.

You can move files from OneDrive to a local drive using File Explorer on Windows or the Finder on Mac.

To get started, make sure you have a local drive with enough free space to store your files.

OneDrive files can be moved to a local drive by dragging and dropping them from the OneDrive folder to the local drive.

Changing OneDrive Location

Changing OneDrive Location is a straightforward process. You can move the OneDrive folder to another location to free up space on your system drive.

To change the location, you'll need to identify a new location for the OneDrive folder, such as a folder on another internal hard drive, external drive, or a subfolder on the existing drive. For example, you can move OneDrive to a folder named "OneDriveNew" created on another internal hard drive like "D:", an external USB drive like "F:OneDrive", or a subfolder on the existing drive like "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew".

Credit: youtube.com, Move OneDrive Folder to another drive | Save Disk Space!

Here are some possible locations for your OneDrive folder:

  • A folder on another internal hard drive like "D:"
  • An external USB drive like "F:OneDrive"
  • A subfolder on the existing drive like "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew"

Once you've identified the new location, you'll need to update the OneDrive location settings by launching the OneDrive desktop app and clicking "Update location" on the setup prompt, specifying the new location with the moved OneDrive folder.

Where Is Located?

If you're wondering where the OneDrive folder is located, it's stored on the C drive, specifically in the C:\Users\Your User Account\OneDrive directory.

The location of the OneDrive folder is determined by the system drive, which in most cases is the C drive.

You can find the OneDrive folder by opening the OneDrive PC client, which can be accessed by selecting the OneDrive icon from the taskbar or the menu bar.

The OneDrive folder is usually located in the C:\Users\Your User Account\OneDrive directory, but you can move it to a different drive if needed.

To access the OneDrive folder, you can open File Explorer and navigate to its current location, which is typically C:\Users\Your User Account\OneDrive.

Change Location in Windows 10

Credit: youtube.com, Change OneDrive Folder Location on Windows 10

To change the location of your OneDrive folder in Windows 10, you'll need to follow a few simple steps. First, you'll need to decide where you want to move your OneDrive folder. This can be a folder on another internal hard drive, external drive, or a subfolder on the existing drive.

For example, you can move OneDrive to a folder named "OneDriveNew" created on another internal hard drive like "D:", an external USB drive like "F:OneDrive", or a subfolder on the existing drive like "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew".

To start the process, open the OneDrive setup screen by going to the 'Account' tab and selecting 'Unlink this PC'. This will trigger the OneDrive setup screen, but don't close this window yet.

Next, navigate to the OneDrive folder's current location, which is usually C:\Users\Your User Account\OneDrive. Select this folder and click on the 'Move to' button present in the Home tab to choose the new location.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Change Your OneDrive Folder Location in Windows 10

Once you've moved the folder, bring up the OneDrive setup screen again and sign in to your account. Click on the 'Change location' button and select the path to where you moved your OneDrive file.

Here are some possible locations you can move your OneDrive folder to:

  • A folder on another internal hard drive (e.g. "D:OneDriveNew")
  • An external USB drive (e.g. "F:OneDrive")
  • A subfolder on the existing drive (e.g. "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew")

After moving the folder, update the OneDrive location settings by launching the OneDrive desktop app and clicking "Update location" on the setup prompt. Specify the new location and click Next to apply the location change.

That's it! You've successfully moved your OneDrive folder to a new location.

Backing Up to External Drive

Backing up your OneDrive files to an external drive is a great way to ensure you have access to your files even when your internet connection is unstable. You can access your OneDrive files offline with an external drive.

Having your OneDrive files on an external drive makes it easy to transfer or share them with others. This is especially useful when you need to collaborate with someone who doesn't have access to the internet.

Credit: youtube.com, Backup local or OneDrive Files to External Hard drive

OneDrive's storage can fill up quickly, especially if you have large or multiple files. By storing them on an external drive, you can free up space on your OneDrive account.

Backing up your OneDrive files to an external drive provides an additional layer of security to your data. The cloud also stores a copy of your OneDrive files, so you're covered in case anything goes wrong.

Here are some ways to back up your OneDrive files to an external drive:

  • Download OneDrive files to an external drive to access them offline or in unstable internet connection.
  • Use an external drive to easily transfer or share OneDrive files with others.
  • Free up space on your OneDrive account by storing large or multiple files on an external drive.
  • Provide an additional layer of security to your data by backing up OneDrive files to an external drive.

Transferring Files to Local Drive

To transfer your OneDrive files to a local drive, you'll first need to identify a new location for your OneDrive folder. This can be a folder on another internal hard drive, external drive, or a subfolder on the existing drive. For example, you can move OneDrive to a folder named "OneDriveNew" created on another internal hard drive like "D:", an external USB drive like "F:OneDrive", or a subfolder on the existing drive like "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew".

Credit: youtube.com, How To Move Files From OneDrive To PC (How To Transfer Files From OneDrive To PC)

Before moving your OneDrive folder location, ensure you have an alternate drive on your PC with sufficient storage space for the OneDrive content. This can be another internal hard drive, external hard drive, or SSD connected to your computer. The other drive should use the NTFS file system format, as other formats like FAT32 do not support OneDrive folder.

You'll also want to make sure you have administrative privileges on your windows 11 PC to modify OneDrive settings. All files in your OneDrive should be synced and up-to-date to avoid any data loss. It's a good idea to consider having a backup of your OneDrive folder before making any changes.

To move your OneDrive folder, go to File Explorer and navigate to OneDrive's current location, which is typically C:\Users\Your User Account\OneDrive. Select this folder and click on the 'Move to' button present in the Home tab. Choose the location to which you want to move the folder to.

If you encounter any errors while moving the folder, close any open files in OneDrive, disable ransomware protection, and try again. This should help you successfully move your OneDrive folder to the new location.

Here are some possible locations you can move your OneDrive folder to:

  • A folder named "OneDriveNew" created on another internal hard drive like "D:"
  • An external USB drive like "F:OneDrive"
  • A subfolder on the existing drive like "C:UsersNameOneDriveNew"

Once you've moved your OneDrive folder, update the location in OneDrive settings. Launch the OneDrive desktop app, click "Update location" on the setup prompt, and specify the new location with the moved OneDrive folder.

Oscar Hettinger

Writer

Oscar Hettinger is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail, he has established himself as a go-to expert in the tech industry, covering topics such as cloud storage and productivity tools. His work has been featured in various online publications, where he has shared his insights on Google Drive subtitle management and other related topics.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.