OneDrive for Business - include Desktop files

Modified on Wed, 05 Apr 2017 at 10:47 AM

Despite recommending that Desktop is not used to store important files, you may want to ensure that everything on the Desktop is also safely stored in the Cloud. Here's a step-by-step guide based on a Windows 7 computer...


  • Go to "Computer" in Windows Explorer and locate the folder for the current user profile
    • Usually "C:\Users\username\"
    • Typical contents will include sub-folders such as "AppData", "Downloads", "Favourites" and "My Documents"; we're looking for "Desktop".
  • Right-click on the sub-folder called "Desktop" and choose "Properties"

  • On the "Location" tab click the button "Move"
    • Select the "OneDrive for Business" link (top-left of the folder tree)
    • Along the top folder menu click "New folder" and name it "Desktop"
    • Double-click the folder named "Desktop" that you just created
    • Click the button "Select folder"

  • When asked if you want to move all of the files from the old location to the new location, answer "Yes"



  • Click "OK" to close the "Desktop properties" window
You can repeat the above process for other "User" folders such as "My pictures"


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