why do files that I delete on OneDrive and my synced folder automatically restore?

Doug Watkins 21 Reputation points
2022-04-18T22:12:35.107+00:00

I use One Drive and a Folder on my PC to sync, yet when I delete a file or folder from either, they keep restoring. I have tried emptying both recycle bins as soon as I delete a file, but the files keep coming back. Also when I rename a file, the original keeps restoring, so then I have two files the same but with different names. How can I stop this from happening, please?

OneDrive Management
OneDrive Management
OneDrive: A Microsoft file hosting and synchronization service.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
1,122 questions
{count} votes

Accepted answer
  1. Emi Zhang-MSFT 21,856 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2022-04-19T07:27:25.913+00:00

    Hi @Doug Watkins ,
    Did all files or folders have this problem?
    I suggest you stop syncing OneDrive and delete the files from PC, and go to OneDrive for Web to delete the files you want to delete in local. After deleting files from PC and web, you can sync OneDrive again.

    I also suggest you Turn Off Files on Demand, OneDrive’s Files on Demand feature allows you to keep your files or folders in the cloud and access them from your devices without downloading them first. This is a great option if you want to save space on your HDD or SSD: however, it might prevent you from deleting a file. Here is how to turn it off:

    1. Right-click the OneDrive icon from the taskbar.
    2. Click Help & Settings > Settings.
    3. Select the Settings tab.
    4. Uncheck Save space and download files as you use them. If the option is already turned off, enable and disable it again.
    5. Click OK to save the changes.

    Try this method and check if this is helpful.


    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.


0 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful