Forum Discussion
Two OneDrive folders showing with Explorer
Explorer shows a OneDrive - Personal folder, which I assume is the one I should use. AND a OneDrive folder under C:\. Can I delete the C:\ folder after saving any unique files under it?
It seems like you are encountering two instances of OneDrive folders on your computer, and you're unsure whether it's safe to delete the OneDrive folder located under C:\ after saving any unique files from it. Let's clarify the situation and provide guidance:
Understanding the OneDrive Folders
- OneDrive - Personal Folder: This is the primary OneDrive folder associated with your Microsoft account. It typically syncs files and folders between your local computer and the cloud storage provided by Microsoft OneDrive. This folder is located under your user profile directory (C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
- **OneDrive Folder under C:**: This is not a standard location for OneDrive folders. Sometimes, users might mistakenly place a OneDrive folder directly on the root of the C:\ drive or it could be a remnant from a previous installation or configuration.
Steps to Resolve the Issue
Here’s what you can do to address the situation:
- Identify the Correct OneDrive Folder: Verify which OneDrive folder is actively syncing with your OneDrive cloud storage. You can do this by checking the folder location and contents.
- Move Unique Files: If the OneDrive folder under C:\ contains unique files that are not present in your OneDrive - Personal folder, move those files to your active OneDrive folder (C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
- Backup Important Files: Before deleting any folder, especially if it contains files you consider important, make sure to back them up to a secure location (such as an external drive or another cloud storage service).
- Delete Unnecessary OneDrive Folder: Once you have verified that all necessary files are safely stored in your active OneDrive folder, you can proceed to delete the OneDrive folder under C:\ to avoid confusion and potential synchronization issues.
Deleting the C:\ OneDrive Folder
To delete the OneDrive folder under C::
- Close OneDrive Application: Make sure the OneDrive application is closed to prevent any active syncing processes.
- Delete Folder: Right-click on the OneDrive folder under C:\ and select "Delete". You may be prompted to provide administrator permission to delete the folder.
- Empty Recycle Bin: After deleting the folder, empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the folder and its contents from your computer.
Additional Considerations
- Sync Settings: After deleting the C:\ OneDrive folder, you might want to check the OneDrive settings to ensure that the correct folder (C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive) is set up for syncing.
- Restart OneDrive: After making changes, restart the OneDrive application to ensure that the synchronization process starts correctly and that there are no issues with the active OneDrive folder.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of having two OneDrive folders and safely delete the unnecessary one after ensuring all important files are moved and backed up. The text and steps were edited with the help of AI.
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Hope this will help you.
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Thank you for your detailed reply.
It seems that the 2 folders, OD' Personal and C: OD' contain the same files and both are synced, although OD' settings refers to just OD' Personal.
I paused syncing then backed up OD' folders under OD' settings then, as a test, deleted a folder under C: OD'. and the folder disappeared from OD' Personal as well !
Fortunately I was able to bring it back from the recycle bin.
Not sure how to untangle this ?!
It seems that the 2 folders, OD' Personal and C: OD' contain the same files and both are synced, although OD' settings refers to just OD' Personal.
I paused syncing then backed up OD' folders under OD' settings then, as a test, deleted a folder under C: OD'. and the folder disappeared from OD' Personal as well !
Fortunately I was able to bring it back from the recycle bin.
Not sure how to untangle this ?!
To untangle the situation where you have two OneDrive folders, both containing the same files and appearing to be synced, you need to carefully manage the OneDrive settings and ensure that only one instance is actively used for syncing. Here's a step-by-step guide to resolving this issue:
Step 1: Verify Active OneDrive Folder
- Pause Syncing: Pause syncing for OneDrive to avoid any conflicts during the process.
- Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Click on the Help & Settings icon (gear).
- Select "Pause syncing" and choose an appropriate time frame.
- Check OneDrive Settings:
- Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Select "Settings".
- In the Settings tab, check the path for the OneDrive folder under "Account" -> "Choose folders". It should point to the OneDrive - Personal folder (typically C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
Step 2: Back Up Files
- Backup Important Files: Before making any changes, ensure all important files are backed up to an external drive or another cloud storage service.
