The Navigation Pane in the File Explorer window makes it easy for you to navigate through files and folders across your computer. However, a lot of users have reported the problem where they notice duplicate folders in the left Navigation pane of Windows Explorer. If you encounter the same problem, please read through this article for the resolutions.
Duplicate folders in left Navigation pane of Explorer
If you notice a duplicate drive in the left Navigation pane, the solutions are as follows:
- Uninstall the latest update
- Reset the Folder Options
- Delete Icon cache using elevated Command Prompt
- Repair corrupt Quick Access
- Run SFC Scan and DISM Scan
1] Uninstall the latest update
If a recent update caused this problem, then you can fix it by identifying the recent troublesome update and uninstalling it. Many users have confirmed that they were able to fix the issue by downloading and installing a different update.
2] Reset the Folder Options
If you make any recent changes that led to the duplication of folders, you can change the settings of the File Explorer to Default. The procedure is as follows:
- Open File Explorer.
- Click on the three dots at the top menu.
- Select Options from the menu.
- This will open the File Explorer Options
- Under the General tab, click on Restore Defaults
- Next under the View tab, click on Reset folders
- Click OK and exit.
3] Delete Icon cache using elevated Command Prompt
At times, the Icon cache may be corrupt thus causing the problem. In this case, you can rebuild the Icon cache.
Reboot your system and see if the problem has been resolved.
4] Repair corrupt Quick Access
In case the Quick Access menu is corrupt, and you encounter the issue with that menu, you can consider repairing the corrupt Quick Access menu.
Search for Command Prompt in the Windows Search bar.
Click on Run as administrator in the right pane to open the elevated Command Prompt window.
In the elevated Command prompt window, copy and paste the following command:
del %appdata%\microsoft\windows\recent\automaticdestinations\*
Hit Enter to repair the Quick Access menu.
5] Run SFC Scan and DISM Scan
As mentioned earlier, the main cause behind the issue is corrupt system files. Other than the command lines we used earlier, we can also perform the SFC and DISM scans.
An SFC Scan checks the system for missing and corrupt files and replaces them if needed. A DISM Scan repairs the system image if needed. When you use both these tools, corrupt files are sure to get repaired.
If everything else fails, you can consider resetting your system to default without losing apps and data.
How do I fix Windows Explorer showing drives twice in the sidebar?
You can fix the problem of Windows Explorer showing drives twice in the sidebar by deleting a certain entry in the Registry Editor window. This will in turn delete the duplicate drive once you reboot the system.
Can I add folders to the left sidebar in the File Explorer window?
Yes, you can add folders to the left sidebar in the File Explorer window. All you need to do is drag the element or folder to Navigation bar in the left pane. If you wish to add the list of Libraries, right-click in the open space and select Show Libraries.
