Skip to content

My folder is full of '... - Jan's copy' files

Two people edited the same file offline or outside OneDrive. OneDrive keeps both versions so no work is lost.

Try this first

  1. 1Open both files side by side and decide which is the right version. The difference is often a few lines.
  2. 2Merge by hand into one file, save with the original name, and delete the conflict copy.
  3. 3Ask why this happened: did you edit via File Explorer instead of Word/Excel? Co-authoring works only from the Office app or in the browser.
  4. 4For Word and Excel: use 'Share' from the top right and edit via the link, not through a shared File Explorer folder.

When to bring us in

If conflict copies keep appearing even with correct usage, a sync or permission issue is underneath; we should look.

See also

None of the above fits?

Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.

Who are you?

For the AI question we need your email and company, so we can follow up if the AI gets stuck, and to prevent abuse.

Limited to 2 questions per hour and 5 per day, kept lean so the AI stays useful. For more, contacting us directly works better for you and us.

Or skip the DIY entirely

Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.