OneDrive File Issues

How to Remove OneDrive "- Copy" Duplicates and Stop Syncing

Emma Brown Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to remove thousands of duplicate files with a "- Copy" suffix generated by OneDrive synchronization conflicts and wants to stop OneDrive from syncing files.

How to Remove OneDrive "- Copy" Duplicates and Stop Syncing

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing local files and cloud storage when OneDrive automatically generates numerous duplicate files due to sync conflicts.
Observed behavior: OneDrive creates multiple duplicated versions of files with a "- Copy" suffix during synchronization conflicts and continues to sync unwanted changes.

Before you start

Before deleting any files or unlinking your account, create an independent local backup of your important files on an external drive. OneDrive is a synchronized storage service, meaning files deleted from the local OneDrive folder will also be removed from the cloud.

Solution 1Recommended

Safely Find and Remove "- Copy" Duplicates

Use Windows File Explorer to locate and safely bulk-delete all sync conflict duplicates without affecting your original files.

When OneDrive encounters a file conflict (such as a file being edited on two different devices simultaneously), it creates a duplicate with the computer name or "- Copy" appended to the filename to prevent data loss.

Open the OneDrive Folder

Open File Explorer on your computer and navigate to your main OneDrive folder.

Switch to Details View

Click on the "View" tab at the top of the File Explorer window and select "Details" to clearly see file names, dates, and sizes.

Search for Duplicates

Click the search bar at the top right of the window and type "- Copy" (without the quotation marks) to filter all sync conflict duplicate files.

Review and Delete

Review the search results carefully to ensure you are only selecting the unwanted duplicate files. Select the confirmed duplicates and press the Delete key.

Safely Find and Remove "- Copy" Duplicates

Check the Online Recycle Bin: Deleted files may also remain in your online OneDrive recycle bin. Log into OneDrive on the web to review and empty the recycle bin when appropriate to free up cloud storage space.

Solution 2

Unlink Your PC to Stop OneDrive Syncing

Disconnect your computer from OneDrive to stop automatic syncing and prevent future file duplication conflicts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive keep creating files with "- Copy" in the name?

OneDrive creates these duplicate files when it detects a synchronization conflict. This usually happens if a file is edited on two different devices simultaneously, if a file is edited offline and conflicts with online changes when reconnecting, or if there are syncing interruptions.

If I delete files from my local OneDrive folder, are they deleted everywhere?

Yes. OneDrive is a synchronized storage service, not a standalone backup. Deleting a file from the local OneDrive folder on your PC will also delete it from your cloud storage and all other linked devices unless you unlink the computer first.

How do I recover files I accidentally deleted from OneDrive?

You can log into the OneDrive website via your browser and click on the "Recycle bin" on the left sidebar. Deleted files are generally kept there for 30 days (for personal accounts) or 93 days (for work/school accounts) before being permanently removed.

Can I keep OneDrive installed but free up local hard drive space?

Yes. You can use the "Files On-Demand" feature. Right-click your files or folders in the OneDrive directory and select "Free up space". This keeps the files in the cloud but removes the local copies, significantly reducing local storage use.

Document & File Issues