OneDrive File Issues

Fix OneDrive Displaying the Wrong Name in Office Save As Dialog

Anum Mushtaq Oct 15, 2026 868 views

Question details

The Microsoft Office Save As dialog incorrectly displays a former user's OneDrive name instead of the current user's, despite the file path correctly pointing to the active user's OneDrive.

How to Fix OneDrive Displaying the Wrong Name in Office Save As Dialog

Product: Microsoft Office, OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Saving a file in Microsoft Office using the 'Save As' feature after a former employee has left the organization.
Observed behavior: The Save As dialog shows the OneDrive folder name of another user (a former employee) instead of the current user's name, even though the file is being saved to the correct file path.

Before you start

Verify that all your recently modified files are fully synced to the OneDrive cloud to ensure no data is lost during the unlinking process.

Solution 1Recommended

Unlink and Reconfigure OneDrive Synchronization

Disconnect your current OneDrive client and set up a fresh synchronization folder to resolve the incorrect naming issue.

When an organization removes an employee's license, their data may be retained due to organization policies (e.g., a 120-day retention policy). If their folder was previously synced or shared, Office might cache and display their name.

To clear this, you must unlink the current OneDrive connection, remove the old folder, and create a completely new one.

Unlink OneDrive from your PC

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, navigate to Help & Settings > Settings, select the Account tab, and click the 'Unlink this PC' link.

Remove the incorrect folder

Open File Explorer, locate the old OneDrive synchronization folder that displays the incorrect name, and either delete it (if empty) or rename it as a backup.

Create a new synchronization folder

Create a fresh folder on your local drive. Give it a name that accurately reflects your current organization or user profile.

Reconfigure OneDrive

Sign back into the OneDrive desktop client. When prompted to choose a folder location, select the newly created folder to begin a fresh sync.

Synchronization Restored: Once fully reconfigured, the Microsoft Office Save As dialog will correctly read the new folder properties and display your current user name.

Solution 2

Stop Syncing Former Employee Shared Libraries

Check your OneDrive client to ensure you are no longer actively syncing a shared library that belongs to the former employee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Office Save As dialog show a former employee's name?

This typically happens if a shared OneDrive for Business library belonging to that former employee is still synchronized to your computer, or if Office has cached the previous sync folder's display name.

Will unlinking my OneDrive delete my files?

No, unlinking your PC from OneDrive only stops the synchronization process. Your files remain safely stored in the cloud, and any locally downloaded files will stay intact on your hard drive.

How long does a former employee's OneDrive data remain active?

In many organizations, user data is retained based on the company's retention policy (often up to 120 days) after their licenses are removed, which can cause their shared libraries to persist on your device if not manually removed.

Can I rename my OneDrive sync folder directly in File Explorer?

It is not recommended to simply rename the active sync folder, as it can break synchronization. It is much safer to unlink the PC, create a new folder with the correct name, and reconfigure the sync client.

Document & File Issues