SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix Duplicate SharePoint Libraries in OneDrive for Business

Natalie Taylor Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where a single SharePoint document library syncs multiple times in OneDrive.

How to Fix Duplicate SharePoint Libraries in OneDrive for Business

Product: OneDrive for Business
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A SharePoint document library is configured for automatic synchronization through Group Policy.
Observed behavior: The library appears multiple times with numbered suffixes. The duplicates bypass Files On-Demand and download entirely, filling up local storage. Resetting OneDrive only temporarily resolves the issue.

Before you start

Check your local device storage to understand how much space the duplicate libraries are consuming, and verify if your device is managed by an organizational Group Policy.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Your IT Administrator to Resolve Group Policy Conflicts

Since resetting OneDrive is only a temporary workaround, the issue requires your IT administrator to investigate and correct the synchronization policies in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

This duplication issue typically occurs when the 'Configure team site libraries to sync automatically' Group Policy setting creates a new synchronization connection while an active one already exists. Because the root cause is policy-based, end-user troubleshooting steps like unlinking or resetting OneDrive will not permanently stop the duplicate folders from appearing.

Document the Issue

Take screenshots of your OneDrive folder showing the duplicate library names (e.g., Tools (1) and Tools (2)) and note the storage space being consumed.

Reach Out to IT Support

Contact your company's IT department and explain that a Group Policy setting is causing OneDrive to duplicate SharePoint document libraries and bypass Files On-Demand.

Request a Microsoft Support Incident

Ask your administrator to create a support incident through the Microsoft 365 admin center so the appropriate development team can investigate the policy conflict.

Warning on Deleting Files: Do not attempt to manually delete the duplicated folders while OneDrive is actively syncing, as this may permanently delete the files from the cloud for all users.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive download all files instead of using Files On-Demand?

When an overlapping sync connection forces a duplicate SharePoint library to appear, OneDrive often fails to apply the Files On-Demand settings to the new folder, resulting in a full download of all contents to your local drive.

Can I permanently fix duplicate SharePoint libraries by resetting OneDrive?

No, resetting the OneDrive client or clearing your local sync settings generally only provides a temporary fix. The duplicate folders will likely return upon the next Group Policy update.

How can my IT administrator resolve this synchronization issue?

Your administrator will need to review the 'Configure team site libraries to sync automatically' Group Policy settings and may need to raise a support ticket via the Microsoft 365 admin center for further investigation by Microsoft.

Document & File Issues