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Mismatch of OneDrive files between local files and those in cloud

Scott Dickinson 0 Reputation points
2025-08-20T17:26:04.4233333+00:00

My understanding of OneDrive is that the documents folder is a copy of what's stored in the OneDrive cloud unless you've excluded it which I haven't. I cannot find out why the files I see in File Explorer in the Documents folder (which echoes the OneDrive folder), do not match what I see when I click on the OneDrive app in the system tray and display if via both the Open Folder option and the View Online option.

The results shown match between using the OneDrive app in the system tray, both the Open Folder option and the View Online option. These differ from the local copy. I don't want there to be a difference and my attempts to resolve it have failed.

I am attaching several screen prints to show the account names in use, and file lists of them as well.

The one larger busy screen shot it from left to right....

  1. File Manager local Documents folder
  2. OneDrive app system icon, option Open Folder
  3. OneDrive app system icon, option View Online

I am using the same account for PC sign in, onedrive, etc.

Any ideas ?

Thanks in advance.

Screnn capture raynes Aug 20 2025 Number 1.png

Screnn capture raynes Aug 20 2025 Number 2.png

Screnn capture raynes Aug 20 2025 Number 3.png

**Moved from Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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  1. Craig Long 17,885 Reputation points
    2025-08-22T07:23:46.63+00:00

    Regarding image #1: The first window shows your Documents folder. The location of your Documents folder is C:\Users\NSN\OneDrive. The "\Documents" part of the path is assumed, although I would prefer to write it like this: C:\Users\NSN\OneDrive\Documents.

    The following two windows in image #1 are of your OneDrive folders, which do match.

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  2. Craig Long 17,885 Reputation points
    2025-08-20T19:43:33.3633333+00:00

    Only files contained within the OneDrive folder will sync to OneDrive.

    If the folder backup is toggled OFF for the Documents folder in the Manage Backup Settings, then you may have two Documents folders:

    C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Documents (This one syncs to OneDrive)

    C:\Users\username\Documents (This one cannot sync to OneDrive)

    If you want to back up all your documents by default, toggle the Documents folder to the ON position in Manage Backup. Then, by default, apps will use the Documents folder in OneDrive.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/back-up-your-folders-with-onedrive-d61a7930-a6fb-4b95-b28a-6552e77c3057

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  3. Brian Tillman 25,445 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-20T19:27:43.13+00:00

    Hi. I'm Brian and I'll try to help.

    Part of the problem is that you don't seem to be looking at the correct folders. The middle and right images seem to display the same information, which I would expect, since they're the local and online views of the same data. However, the left image shows the OneDrive\Documents folder, which is not what you're viewing in the middle and right images. Double-click the Documents folder in the middle or right views and you should see a listing that matches what you see in the left image.

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  4. Palcouk 2,921 Reputation points
    2025-08-20T18:41:28.1333333+00:00

    If o365 your understanding is incorrect.

    It seems that you misunderstood the concept of o365 and probably confused by MS Marketings use of the word “Backup”

    OneDrive is not a backup, it’s a cloud location of your data.

    The default installation of Office 365 and its OneDrive component uploads all the contents of the PC  \My Documents\ folders to OneDrive, (syncs) and there will be a OneDrive folder in File Explorer containing cached copy of all the OneDrive content. And in Word etc the default Save location is set to OneDrive.

    No Docs/data is stored on the local PC

     

    You cannot remove OneDrive on a retail O365

    If you dont wish to use OneDrive there are numerous settings that need to be changed in each O365 component, but OneDrive will still be the default save location.

    However if not o365 but the OneDrive included with win, only 5Gb data is allowed and nothing is stored there unless explicitly stored by the user

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