What are these brown box icons in left bottom corner of my files??

Anonymous
2022-03-07T21:29:56+00:00

Does anyone know where these small brown box icons came from and what they mean?? I suddenly have these little brown icons (looks like a small file box) on most of my files, Word, pdf, photos, etc. I've googled the daylights out of this and apparently lots of folks have the same question but no one has an answer. I hasn't affected my ability to open files but it's really annoying! (see pic below) Does it have something to do with my upgrade to Windows 11?

Thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2022-04-23T00:35:08+00:00

Had this exact same issue today. The resolution was quick no reinstall. I'm on Win11, so perhaps that was a plus in this scenario. Here's the fix that worked for me:

  1. Open windows explorer <windows-key + e>
  2. If you're using OneDrive you should see something like "OneDrive - Personal" within the left-hand pane. If so, Right-Click to access the context-menu.
  3. You should see the menu-item: "Always keep on this device", select this.
  4. Recheck your desktop; no more brown boxes, yay!

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-25T15:29:50+00:00

    OMG...this just happened to me too. I read your post and paused the syncing. I don't need 80GB of stuff stored n my computer. defeats the purpose of one drive!

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-02-25T15:46:35+00:00

    I guess if you don't mind someone forcibly putting your info online. I have noticed more and more permissions to your personal information being demanded by apps in order to use them and then all of my files uploaded to OneDrive without my permissions. If you attempt to disconnect you lose your data. Also if you are somewhere without internet service you cannot access your files. I don't know about you but I do not choose to have my personal photos, etc. to be viewed by anyone but me.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-02-25T15:50:42+00:00

    In my opinion if you are good with sharing your files with a 3rd party that is fine. Me myself chose to keep whatever files I create on my computer and only my computer. But because of OneDrive I have lost many files, photos, etc. in an attempt to keep on my computer.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-02-25T15:52:02+00:00

    Ultimately, I had to go to SharePoint and "re-sync" all of the problematic folders that were showing up on my OneDrive in File Explorer with those little brown boxes, and they went away!

    It will say "hey, this folder already exists on this PC". Select "Use this folder."

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