The Windows 10’s File Explorer is more or less similar to the one in previous versions of Windows. The Quick Access is probably the major new feature of Windows 10’s File Explorer.
When you connect a USB drive or external device to your Windows PC, File Explorer automatically recognizes the external drive and displays the connected drive/device in This PC (My Computer) as well as in the navigation pane of File Explorer so that users can access the drive without having to navigate to This PC.
Duplicate USB drive/device entries in File Explorer navigation pane
Unlike in previous versions of Windows, when you connect a USB flash drive or any other external drive/device to a PC running Windows 10/11, the File Explorer in Windows 10/11 displays the USB drive twice in the navigation pane. This is because, with default settings, the navigation pane displays a separate list of USB drives in addition to showing USB drives under This PC. Because of this behavior, we see duplicate USB drive entries in the navigation pane.
If you see duplicate drives in Windows File Explorer, you can stop Windows 10 from showing USB drive twice by completing given below directions.
Fix: USB drive appearing twice in Windows 10/11 File Explorer
Important: We recommend you create a manual system restore point before editing the Registry.
Step 1: In the Start menu or taskbar search box, type Regedit, and then press Enter key. Click Yes button when you see the User Account Control dialog to open Registry Editor.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders
Step 3: Under DelegateFolder, there should be a key called {F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}.
Step 4: Right-click on {F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83} key and then click Delete button to delete the key.
Step 5: When you see the following confirmation dialog, click the Yes button to delete the key. Deleting the key should remove the duplicate USB drive icon from the navigation pane.
If the USB drive/device is still appearing twice, sign out and sign in, or restart Windows Explorer once to get rid of the duplicate USB drive entry in File Explorer.
Tip: To restart Windows Explorer, open Task Manager, click More details, under the General tab, right-click on Windows Explorer entry and then click Restart. If you can’t see Windows Explorer entry, please open up a folder or open This PC.
Important: If you are facing any issues after deleting the key, use the previously created restore point to restore your Windows 10/11 to an earlier date.
Dave Smith says
My thanks to the author/s of this page and Paul’s comment
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Paul says
July 16, 2019 at 8:52 am
Jus rename the entry as .old instead of deleting it, Easier to get it back if you want it.
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Found the offending key/right click/rename/add “.old” at the end of the key/OK/check File Explorer and only one instance of my usb drives, X to Z, showing……………happy dance time ;-).
Note add .old not “.old”
Vana says
Thank you so much! It worked and the instructions couldn’t be more clear!
Dan Fiala says
This worked perfectly. Thank you for the solution. You do good work.
Noel says
Excellent, thank you for the detailed guide and solution it worked perfectly!
Fox on the Run says
From Win 3.1 to XP then fix all issues with Win 7pro 64, no double drive letters. Before regedit, I use Partition Wizzard, copy C:\ hard drive to an SSD. If issues, I format, delete partitions, copy SSD C:\ back on never skip a beat… Somebody buy these guys a 1.44 floppy A Drive maybe wake MS up… Double Hard Drive images????? This is mayhem on the Root when copying files… Time to buy few more SSD’s back everything up.
Roger Johnson says
Thanks for the concise regedit protocol, it worked perfectly! As I do not consider myself tech-savvy in the least, your easy-to-follow instructions made this quick work. Many thanks!
Mcostas says
Wow Thanks. I’ve looked for a solution for this before but somehow missed this . I just put .end at the end of the string. One reasoning is that it makes it easier to see if a string is something I changed.
Where is was really annoying was when I plugged something like my GPSr in that had internal storage and also a little card. Sometimes I couldn’t properly eject the media I wanted.
Georges V says
I have been irritated for very long years by Explorer behavior. I thought that there was some bug !
Why make Windows more easy while Microsoft can make things more complicated ?
Thank you so much for this register tweak.
I agree with Steve Ash: Just export the specific key.
Would be a quicker tutorial if you were to suggest backing up that specific key to a reg file prior to implementing, rather than making a restore point.
Adam says
Thanks.That worked.The clear sequence was reassuring.
hansolocambo says
Works like a sharm in Windows 11. Cool.
Directory Opus fixed that (like so many other things), but I could still see those duplicate Drive letters in some “Save As” windows.
Thanks for the tip !
