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How to Find & Remove Duplicate Files in OneDrive

Making syncing mistake can cause duplicate files on OneDrive

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

OneDrive is a cloud-based file hosting service by Microsoft that offers cloud storage for users to save files and other data. Sadly, many users report twin files in the cloud space. Hence, we’ll remove duplicate OneDrive files from your cloud storage and free up some space.

Why does OneDrive duplicate files?

Having two of the same file in your OneDrive cloud storage is a problem users report. It can occur for some reasons listed below:

Some of our readers also reported OneDrive creating duplicate files with copies in the file name.

Nevertheless, this article will discuss finding and removing duplicate files that may consume your OneDrive cloud storage.

How can I find & remove OneDrive duplicate files?

1. Manually find duplicate files in OneDrive

The above steps will help you find duplicate files and remove them conveniently.

2. Use third-party apps to find and remove duplicate files

You can employthird-party tools to find duplicate filesin twins in OneDrive.

These tools can also delete duplicate files without any threats or risk of losing vital files to intruders or in the process of removing files.

How can I prevent OneDrive from syncing duplicate files?

Deleting duplicate files on OneDrive doesn’t help the problem, as it will reoccur during the next syncing session. Hence, follow the steps below to prevent syncing duplicate files.

1. Change the OneDrive Sync Conflicts option

Allowing the Let me choose to merge changes or keep both copies in Sync conflict lets you decide whether to keep or discard a duplicate file during the syncing process.

You can read our article onhow to exclude/unsync a folder from OneDriveon Windows 11.

2. Refresh OneDrive cached Credential

Refreshing OneDrive credentials will prevent it from duplicating files.

Alternatively, you may check our detailed guide on fixingOneDrive you now have two copies of a file. We couldn’t merge the changes in an Office fileerror.

Likewise, you can readhow to set OneDrive files to Always Keep on This Deviceon Windows 11.

Also, we have a detailed guide onhow to get the OneDrive Usage Reportand see your activities log report.

In conclusion, you should have learned how to remove duplicate OneDrive files from its guide. If you need further assistance, kindly leave your questions in the comments section.

How to Find & Remove Duplicate Files in OneDrive#

Why does OneDrive duplicate files?#

How can I find & remove OneDrive duplicate files?#

1. Manually find duplicate files in OneDrive#

2. Use third-party apps to find and remove duplicate files#

How can I prevent OneDrive from syncing duplicate files?#

1. Change the OneDrive Sync Conflicts option#

2. Refresh OneDrive cached Credential#