OneDrive File Issues

How to Fix OneDrive Creating Copies When Word or Excel AutoSave Is Enabled

Bushra Parveen Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where enabling AutoSave in Microsoft Word or Excel causes the feature to disable itself and generate an unwanted duplicate file.

How to Fix OneDrive Creating Copies When Word or Excel AutoSave Is Enabled

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Editing a synchronized document in Word or Excel with the AutoSave feature enabled.
Observed behavior: AutoSave unexpectedly disables itself and creates a new, duplicate copy of the document at the root directory of OneDrive instead of saving to the original file location.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure your internet connection is stable and save a local backup copy of your document to a non-synced folder (like your Desktop) to prevent any accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear OneDrive Cached Credentials

Removing outdated or corrupted cached credentials in Windows can resolve authentication and sync conflicts between Microsoft Office and OneDrive.

When Office and OneDrive have conflicting login tokens, the system struggles to overwrite the original file, causing it to disable AutoSave and dump a copy in the root folder.

Close all Office applications

Make sure Microsoft Word, Excel, and OneDrive are completely closed. Check your system tray to ensure OneDrive is not running in the background.

Open Credential Manager

Press the Windows key, type "Credential Manager" in the search bar, and hit Enter to open the utility.

Remove OneDrive and Office credentials

Click on "Windows Credentials". Scroll down to the "Generic Credentials" section and look for any entries starting with "OneDrive Cached Credential" or "MicrosoftOffice". Click on the drop-down arrow next to each and select "Remove".

Restart and sign in

Restart your computer, launch OneDrive, and sign back in with your Microsoft account to generate fresh credentials.

Safe Procedure: Clearing credentials will not delete your files or documents. It only removes your saved login session.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft 365 and Check Sync Status

Pending updates or a paused OneDrive sync client can interrupt AutoSave functionality.

Solution 3

Unlink and Reinstall OneDrive

If clearing credentials does not work, unlinking your PC and performing a clean installation of OneDrive can fix deep-rooted synchronization glitches.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Avoid AutoSave and Sync Conflicts

If Microsoft Office and OneDrive continue to create duplicate files and sync errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with built-in cloud backup that works flawlessly.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software on your PC.
2. Sign in to activate Cloud: Open WPS Office and sign in to activate your free WPS Cloud storage for seamless document syncing.
3. Open your documents: Drag and drop your existing Word or Excel files into WPS Office to continue working immediately without format loss.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint formats.Built-in WPS Cloud for reliable, conflict-free AutoSave without duplicating files.Lightweight design that uses minimal system resources compared to Microsoft 365.Completely free to use with a familiar interface for a seamless transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive create duplicate files with my computer's name?

This occurs when OneDrive detects a sync conflict. If a file cannot be saved to the server due to authentication errors, or if it is edited on multiple devices simultaneously, OneDrive creates a duplicate appended with your computer's name to prevent data loss.

Does the AutoSave toggle in Word only work with OneDrive?

Yes. In Microsoft Office, the AutoSave toggle located in the top-left corner is designed exclusively for files stored in OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint. For locally saved files, Office uses a different recovery feature called AutoRecover.

How do I stop Office from saving files to the OneDrive root folder instead of the original folder?

Saving to the root folder is a symptom of a synchronization failure. Re-establishing your connection by clearing your Windows Credentials and unlinking/relinking your OneDrive account usually resolves the pathing error.

Will I lose my files if I remove credentials from the Windows Credential Manager?

No. Removing credentials from the Credential Manager only deletes the saved login tokens for your accounts. Your personal files, documents, and OneDrive data remain completely safe and untouched.

Document & File Issues