OneDrive File Issues

How to Remove Duplicate OneDrive Listings in Windows File Explorer

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove an extra, redundant OneDrive entry that is appearing in the Windows File Explorer navigation pane.

How to Remove a Duplicate Personal OneDrive Listing in Windows

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Navigating files and folders using the Windows File Explorer.
Observed behavior: Two identical OneDrive personal listings are displayed simultaneously in the left navigation pane of File Explorer.

Before you start

Before modifying the Windows Registry, ensure you close File Explorer and back up your registry keys to prevent accidental system errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Delete Duplicate Namespace Key via Registry Editor

Identify and remove the redundant OneDrive registry entry to clear the duplicate listing from File Explorer.

Duplicate entries in File Explorer are typically caused by overlapping namespace registry keys. Deleting the specific extra key will remove the visual duplicate without affecting your actual OneDrive files stored locally or in the cloud.

Launch Registry Editor

Click the Windows search box on your taskbar, type 'regedit', and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Navigate to the NameSpace Key

In the top address bar of the Registry Editor, paste this path and press Enter: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Identify the Duplicate Entry

Click through the subfolders (keys) listed under NameSpace in the left pane. Look at the 'Data' column in the right pane to find the two keys that display 'OneDrive'.

Backup and Delete

Right-click the subfolder you want to remove and select 'Export' to save a backup. Once backed up, right-click the same subfolder again and select 'Delete'.

Restart File Explorer

Close the Registry Editor and either restart your computer or restart Windows Explorer from the Task Manager to apply the changes.

Delete Duplicate Namespace Key via Registry Editor

Caution: Do not delete any registry key unless you are absolutely certain it represents the duplicate OneDrive entry. Keep your exported backup safe until you confirm everything works properly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting the duplicate OneDrive listing delete my files?

No, modifying the namespace registry key only removes the visual shortcut in Windows File Explorer. Your actual files remain safely stored in your cloud account and your local OneDrive directory.

Why do I have two OneDrive entries in File Explorer?

This typically happens after a Windows operating system update, a OneDrive application update, or when Windows accidentally creates a redundant registry shortcut while configuring your account.

What if I accidentally delete the wrong registry key?

If you exported the registry key as a backup before deleting it, you can easily restore it by locating your saved .reg file, double-clicking it, and confirming the prompt to merge it back into the registry.

Document & File Issues