L says
Thx for explaining how little thought MS There has got to be a better way to fix all the unnecessary “improvements” MS put into this. I recently installed a USB drive, then, when I saw two USB drives in File Explorer, I deleted one of them. Funny, but so annoying.
MS keeps throwing things at us, like duplicate drives, their annoying Quick access directory, their incredibly annoying OneDrive, etc. No, I don’t want want my USB drive listed twice, no I don’t MS to have all my tax returns, financial records and other stuff that is supposed to not be shared, and I definitely do not want to search for yet another registry hack to get rid all of all this stuff. I just want a simple switch to turn it off.
Predrag Kalajdzijevic says
It not working to me. Thanks for excellent explanation.
I tried everything (resetting a view of file explorer), but didn’t help.
Please any suggestion, what could I try next?
Thanks for all.
Bengus81 says
Works perfect! Follow all the paths and delete the line and walla….only one thumb drive showing. Thanks!!
Albert Barton says
Worked a treat. For confirmation, this seems to be a cosmetic only irritation. Both entries for the removable drive in Explorer are equally accessible for modification and update from each other in real time, at least on my Win10 19043 system.
As to the criticisms about the suggestion to make a Restore Point, I think we should bear in mind that most people finding this will not be deeply computer savvy. There is no “Save” or “Commit” button in Regedit so any inadvertent changes made are accepted without confirmation. Arsing about within the registry as a non-tech person is fraught with dangers and it only takes one slight slip to create huge problems beyond the users capabilities to fix. Yes, this tutorial could include the idea of scripting to remove or replace a registry key to file but that would be a step too far and dangerous for most people. I think, given that the necessary registry key is clearly defined for all of us at every level, the more tech savvy people who find this will be able to take that step themselves. I would say safer as is.
Alfie Hollingsworth says
Hi,
I’m having these issues too.
There is no NameSpace folder in my directory, any reason for this?
Thanks,
Alfie
Gary Fannin says
First, is this necessary to prevent problems with accessing the drive through both paths simultaneously, or is it just cosmetic?
Second, step 2 mentions a key subfolder named DelegateFolders, while step 3 refers to what I assume is the same key subfolder as DelegateFolder. I suppose I could poke around and find if one (and only one) is correct, but it would be nice it the typo (if that’s what it is) were corrected. Not trying to be an ___hole, but I get nervous when I have to even think about registry entries.
ron Breen says
This did not work at all. I am assuming that the PC repair tool WILL fix it?
Zeena in FLA says
This was PERFECT!! Your writing is concise and provides easily understandable instructions, even for those of us on the Short Bus!!
You get a gold star AND a bookmark!
Thanks very much!!
Uncle Phil says
Thank you !!!!
VJ says
Worked for me. Quick and easy.
lucy says
thank you , it worked for my case .
Corne says
Thanks for your advice and the advice from Paul to rename it .old …. worked fine for me…what a sight without the duobles of my big range of external drives.. :-)
Gary says
Thanks. It worked perfectly.
Willie says
February 26, 2021 this regedit Worked perfectly for me!
Gregg says
Thanks so much for this, worked like a charm!
Tobirama Senju says
It did not work on my end, damn those Uchihas.
Conflict no matter what era.
Junkang Feng says
This worked, Thanks a lot!
Not sure though why windows 10 does this in the first place.
Bruce Edwards says
Hi. Well, there’s no Delegate Folders or key when I get to NameSpace but I still have a double listing of the usb drive.
cHRIS hall says
Thank-you. All sorted with your excellent instructions. Cheers. Chris Hall
Paul says
Jus rename the entry as .old instead of deleting it, Easier to get it back if you want it.
MURUGESH V says
This worked, Thanks a lot
Jack Patterson says
Thank you. Agree with other’s comments. Thanks for taking time to explain and provide the fix!!!
Steve Ash says
Great info, thanks. This is extremely useful to those of us who have an external drive that powers down after a period of disuse.
Would be a quicker tutorial if you were to suggest backing up that specific key to a reg file prior to implementing, rather than making a restore point. Restoration would be a double-click away as well. Or, just provide reg files that remove and re-add the registry key?
REMOVE (copy the following, between the dashed lines, to a file called (remusb.reg):
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Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}]
@=”Removable Drives”
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RE-ADD (copy the following, between the dashed lines, to a file called addusb.reg):
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Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\DelegateFolders\{F5FB2C77-0E2F-4A16-A381-3E560C68BC83}]
@=”Removable Drives”
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