How can I delete folders that are no longer synchronized from my PC?

Question

Hello good morning

I removed and unsynced my OneDrive account from my previous corporate account, and I've verified that the account is no longer in my OneDrive app. However, I'm still experiencing the following issue: my file explorer continues to show the following:

Do you know how I can delete folders from the file explorer?

Answer 1

Dear @Lewis Tiffany

If the old OneDrive account has already been removed from the OneDrive app but the folders are still appearing in File Explorer, those folders are most likely local remnants from the previous synchronization or stale shortcuts.

You can try the following:

• Open File Explorer and browse to your user profile folder: C:\Users<YourUsername>\
• Look for any folders named similar to: OneDrive - <Company Name> or <Company Name>
• If you no longer need the files and have confirmed they are not syncing to any account, you can right-click the folder and select Delete.

However, if your OneDrive folder had already been removed, but Windows Explorer was still displaying a stale shortcut in the navigation pane and on the Desktop.

• Press Windows + R and open Registry Editor by typing: regedit
• Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
• Under NameSpace, locate the entry corresponding to the old OneDrive organization or folder.
• Delete the unwanted registry key.
• Restart Windows Explorer or reboot the computer.

For reference: How to delete old OneDrive folder from computer

I hope the information shared is helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to your update.

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Answer 2

If the old OneDrive account is already unlinked, the remaining folders in File Explorer can be removed locally.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select the old OneDrive folder that still appears.
3. Press Delete on the keyboard, or right-click the folder and select Delete.

If the folder was only unsynced, deleting it from File Explorer removes it from the PC, but the files remain available in the cloud.

If the old account still has a OneDrive root folder left on the PC, this is also a supported cleanup path:

1. Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar and select Settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Select Unlink this PC.
4. Open File Explorer, right-click the old OneDrive folder, and select Delete.

If what remains is a shared folder shortcut rather than a normal synced folder, remove it this way instead:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Select the shared folder.
3. Right-click it, select OneDrive.
4. Select Remove shortcut.

Important:

• If it is a shared folder, using Delete can delete it for everyone. Use Remove shortcut when that option is available.
• If deleting a shortcut in File Explorer, make sure all files in that shortcut are closed first. Deleting while files are open can delete some or all files in the shortcut.

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References:

• Work with synced files in File Explorer
• Permanently delete your entire OneDrive
• Delete files or folders in OneDrive
• Add shortcuts to shared folders in OneDrive