iSumsoft» Windows Tips » How to Find and Remove Duplicate Files in OneDrive in Bulk

How to Remove Duplicate Files from OneDrive in Bulk

Lucas Watson
Lucas Watson

Updated:

“I recently made a backup for my OneDrive and have a ton of pictures that were duplicated across the accounts. I've tried CClean's version, and it won't even find the files. So the only option remaining was to remove it manually however removing manually takes many hours. Is there a better way to mass remove duplicate files from OneDrive?”

OneDrive is a useful cloud storage that offers 5 GB of free storage for you to backup and share your files on multiple devices. To make good use of the free storage, you may need to clean up those useless duplicate files such as duplicate photos or videos that eat up and clutter your cloud space. Here this article will show you how to find and delete duplicate files in OneDrive in bulk to free up OneDrive space.

How to Find and Remove Duplicate Files in OneDrive in Bulk

How to Mass Find and Delete Duplicate Files in OneDrive


Way 1: Remove Duplicate files in OneDrive by Online Search

If you discover duplicate files with – Copy/- Desk Computer end in your OneDrive, you can find duplicate items by searching the name suffix such as "Copy/Desk Computer" and mass remove them from OneDrive by one-click selection and deletion.

Step 1: Navigate to OneDrive webstie with a browser. Then sign in your OneDrive with Microsoft account and password.

Step 2: In OneDrive search window, type Copy and click Arrow icon, OneDrive will show all the duplicate files with -Copy end.

find duplicate file on OneDrive with OneDrive search

Step 3: Tick the checkbox for Name and all duplicate files with –Copy end will be selected. Finally click Delete to get rid out of all the duplicate files in OneDrive.

remove duplicate files from OneDrive in bulk

Note: The deleted duplicate files will unavailable across your synced devices or on the web, but you can restore them from your OneDrive recycle bin within the next 30 days.

Way 2: Remove Duplicate Files from OneDrive with iSumsoft DupFile Refixer

iSumsoft DupFile Refixer is an effective duplicate file finder that can automatically and accurately scan for all types of duplicate files on OneDrive, Windows, and external hard drive/USB , etc. With this powerful tool, you are able to easily find and remove all duplicate files on your OneDrive in bulk without any manual search. Now, install iSumsoft DupFile Refixer on your Windows Computer and launch it.

Download

Step 1: In iSumsoft DupFile Refixer, click Add icon to choose OneDrive or one of its folder to scan.

add OneDrive folder to scan for duplicate files

Step 2: After adding the scan folder, click Start scanning to automatically search for duplicate files in your OneDrive.

click Start scanning

Step 3: In no time, all duplicate files as well as its original items in OneDrive will be classified and displayed in the scan report. Now, you can one-click on the box for File Name to have all the duplicate files selected and click Delete to remove all duplicate files from OneDrive in bulk.

mass remove duplicate files from OneDrive with iSumsoft DupFile Refixer

Extra useful features: Scan Settings

Before scanning, click Settings on the main interface and you are able to choose the duplicate file type such as pictures, videos, document, etc. you would like to scan for in your OneDrive. Moreover, it enables you to find duplicate files in a specific size and allows you to skip hidden/system/program files.

customize scan settings

How to Prevent OneDrive from Creating Duplicate Files

OneDrive creating duplicate files is one of OneDrive sync issues, which will waste and clutter your cloud space. Here you can know about how to prevent OneDrive from creating duplicate files.

Way 1: Manage OneDrive Sync Conflicts

Step 1: Click OneDrive icon in taskbar and click gear button to choose Settings.

open OneDrive Settings

Step 2: Choose Office tab and enable Let me choose to merge changes or keep both copies. Finally click OK.

manage sync conflicts

Way 2: Remove OneDrive Cached Credentials

Step 1: Press Win + S to open Search Windows. Then search Credential Manager to open it.

open Credential Manager

Step 2: Choose Windows Credentials option. Under the Generic Credentials section, find OneDrive Cached Credentials and select Remove.

Remove OneDrive Cached Credentials

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is OneDrive creating duplicate files?

Sometimes OneDrive creating duplicate files with computer name/- copy in file name mainly has following causes.

  • Simultaneously edit/sync the same file on two devices – OneDrive creating duplicate files can be caused when a file is edited on multiple devices before it has had a chance to sync everywhere. Besides, when the file with same name is uploaded on two devices, OneDrive will automatically add a name suffix such as –copy to one of them to make the difference. Besides, other OneDrive sync issues can also lead to duplicate files.
  • Repeatedly upload the same file – OneDrive creating duplicate files can be caused when you upload the same file twice to OneDrive folder by mistake. If you upload them in the same folder, the name of duplicate one will be added with suffix. While if you upload them to different folders, the duplicate file will keep an identical name.  

Does OneDrive upload/detect duplicate files?

Yes. If you upload the same file twice to one folder in OneDrive, you will be noted that the file you want to add already exists in OneDrive. Once you choose to keep both items, the later uploading item will be added with number suffix such as “1”. While if you upload the same file to different folders, OneDrive will sync the files normally and won't detect it as duplicate files.