How to Merge Two Folders with the Same Name on a Flash Drive Without Losing WPS Office Files
Question details
The user needs to combine two folders that share the same name on a flash drive into one folder while keeping all worksheet files intact.
- Product
- WPS Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has two same-name folders on a flash drive, and the files appear synchronized or linked. The goal is to consolidate all worksheet files into one folder without losing data.
- Observed behavior
- Two folders with the same name appear on the flash drive, and files seem to be synchronized or linked. The user wants to combine all worksheet files into one verified folder.
Make sure the flash drive has enough free space for the combined folder, and create a backup copy of both folders on another drive before moving or deleting files.
Merge two same-name folders on a flash drive by copying contents into one folder
Use this method when you need to consolidate two same-name folders without losing worksheet files and want to control duplicate-file conflicts.
This method works in File Explorer and is the safest manual way to combine folders on a flash drive. It leaves the source folder intact until you verify the copy.
Copy both same-name folders from the flash drive to a safe location on your computer or another external drive before making changes.
In File Explorer, open one of the two same-name folders on the flash drive, press Ctrl+A to select all files and subfolders, then press Ctrl+C to copy them.
Open the other same-name folder, right-click an empty area, and choose Paste. If Windows prompts about duplicate files, choose Overwrite, Skip, or Rename for each conflict based on which version you want to keep.
Confirm that all worksheet files and subfolders appear in the second folder and can be opened correctly.
Only after verification, delete the now redundant source folder from the flash drive to keep a single consolidated folder.
Open and verify merged worksheet files with WPS Office
After merging two same-name folders on a flash drive, use WPS Office to open and verify the worksheet files so you can confirm the consolidation without data loss.
- 1. Download and install WPS Office: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Merge the folders on the flash drive: Use File Explorer to copy the contents of one same-name folder into the other, resolve duplicate prompts, and keep the consolidated folder.
- 3. Open the merged folder in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, click Menu > Open, and browse to the consolidated folder on the flash drive to open a worksheet file.
- 4. Verify your worksheets: Check the opened worksheets for correct data, and use WPS Office to open any Excel-compatible files from the merged folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose files if I overwrite duplicate files during the merge?
Yes, overwriting replaces the existing file with the copied file. Use Skip or Rename if you are not sure which version is newer or if you want to keep both versions.
How do I choose between overwrite, skip, and rename when Windows prompts me?
In the copy dialog, click Replace the file in the destination to overwrite, Skip this file to keep the destination version, or choose Rename to keep both files with a different name. The exact wording can vary by Windows version.
Should I delete the second folder after copying?
Only delete the redundant folder after you have verified that all files and subfolders were copied and can be opened. Keep a backup until verification is complete.
Can I merge same-name folders on a flash drive without a computer?
No, a computer or laptop with File Explorer is needed to copy contents, resolve duplicate prompts, and verify the merged folder contents.
Why do two folders with the same name appear on my flash drive?
This can happen when files are copied or synced from different devices, or when a cloud sync tool creates duplicate folder entries with the same name.
