Solved File Explorer phantom folders


JLYork

Member
Local time
5:46 PM
Posts
7
OS
WINDOWS 11
A strange phantom/duplicate folder has suddenly shown up if using Move/Copy Items in File Explorer. As the screenshot below shows, both Documents & Pictures have a second folder which contains everything that is in the 'real' folders. If I hover over the extra folder it gives a creation date of 29/01/2023. These extra folders don't show up in the main Explorer window. All libraries are in the default place.

Any ideas please?
1675091708019.png
 
Windows Build/Version
22H2 (OS Build 22621.1194)

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Hi there @JLYork

How is it going? And welcome to the forum.

First off you could try on the duplicate folders going to the Folder Properties > Location > Restore Default Location button, and then clicking YES to the "Move all documents" dialog.

Else, go to Folder Options > Advanced Settings > Navigation Pane and unchecking "Show All Folders" and unchecking "Show Libraries"
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 21H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Chillblast
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 3100
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix b450-f
    Memory
    Corsair 8GB x 2 (16GB)
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    Asus Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Super
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    Dell 27" 1440p
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    Seagate Barracuda 1TB
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    Windows 8.1
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    HP
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    Amd E2
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    4GB
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    128GB SSD
Hi there @JLYork

How is it going? And welcome to the forum.

First off you could try on the duplicate folders going to the Folder Properties > Location > Restore Default Location button, and then clicking YES to the "Move all documents" dialog.

Else, go to Folder Options > Advanced Settings > Navigation Pane and unchecking "Show All Folders" and unchecking "Show Libraries"
Thanks James, good to have a forum to help with Windows 11 issues!

If I hover over the duplicate folder (the yellow icon ones) I don't get the option to to do the location change but I can see that the location is given as been on the C: drive in OneDrive. I don't use OneDrive and actually uninstalled it ages ago - can't understand why it's reappeared and then only for Documents & Pictures?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    Intel
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 1650
    Sound Card
    MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer
    Hard Drives
    Adata SSD
    PSU
    Be quiet
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    Noctua
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    500
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
Thanks James, good to have a forum to help with Windows 11 issues!

If I hover over the duplicate folder (the yellow icon ones) I don't get the option to to do the location change but I can see that the location is given as been on the C: drive in OneDrive. I don't use OneDrive and actually uninstalled it ages ago - can't understand why it's reappeared and then only for Documents & Pictures?
Just found a way to delete the OneDrive folders - library properties list included libraries, so I just deleted the OneDrive folders. :-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
    CPU
    Intel
    Motherboard
    MSI
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 1650
    Sound Card
    MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer
    Hard Drives
    Adata SSD
    PSU
    Be quiet
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    Noctua
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    500
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Avast
Just found a way to delete the OneDrive folders - library properties list included libraries, so I just deleted the OneDrive folders. :-)
That’s great! Is there any other way in which you need assistance with this topic? If not, click mark as solved.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 21H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Chillblast
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 3100
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix b450-f
    Memory
    Corsair 8GB x 2 (16GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Super
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 27" 1440p
    Screen Resolution
    1440p
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 1TB
    256GB NVME Seagate Barracuda
    Browser
    Firefox / Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Amd E2
    Memory
    4GB
    Hard Drives
    128GB SSD

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