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Remove SharePoint Folder from Windows Explorer

This guide explains how to remove the persistent SharePoint folder that appears in Windows Explorer after syncing SharePoint libraries with OneDrive.

Problem

After syncing folders from SharePoint using OneDrive, a folder with your company name remains pinned in Windows Explorer's navigation pane. Even after stopping the sync, the folder shortcut persists and cannot be removed through normal methods.

Solution

Follow these steps to completely remove the SharePoint folder from Windows Explorer:

Step 1: Stop SharePoint Sync

Before removing the folder, ensure you have stopped syncing the SharePoint library:

  1. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray
  2. Select Settings > Account
  3. Click Stop sync for the SharePoint library
  4. Confirm the action

Step 2: Delete the Physical Folder

Navigate to the user profile directory and remove the SharePoint folder:

  1. Open File Explorer
  2. Navigate to C:\Users\<YourUsername>
  3. Locate the SharePoint folder (typically named after your organization)
  4. Delete the folder

Unsaved Changes

Ensure any unsaved work is backed up before deleting the folder. Files that haven't synced to SharePoint will be lost.

Step 3: Remove Registry Entry

The folder shortcut is created by a registry entry that must be manually removed:

  1. Press Win+R to open Run dialog
  2. Type regedit and press Enter
  3. Navigate to: 
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\
  4. Look for a key with a name matching your SharePoint folder (the key will have a GUID name like {XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX})
  5. Expand the key and check the Default value to verify it matches your SharePoint folder name
  6. Right-click the key and select Delete
  7. Confirm the deletion

Finding the Right Key

The NameSpace key may contain multiple entries. Look through each GUID key to find the one with your organization's SharePoint name in the Default value.

Step 4: Refresh Explorer

Restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Option 1: Task Manager Method 1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager 2. Find Windows Explorer in the process list 3. Right-click and select Restart

Option 2: PowerShell Method 

Stop-Process -Name explorer -Force

The SharePoint folder should now be removed from Windows Explorer's navigation pane.