OneDrive Sync Issue – Shared Files Automatically Renamed/Deleted

Muzzamil Iqbal 0 Reputation points
2026-09-02T11:22:11.3266667+00:00

I am facing a serious issue with OneDrive. While working on the shared folders, sometimes files are automatically renamed or disappear. When this happens, the same files also disappear from the OneDrive folders of the users with whom the folder is shared.

For example, sometimes an Excel file that was previously available with its proper name suddenly appears with a random/numeric name such as “53778”, and Excel shows a warning that the file format and extension do not match. I have also noticed many temporary files/folders being created in OneDrive, and sometimes OneDrive shows a prompt saying that around 200 items are going to be deleted.

Another issue is that when I re-share the affected folder, the missing files sometimes appear again, but after some time the same files disappear again. Other files in the folder remain unaffected.

I have also noticed temporary files such as InputTemp, ImageTemp, and other random-name files under xwechat_files in one of the shared OneDrive environments, but I am not sure whether this is related to the issue.

The main concern is that files are disappearing or being renamed automatically, and these changes are also affecting the users who have access to the shared folder. I need help identifying the root cause and preventing OneDrive from automatically deleting, renaming, or removing these files from the shared folders.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | Other | Windows
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  1. Kai-H 25,945 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-03T09:10:47.7933333+00:00

    Hi, Muzzamil Iqbal

    The numeric names and extension warnings may indicate damaged OneDrive credentials or a problem with the installed sync client. Since the changes affect everyone, the folder owner or Microsoft 365 administrator should also review the audit history.

    Besides the solutions provided by the Q&A Assist, here are some suggestions you can try:

    Refresh the affected user’s OneDrive credentials. In Windows, open Credential Manager > Windows Credentials, remove entries containing MicrosoftAccount and the user name, then restart OneDrive. On Mac, open Keychain Access, search for OneDrive, delete OneDrive Cached Credential, and reopen OneDrive. This is recommended when OneDrive creates unexpected duplicate or renamed files.

    Make sure Office and the OneDrive sync app are fully updated. If the issue continues, uninstall and reinstall OneDrive. Uninstalling the app does not delete files stored online.

    Temporarily give most users View permission and allow editing from only one test account. If the problem stops, restore permissions gradually.

    For a work or school account, ask the administrator to check the Microsoft 365 audit log for FileRenamed, FileMoved, and FileDeleted events. If no clear source appears, open a Microsoft 365 support case and include the affected URLs, timestamps, and sample numeric filenames.

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-02T11:22:43.2533333+00:00

    The behavior points to a local process or sync conflict affecting a shared OneDrive/SharePoint-synced folder, not just a web-sharing problem.

    Key causes supported by the symptoms:

    1. A local delete or move is being synced to everyone In a synced shared library, if a file is deleted locally, that delete is synchronized to OneDrive/SharePoint and the item is moved to the recycle bin. If multiple users sync the same library, one user or one local application can remove a file and that change affects everyone.
    2. Conflicts can create renamed copies For non-Office files, OneDrive can keep both versions when a conflict occurs. The online version keeps the original name, and the local copy can be renamed with the device name appended. Sync conflicts are more likely when multiple users edit at the same time, upload duplicate filenames, or edit offline.
    3. Temporary or hidden files can interfere with sync status and file handling Hidden files, temporary Office files, and cached Office document data can leave items showing as syncing or create confusion around what is actually being synchronized. The xwechat_files, InputTemp, and ImageTemp items should be treated as local temporary/generated content and tested by moving them out of the OneDrive folder if they are not required.
    4. A local application may be moving or quarantining files Microsoft documents this exact pattern for files unexpectedly going to the recycle bin: a local process such as antivirus or another application can move or delete files in the synced folder, and OneDrive then syncs that deletion.
    5. Unsupported names can trigger automatic renaming OneDrive can automatically rename files or folders that contain unsupported characters, invalid Unicode, leading/trailing spaces, or names ending with a period. Long names and deeply nested folders can also trigger renaming.

    Recommended troubleshooting path:

    1. Check the recycle bin first In the affected OneDrive/SharePoint location, inspect the recycle bin and review the Deleted By field for missing files. This identifies which synced account performed the delete operation.
    2. Check the device of the account shown in Deleted By On that device, look for software that may touch files in the synced folder:
      • antivirus or endpoint protection quarantine
      • file cleanup tools
      • third-party sync/backup tools
      • apps generating temp content inside the OneDrive folder
    3. Move temporary/generated folders out of OneDrive If xwechat_files, InputTemp, ImageTemp, or similar folders are app-generated working folders, move them outside the OneDrive sync root and confirm whether the renames/deletions stop. If they must remain, verify they do not contain files being actively modified by another app.
    4. Reduce conflict conditions
      • Avoid editing the same file from multiple devices at the same time.
      • Avoid offline edits when possible.
      • Make duplicate filenames unique before saving again.
      • If a conflicted non-Office file exists, compare versions, merge changes into one file, then delete the extra version or rename both clearly.
    5. Check for invalid naming/path issues Review affected files and folders for:
      • unsupported characters: " * : < > ? / \ | #
      • leading or trailing spaces
      • names ending with a period
      • very long names or deeply nested folder paths
    6. Clear Office/Upload cache if Office files are involved If Excel files are affected, clear cached files from Microsoft Office Upload Center:
      • Find the Microsoft Office Upload Center icon in the taskbar notification area.
      • Right-click it, select Settings.
      • Select Delete cached files.
      • Confirm with Delete cached information.
    7. Remove hidden and temporary files that are not needed Show hidden files in File Explorer and remove hidden or temporary files in the OneDrive folder that are not associated with files currently being edited. For temporary Office files, close Office files first and clear the Office document cache. Manual deletion can cause data loss, so confirm the files are safe to remove before deleting them.
    8. If many errors exist, stop and resync the library If the library has widespread sync corruption, stop syncing and sync it again to get fresh data. This disconnects the folder from the library but retains files locally and online. Do not rename the synced folder after sync is established, because that breaks the sync relationship.
    9. If files are still being removed unexpectedly, isolate the source user/device Since the same removals propagate to all shared users, the root cause is likely one synced endpoint or one local process acting on the files. Focus on the account shown in Deleted By and the machine where the deletion originated.

    Important cautions:

    • Deleting temporary Office files manually can cause data loss.
    • Editing the registry is only relevant if all files show a false syncing state in File Explorer; it does not match the main symptom here.
    • Do not rename an already-synced root folder after sync is established.

    References:

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