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OneDrive: Check Accounts Before Removing a File Explorer Entry

Two OneDrive entries may represent separate accounts rather than a duplicate. Check their labels and destinations before resetting, unlinking, or considering a cautious Registry inspection.
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Before removing either OneDrive entry, check whether they point to different accounts. Windows can show a personal OneDrive and one or more work or school accounts under separate labels. If both entries are for the same account and location, try OneDrive’s supported repair options first; treat Registry edits as a last resort because Microsoft does not document a guaranteed Registry fix for this display problem.

Check whether the entries are actually duplicates

Select each entry in File Explorer’s navigation pane and compare the folders they open. Then check the account names in OneDrive. Microsoft says a personal account appears as OneDrive – Personal, while a work or school account appears as OneDrive – [CompanyName]. Windows supports multiple work or school accounts, but only one personal OneDrive account. Two differently labeled entries may therefore be legitimate, not duplicates. See Microsoft’s guide to syncing your computer’s files and folders with OneDrive.

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If both entries open the same location for the same account, continue with the least disruptive option that fits your situation. The sources available do not establish one definitive cause for every duplicate navigation-pane entry.

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Try supported OneDrive troubleshooting first

Reset OneDrive for general sync or configuration trouble

A reset is a general troubleshooting step, not a documented guaranteed fix for duplicate navigation entries. Microsoft says it disconnects sync connections and triggers a full sync. If you use selective sync, you may need to choose your folders again. You may need to repeat the steps for personal and work or school accounts.

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  1. Press Windows key + R to open Run.
  2. Enter %localappdata%MicrosoftOneDriveonedrive.exe /reset and select OK. If Windows cannot find the executable, try the applicable Program Files path listed in Microsoft’s OneDrive reset instructions.
  3. After the reset, open OneDrive from the Start menu and let it complete its full sync.

Unlink and relink if the account needs reconnecting

In OneDrive Settings, open Account and select Unlink this PC. Follow Microsoft’s account removal and unlinking instructions to connect the account again. Unlinking does not delete cloud files. Files available on the device remain in the computer’s OneDrive folder; online-only files remain accessible through OneDrive on the web.

If the duplicate appeared after moving the OneDrive folder

Microsoft’s supported folder-location change uses an unlink, move, and relink sequence. Follow the steps in Change the location of your OneDrive folder. This is the documented approach for changing a folder’s location; it does not prove that a move caused every duplicate entry.

Registry inspection is community advice, not a guaranteed fix

Microsoft Q&A contributors discussing duplicate OneDrive entries suggest inspecting OneDrive-related keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerDesktopNameSpace and related locations. These are community suggestions, not an official Microsoft procedure identifying the correct key to remove on every PC. Reports vary, so do not assume a particular GUID is always the extra entry. See the community discussions on OneDrive appearing multiple times in the navigation pane and duplicate OneDrive in File Explorer.

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Editing the Registry can remove the wrong navigation item or cause other problems. If you choose to inspect or change it, back up the Registry first, as Microsoft recommends in its OneDrive installation troubleshooting guidance. If you cannot confidently identify the duplicate entry, avoid deleting keys.

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Do not confuse duplicate entries with duplicate files

Two OneDrive items in the navigation pane are different from duplicate files inside a OneDrive folder. Microsoft’s separate guidance for duplicate files in OneDrive addresses that other issue; its suggested remedies should not be treated as fixes for duplicate navigation entries.

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