Multiple Instances of OneDrive Folders

Question

Please see the picture from Explorer.

The Documents folder is not the documents folder under my user name.
The Picture folders are duplicates. See the properties

Running W10 64 bit edition with the latest update on a Dell XPS laptop.

How do I fix?

Answer 1

Hi @William Wolfe

> Multiple Instances of OneDrive Folders

How many accounts did you sign into OneDrive client? How many OneDrive folders are there shown on navigation pane?
Generally, one OneDrive account will generate a OneDrive folder.

According to the screenshot, have you changed the name of OneDrive folder?
Generally, OneDrive folder will be named in format as OneDrive - <Company> or OneDrive - Personal.

Besides, the second Pictures folder seems not to be under OneDrive folder.
On my environment, I choose Pictures folder to sync, the navigation pane will show Pictures folder multiple times. One is under Quick Access, one is under OneDrive folder, and the last one is under This PC.

> The Documents folder is not the documents folder under my user name.

Please go to OneDrive Settings > Account tab > Choose Folders, check which folders have you selected to sync.
Then I would also suggest you go to Registry Editor, locate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders, take a screenshot for detailed User Shell Folders on right panel.

Any updates, welcome to post back.

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Answer 2

There are other issues with OneDrive. It has created a Documents folder and periodically adds folders to it. This is not the Documents folder under my user name. How can I remove OneDrive and any associated folders. I have tried in the past, but there are always OneDrive folders that I cannot delete and it still seems active. I need to completly purge my machine of OneDrive and do a clean reinstall.

Answer 3

Hi @William Wolfe
Thanks for your response.

• Please check the OneDrive folder, copy the files you need them on your local computer to other location.
• It's recommended to unlink your account from OneDrive, you won't lose files or data by this action, and you can always access your files by signing in to OneDrive.com.
• Then please right click on Windows known folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Screenshots, and Camera Roll) > Properties > Location tab, check whether their path is under OneDrive folder, if yes, please modify it to under your Windows account folder.
  
  Such as the image above, change the path to be C:\Users\Administrator.
  If the location is unable to change, you can modify the registry entries. For more details, please refer to "Windows 10/11 User Shell Folders Restore Default Paths". Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
  (Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Before you modify it, please remember to back up the registry for restoration in case problems occur.)
• And then, you can uninstall OneDrive from Control Panel.
• Go back to Windows Explorer, right click on OneDrive folders on navigation pane, check its path, and find this folder to delete.
  
  Such as the image above, locate to Administrator folder, check whether there is any important folders that you need, if not, please delete OneDrive folders.

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Answer 4

Here is the screen shot.

I just reinstalled OneDrive. When OneDrive installed it took the Documents folder that was under my user name and moved it under a OneDrive folder that is under my user name. Same for Desktop. I am not syncing pictures. Is this normal for OneDrive?