Forum Discussion
Dean_Gross
Feb 23, 2018Silver Contributor
Unable to Delete Doc Library synced folder from Windows Explorer
Using Windows 10 OneDrive Sync client (17.005.0107.0008), synced a document library from SPO with one file.
In windows Explorer, right clicked on synced doc library, received error message that t...
Dean_Gross
Feb 23, 2018Silver Contributor
yes, i can deleted from the web site
Deleted
Feb 23, 2018So are you talking about a folder within a synced site itself? Or the root level folder under the Teanant name? Cause if it's that root folder that you synced itself, you got to reboot after removing the sync from settings to be able to delete cause the onedrive service holds onto it locally. Maybe stopping onedrive will let you too, but i just reboot.
Like you can sync just a folder inside a library, are you trying to delete a folder within that sync, or the actual folder you sync'd itself?
Like you can sync just a folder inside a library, are you trying to delete a folder within that sync, or the actual folder you sync'd itself?
- MarcelloPersianiJul 23, 2021Copper Contributor
Stopping OneDrive and only then delete the folder that was creating the sync issue worked for me!
Many thanks!
- Salvatore BiscariFeb 24, 2018Silver Contributor
Hi Dean_Gross.
If I understand well what you mean, you are correct: AFAIK, it is not possible to delete an entire synced document library using exclusively File Explorer.
In fact, as you have already found, File Explorer refuses to delete folders representing synced (i.e. with the green check mark) libraries under the "tenant" tree that appears in the left pane.
Of course, you can empty a synced library from File Explorer, but not delete it entirely.
In order to delete the library folder from the "tenant" tree, you must first stop the synchronization from the OneDrive client UI. After you have done it, the green checkmark will disappear from the corresponding folder icon and, at that point, you are able to actually delete the folder from the "tenant" tree in the left panel of File Explorer. No restart of the client or of the computer is needed before deleting the (not anymore synced) library.
- DeletedFeb 23, 2018Yeah, it's not possible to delete and actual document library from the onedrive client. So I would question that one :P.
But yeah you cannot delete the root folder, you have to "Unconfigure" that folder from sync. Then restart onedrive client services / reboot before you can remove the local folder that's left behind. - Dean_GrossFeb 23, 2018Silver Contributor
I'm talking about a document library that shows up a first level folder under the tenant in Windows Explorer.
One of my clients stated that they accidentally deleted an entire library from Windows Explorer and i'm trying to figure out how that could have happened because I cant do it.