Two OneDrive folders showing with Explorer

Gold Contributor

Jul 15, 2024

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.

smtxuser
Copper Contributor
Mar 15, 2025
You are right , i had the same issue and both point to same underneath folder. I used solution outlined in this and it worked - https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/two-onedrive-folders-in-file-explorer/f102a15e-5a93-4758-a370-c08babfda69c
NikolinoDE
Gold Contributor
Jul 15, 2024
peterbell
If you're unable to see the "users" folder or the correct OneDrive - Personal folder path in the Choose Folder settings within OneDrive, and you suspect that registry editing might be necessary to resolve the issue, here are some steps and considerations you can follow:
Steps to Consider for Registry Editing:
1. Backup Important Data:
Before making any changes to the registry, it's crucial to back up your important data. This ensures that you can revert any changes if something goes wrong.
2. Accessing the Registry Editor:
Press Win + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click "Yes" to allow Registry Editor to make changes to your device.
3. Navigating to OneDrive Settings:
In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive
Here, you might find settings related to the OneDrive configuration.
4. Adjusting Registry Entries:
OneDrive Folder Location: Look for entries that specify the location of the OneDrive folder. You may need to modify these entries to point to the correct location (typically C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive for the OneDrive - Personal folder).
5. Modifying Values:
Double-click on the registry entry to modify its value data.
Enter the correct path (C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive) if it's not already set correctly.
6. Restarting OneDrive:
After making changes in the registry, close the Registry Editor.
Restart the OneDrive application to ensure that it picks up the new settings.
Click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar notification area.
Click on the Help & Settings icon (gear) and select "Exit OneDrive".
Restart OneDrive by searching for it in the Start menu and opening it again.
7. Verifying Syncing Behavior:
Once OneDrive restarts, monitor the syncing behavior.
Check if it correctly syncs files to the OneDrive - Personal folder (C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
Test by adding, modifying, or deleting files to ensure syncing works as expected.
8. Cleaning Up:
Once verified, you can consider cleaning up any unnecessary folders or remnants of the old OneDrive folder location (if applicable).
Caution:
Registry Editing: Editing the registry can potentially cause system instability or unintended consequences if not done correctly. Ensure you follow the steps carefully and back up your data beforehand.
Expertise: If you're not comfortable with registry editing, consider seeking assistance from someone with experience in managing registry settings.
By following these steps, you should be able to address the issue of OneDrive pointing to the incorrect folder location and ensure that syncing works smoothly with the correct OneDrive - Personal folder path.

Hope this will help you.
- peterbell
  Copper Contributor
  Jul 16, 2024
  I found and edited the Registry, re-booted but OneDrive settings still shows C:\OneDrive not C:\Users\UserName\OneDrive !!
  What would happen to my files if I Un-installed and re-installed?
  - NikolinoDE
    Gold Contributor
    Nov 03, 2024
    peterbell
    If you’re seeing duplicate OneDrive folders in Windows Explorer, uninstalling and reinstalling OneDrive can be an effective way to reset the folder configuration and clear out any syncing conflicts. Here’s what happens when you uninstall and reinstall OneDrive, as well as the steps for doing it safely:
    Effects of Uninstalling OneDrive
    Local Files Remain Intact: Uninstalling OneDrive does not delete files stored on your computer. Any files in the OneDrive folder (e.g., C:\OneDrive or C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive) will remain in place on your local machine.
    Temporary Disconnection from Cloud: Uninstalling simply disconnects your local files from syncing with OneDrive temporarily. They will not be affected in the cloud; any files in the cloud (on OneDrive.com) will still be there.
    Clears Settings and Resets Path: Reinstalling OneDrive after uninstalling will prompt you to reselect your OneDrive folder location, which should allow you to set it to the correct path.
    Steps to Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive
    Back Up Important Files:
    If you have unique files in the OneDrive folder, make a backup on an external drive or another location just in case.
    Double-check that all important files are backed up to OneDrive online (you can confirm by visiting OneDrive.com).
    Uninstall OneDrive:
    Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features.
    Find Microsoft OneDrive in the list, select it, and click Uninstall.
    Confirm any prompts to complete the uninstallation.
    Restart Your Computer:
    This will ensure any residual OneDrive processes or settings are cleared.
    Clean Up Residual Folders (Optional):
    If the extra OneDrive folder (C:\OneDrive) is still present, and you have verified all files are safely backed up, you can manually delete this folder.
    To remove any extra references to this folder, you can also try clearing OneDrive-related entries in the Registry again:
    Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, then press Enter).
    Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive and verify that any lingering paths reference only the folder you plan to use (e.g., C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive).
    Make adjustments if necessary and restart the computer again.
    Reinstall OneDrive:
    Download the latest version of OneDrive from the Microsoft OneDrive download page.
    Run the installer, and follow the setup instructions.
    During setup, it will ask for the folder location. Make sure to select C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive (the OneDrive - Personal folder).
    Verify Syncing:
    After installation, ensure that OneDrive is now pointing to C:\Users\YourUsername\OneDrive.
    Test syncing by creating or deleting a test file in the OneDrive - Personal folder to ensure changes reflect correctly online.
    Additional Tips
    Check for Old Shortcuts: Sometimes, Windows Explorer can retain shortcuts to old OneDrive folders. If you continue to see duplicates, ensure there are no old shortcuts or Quick Access entries in Explorer. Right-click and Remove from Quick Access if necessary.
    OneDrive App Reset (Alternative to Uninstalling): You can also try resetting OneDrive instead of a full uninstall. Press Win + R, type:
    %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset
    and press Enter. This resets OneDrive’s settings and may clear the duplicate folder.
    These steps should help resolve the issue by ensuring OneDrive syncs to the intended folder without duplicate instances in Explorer. The text and steps were edited with the help of AI.
    
    On your own behalf: It is always helpful when more precise information about the digital environment is provided. OS, OneDrive version, etc.
    
    My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
    
    Hope this will help you.

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Two OneDrive folders showing with Explorer

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