What to do if…
a cloud drive app starts re-downloading everything and you fear data duplication or overwrite

What to do now

1. Freeze sync activity on this device.

   • Use the desktop app’s Pause syncing option if it is available.
   • If the app will not stay paused, quit the app from its menu or system tray.
   • If activity continues or you feel unsure, disconnect Wi-Fi or Ethernet on this device to buy time.
   • Avoid unlinking or disconnecting the account until you have copied important visible local files. Some streamed or online-only setups may remove offline files when an account is disconnected.

2. Make a safety copy outside the synced folder.

   • Copy the affected local cloud folder, or the most important affected folders, to a separate non-synced place such as your Desktop, Documents folder outside the cloud drive, an external drive, or another local folder clearly named “Cloud safety copy 2026-04-25”.
   • Prioritise recently edited files, shared work, personal records, photos, and anything irreplaceable.
   • If some files are online-only, placeholders, or still downloading, do not rely on those local copies alone; plan to download clean copies from the cloud website after you check the account.

3. Check the cloud website before changing local files.

   • Open the provider’s website in a browser, not the syncing folder.
   • Look for Activity, Recent, Trash, Recycle bin, Version history, or Previous versions where the service offers them.
   • Check whether there were unexpected uploads, moves, renames, deletions, or edits.
   • Pick two or three important files and confirm whether older versions or deleted copies can be restored if needed.

4. Identify the duplication pattern before cleaning anything up.

   • Look for names such as “conflicted copy”, “copy”, “copy of”, “(1)”, or similar duplicate numbering.
   • Open a few examples and compare the content and last modified time, not just the filename.
   • Keep the newest and the older copy until you know which one has the correct content.

5. Reduce the chance of another mass download before resuming.

   • Check that the device has enough free disk space for the folders you are syncing.
   • Check that the device date and time look correct.
   • Where the app offers it, use online-only, files-on-demand, streaming, or selective sync so you do not immediately pull everything back down while assessing the problem.
   • Make sure you are signed in to the expected account, especially if you have both personal and work or school accounts.

6. If this is work or school data, pause and report it internally.

   • Keep sync paused or the device offline if files contain client, patient, pupil, staff, financial, or other personal data.
   • Use your organisation’s IT, helpdesk, or security route before re-linking the device.
   • Ask whether they want to check account activity, shared-drive activity, or device status first.

7. If you suspect someone else accessed the account, secure it before re-syncing.

   • From a clean browser session, change the password for the cloud account.
   • Turn on 2-step verification for the cloud account and the email account connected to it.
   • Review signed-in devices and sessions, and sign out anything you do not recognise.
   • Keep sync paused until the account looks secure.

8. Resume syncing only as a small test.

   • Resume syncing or reconnect the internet only after you have a safety copy and have checked the cloud website.
   • Watch the sync status and the cloud website activity for a few minutes.
   • If unexpected uploads, renames, moves, or deletions start, pause syncing again or disconnect the internet and use official support or your organisation’s IT route.