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How to remove duplicate copies of files?

Anonymous
2024-01-04T11:36:19+00:00

I recently moved my files from one user account to another in the same laptop. The original files were synced with OneDrive. I transferred my files and folders via an external storage device, but when I then synced the new user account to OneDrive, it created duplicate copies of all the files in my new user account's folders and desktop, and they are now copies in OneDrive itself. Each of the duplicate file is tagged with the word "copy" at the end of the file name. How can I remove the duplicate copies as they are very confusing and taking up space. Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-04T16:00:30+00:00

    Hello,

    In addition to Palcouk's suggestion, try the following troubleshooting ideas:

    1. Turn on Files On-Demand for each device where you want to use it. Go to OneDrive settings > Office tab > Under Sync conflicts section, select “Let me to choose merge changes or keep both copies”.
    2. Remove the folder “Backup” from the list of folders that get synced.
    3. If the above steps do not work, you can try resetting OneDrive .

    I hope this helps.

    Regards, Rita.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-05T00:46:09+00:00

    Thank you both. Looks like there is no easy way out.

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  3. Craig Long 17,825 Reputation points
    2024-01-04T18:24:19+00:00

    On your computer go to OneDrive and search "- copy" and that will bring up those copies. Then you will need to manually delete them. But make sure they are files that you actually want to delete.

    A different user account usually has a unique Microsoft account linked to it. If you remove files from a Microsoft OneDrive account the files are deleted and move into that account's recycle bin at onedrive.com. So moving files from one Microsoft account to another deletes the source's OneDrive files and adds them to the destination account.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-01-04T13:08:13+00:00

    Well there would have been no files to copy other than the cached copy of the OneDrive folder

    You would have to manually delete them then you need to check OneDrive settings

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-01-05T08:56:21+00:00

    I am sorry I couldn't offer a better solution to fix your issue.

    Try deleting the copies manually and also remove them from your Recycle bin so that they don't consume your storage space.

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