"Copy" duplicate documents

Question

How do I locate and delete all my duplicate documents that are labeled copy documents?

Answer 1

In Windows and OneDrive there is no automatic “delete all copies” button, but duplicate “copy” documents can be located and removed using search and then deleted in bulk. Before deleting, ensure important files are backed up, because deletions are permanent and recovery might not be possible.

1. Prepare for deletion (important)
   • Make sure files are not read-only.
   • Close any open documents to avoid conflicts.
   • Back up important folders (for example, copy Documents/OneDrive folders to an external drive) because the only reliable way to recover deleted files is from a backup.
2. Find “copy” documents in File Explorer
   1. Open File Explorer.
   2. Go to the top-level folder where documents are stored (for example, This PC > Documents or the local OneDrive folder).
   3. In the search box (top-right), type a pattern that matches Windows’ default copy naming, for example:
      • * - Copy.*
      • * - Copy (2).*
   4. Let the search complete. This will list files whose names contain “- Copy”.
3. Review and bulk-delete duplicates
   1. Carefully review the search results to ensure they are truly duplicates and not edited versions that need to be kept.
   2. Select multiple files:
      • Press Ctrl+A to select all, or
      • Hold Ctrl and click only the ones to delete.
   3. Press Delete to move them to the Recycle Bin.
   4. After confirming everything is correct, empty the Recycle Bin to free space.
4. Find “copy” documents in OneDrive on the web
   1. Sign in to OneDrive in a browser.
   2. Use the search box and search for copy or specific patterns like - Copy.
   3. Sort by Name to group copies together.
   4. Select the duplicate “copy” files and choose Delete.
   5. Go to the OneDrive Recycle Bin and, if satisfied, empty it.
5. General cautions
   • Deleting many files at once can’t be undone except by restoring from backups or the Recycle Bin (if not yet emptied).
   • A delete operation can also remove related items (for example, if folders are deleted), so verify selections before confirming.

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References:

• Delete duplicate records with a query
• Before deleting any data
• Find and remove duplicates
• Unable to restore deleted files from C:OneDrive - Microsoft Q&A
• How do i retrieve lost data from the month before? - Microsoft Q&A
• OneDrive won't let me restore more than 1 file at a time - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

Is there a safe software Microsoft has or recommends to use