OneDrive Keeps Asking Which Folders to Sync

When OneDrive repeatedly prompts you to choose which folders to sync each time you sign in or restart your computer, the sync setup process is not completing correctly. This behavior often occurs because the OneDrive setup wizard fails to save your folder selection, or because a sync conflict exists between the local OneDrive folder and the cloud. This article explains the root causes of this persistent prompt and provides clear steps to stop it from appearing again.

Why OneDrive Prompts for Folder Selection on Every Login

OneDrive uses a setup wizard to let you choose which folders to sync from your cloud storage to your local device. When you complete the wizard, the sync client saves your selection in a configuration file located in the AppData folder. If the wizard is interrupted before saving, or if the configuration file becomes corrupted, OneDrive will launch the wizard again on the next sign-in.

Another common cause is a mismatch between the local OneDrive folder path and the expected path. If you manually moved or renamed the OneDrive folder, the sync client cannot find it and treats the setup as incomplete. Similarly, if a previous sync session left the database in an inconsistent state, the wizard may reappear to re-establish the folder mapping.

Group Policy settings applied by an IT administrator can also force the folder selection screen to appear on every login. This is rare for home or small business users but common in organizations that enforce specific sync policies.

Steps to Stop OneDrive from Asking Which Folders to Sync

Follow these steps in order. Test after each step to see if the prompt stops.

1. Complete the folder selection wizard fully
   Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Settings. In the Account tab, click Choose folders. Check the boxes for the folders you want to sync, then click OK. Wait at least 30 seconds for the sync to start. Restart your computer and check if the prompt reappears.
2. Reset OneDrive sync connection
   Press Windows key + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe /reset, and press Enter. Wait 2 minutes. OneDrive will restart automatically. If it does not, open OneDrive from the Start menu. After the reset, the folder selection wizard will appear. Make your selections and click OK. This clears the sync cache and forces a fresh configuration.
3. Clear OneDrive credentials from Credential Manager
   Open Control Panel, select User Accounts, then Credential Manager. Click Windows Credentials. Scroll to find entries that start with OneDrive Cached Credential or MicrosoftOffice15_Data:ADAL:. Expand each entry and click Remove. Restart OneDrive and sign in again. This removes stale authentication tokens that may interfere with the setup wizard.
4. Delete the OneDrive configuration file
   Close OneDrive completely. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Quit. Press Windows key + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\settings\Business1, and press Enter. Delete all files in this folder. Restart OneDrive and sign in. The wizard will appear. Select your folders and click OK.
5. Check for Group Policy restrictions
   If you are on a work or school computer, contact your IT administrator. They may have enabled a policy that forces the folder selection screen on every login. Ask them to disable the policy named Configure team site libraries to sync automatically or Set the default location for the OneDrive folder if they want the prompt to stop.
6. Reinstall OneDrive
   Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find Microsoft OneDrive, click the three dots, and select Uninstall. Restart your computer. Download the latest OneDrive from onedrive.live.com and install it. Sign in and complete the folder selection wizard.

If OneDrive Still Prompts After the Main Fix

OneDrive shows “We couldn’t set up your sync” error

This error indicates a network or permission issue. Temporarily disable any third-party antivirus or firewall software. Make sure your Windows user account has full control over the OneDrive folder located in C:\Users\YourName. Right-click the OneDrive folder, select Properties > Security, and verify your account has Modify and Write permissions.

Folder selection screen appears after Windows update

A Windows update may reset OneDrive settings. Run the OneDrive reset command from step 2 above. If the prompt persists, use the System Restore feature to revert to a point before the update. Open Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore and choose a restore point dated before the problem started.

OneDrive keeps asking on a shared or domain-joined computer

On shared computers, OneDrive may prompt each user to select folders. This is by design. To stop the prompt for a specific user, have that user complete the wizard and check the option to sync all files and folders. If the computer is domain-joined, ask your administrator to configure OneDrive Group Policy to disable the folder selection screen.

OneDrive Setup Wizard vs Manual Folder Selection: Key Differences

Item	Setup Wizard	Manual Folder Selection in Settings
Trigger	First sign-in or after a reset	User-initiated from Account tab
Persistence	Runs until configuration is saved	Saves immediately after clicking OK
Error handling	Shows error if network or permissions fail	Silently fails if folder is missing
Group Policy control	Can be forced or suppressed by admin	Not affected by policy

After completing the steps above, OneDrive should stop asking you to select folders. If the prompt still appears, run the OneDrive reset command again and ensure you wait at least 2 minutes for the process to finish. As an advanced tip, you can use the OneDrive.exe /takeover command to force OneDrive to use an existing folder without showing the wizard. Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run "%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe" /takeover to apply this setting silently.