Step 3: Rename the Unwanted OneDrive Folder
- Rename the C:\ OneDrive Folder:
- Navigate to the OneDrive folder under C:\ (not the OneDrive - Personal folder).
- Rename the folder to something like C:\Old_OneDrive.
Step 4: Resume Syncing and Verify
- Resume Syncing:
- Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Click on the Help & Settings icon (gear).
- Select "Resume syncing".
- Verify Syncing:
- Ensure that the OneDrive - Personal folder (typically C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive) is actively syncing and contains all the necessary files.
- Confirm that the renamed folder (C:\Old_OneDrive) is not affecting the syncing process.
Step 5: Check for Issues
- Test Changes:
- Create a new test file in the OneDrive - Personal folder and verify that it syncs properly.
- Delete a test file from the renamed folder (C:\Old_OneDrive) and ensure it does not affect the OneDrive - Personal folder.
Step 6: Clean Up
- Final Cleanup:
- If everything is working correctly and the OneDrive - Personal folder is the only one actively syncing, you can safely delete the renamed folder (C:\Old_OneDrive).
- Make sure to empty the Recycle Bin to permanently remove the folder.
Additional Considerations
- OneDrive Settings: Double-check OneDrive settings to ensure only the correct folder is set for syncing.
- Restart OneDrive: After making changes, restart the OneDrive application to ensure smooth operation.
- System Restart: Sometimes a system restart helps to clear any lingering sync issues.
By carefully following these steps, you should be able to untangle the situation with the two OneDrive folders and ensure that only the correct folder is actively used for syncing. If you encounter any issues during the process, you can revert changes by restoring from your backups. The text and steps were edited with the help of AI.
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
- Thanks again for your help and instructions.
If I pause Syncing then Settings is greyed out and unavailable!
So I checked the Choose Folder under Settings first and it points to the C:\ OneDrive folder not to the OneDrive - Personal folder !
Not sure how to proceed now?It appears that your situation involves OneDrive settings pointing to the C:\ OneDrive folder instead of the OneDrive - Personal folder, which is causing confusion and syncing issues. Here’s how you can proceed to correct this:
Steps to Proceed:
Step 1: Resolve Syncing and Settings Accessibility
- Resume Syncing if Paused:
- Since the Settings option is greyed out when syncing is paused, you'll need to resume syncing to access and modify settings.
- Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Click on the Help & Settings icon (gear).
- Select "Resume syncing" to activate the settings option.
Step 2: Update OneDrive Settings
- Check Choose Folder Settings:
- Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
- Select "Settings".
- Navigate to the "Account" tab and click on "Choose folders".
- Ensure that the path for the OneDrive folder points to the correct location, which should be the OneDrive - Personal folder (typically located at C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
Step 3: Adjust Folder Pointing
- Reconfigure OneDrive Folder Location:
- If the current path points to the C:\ OneDrive folder instead of OneDrive - Personal, you'll need to adjust it.
- Select the checkbox next to "OneDrive - Personal" to ensure it's syncing.
- Deselect any checkbox associated with the C:\ OneDrive folder.
Step 4: Verify and Test
- Confirm Syncing Behavior:
- Once settings are updated, monitor the OneDrive icon to ensure it indicates syncing is active.
- Create a test file in the OneDrive - Personal folder and check if it syncs properly across devices.
- Remove or rename a test file in the C:\ OneDrive folder to verify it does not affect the syncing process of the OneDrive - Personal folder.
Step 5: Cleanup and Maintenance
- Finalize Changes:
- Once verified that syncing is functioning correctly with the OneDrive - Personal folder, you can proceed to clean up the C:\ OneDrive folder.
- Rename or delete the C:\ OneDrive folder to avoid confusion and potential syncing conflicts.
- Empty the Recycle Bin after deleting to permanently remove the folder and its contents from your system.
Additional Tips:
- Restart OneDrive: After making changes, restart the OneDrive application to ensure all adjustments take effect.
- System Restart: Sometimes, a system restart helps clear any lingering sync issues and ensures all settings are properly applied.
By following these steps, you should be able to correct the settings to point to the correct OneDrive folder (OneDrive - Personal) and resolve the issue of having two conflicting OneDrive folders.
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
