Nextcloud creating duplicate folders inside itself, recursively, for any sync after upgrading to v4.0.0 Windows Desktop Client

[Space.yg]

After I upgraded to v4.0.0 of the Windos Desktop Client Nextcloud, I synced some folders and noticed that after syncing, it created another folder with the directory name inside the directory, recursively. For example, I have the following files and folders:

src/
    folder/
        test2.js
        another-folder/
            test3.js
    test.js
dir/
    folder/

When I try to sync the test2.js file, it creates an empty folder for each directory the file is in like this:

src/
    src/    <-
    folder/
        folder/    <-
        test2.js
        another-folder/
            test3.js
    test.js
dir/
    folder/

This happens whenever any sync happens (editing a file, creating a file or folder, etc.) except for deletion.

I would like to downgrade the client until this issue is fixed. How do I downgrade? What are the exact steps to avoid losing any files and the long waits for Nextcloud to setup (i.e. rescanning all the files and folders)?

[Phoenix1]

Same issue thought I was going insane

[Jacek]

Same problem in our system. We had to downgrade the client version.

[DenisLu]

[Bug]: V4.0.0 - a folder, a subfolder with the same name as the parent folder is created

[asa]

I’ve installed v. 4.0.1, and the problem was solved. Not yet in the stable channel.

[Oyasumi]

It’s quite insane that such an obvious and destructive bug slipped into the stable version lol, and I have no idea about how to clean up these duplicated folders

[Mario_user]

Hi, you don’t need to clean up those folders yourself. I recommend waiting for the upcoming update (v4.0.1), which fixes this issue.
Otherwise, if you really want to resolve it manually, you can check this link for the steps to clean up those folders: https://github.com/nextcloud/desktop/issues/8915
However, be careful when running the scan --all command — it may take a long time to complete, and you must not interrupt it while it’s running.

[Oyasumi]

Thanks for your reply!

I already switched to dev branch for my Windows NextCloud Client and updated to the latest version v4.0.1, but it seems those folders are still there and there is no something like auto deletion of these folders.

[Mario_user]

This is not the expected behavior. Could you provide screenshots of the issue? Before attaching information about the issue, please run

files:scan --all

on your server to update the database links. It is recommended that no one interact with the system during this operation.

[Oyasumi]

I have performed the full scan and got the result below:

---

After this, I tried resyncing my folders using Windows NextCloud client, and those folders still exists.

Note: These folders are visible on both the server side and my own computer, with status “Synced”

[Mario_user]

Thank you for sharing your details with me. Please allow me to report the issue you’re experiencing to the developers so they can investigate it further. In the meantime, I kindly ask you to wait for my follow-up while I discuss it with them.

I also recommend checking that all Nextcloud plugins are fully up to date, and try deleting those folders as if they had been created by a regular user. I believe this might help resolve the issue.
I’ll be waiting for your confirmation.

[Oyasumi]

I’ve already updated my NextCloud instance and all the installed plugins to the latest version, but nothing happened and those folders are still there.

Still, I have to say that the good news is that the at least the latest Windows client now doesn’t create new duplicated folders anymore.

For those already created, I think I would leave them along for now because finding and deleting them manually could be quite time consuming lol

[isabelkl19]

Issue description:

We are experiencing a problem with our Nextcloud server.
We maintain a folder structure on the server, and users have the Nextcloud desktop client installed on their local machines to synchronize those folders.

In recent days, some users have reported that certain folders (for example, a folder named “Hola Mundo”) now contain another folder inside with the exact same name (“Hola Mundo”).

This issue does not occur for all users, only for some of them.
We would like to understand why this happens and how to prevent it.

[wwe]

Hello @isabelkl19, welcome to the Nextcloud community!

please use search it’s easy to find another topics like Desktop client version 4.0.0 is creating subfolder in each folder with identical name and Nextcloud creating duplicate folders inside itself, recursively, for any sync after upgrading to v4.0.0 Windows Desktop Client - so I now merge your question there.

[Mario_user]

Hi,

@Oyasumi you’re right. After updating the Nexcloud plugin to version 4.0.1, the duplicate folders weren’t deleted. We’ve verified that scanning all files and folders on the server using the occ command doesn’t fix the problem.

[rcorte]

Hello everyone, how are you?

We performed a test for the subfolder duplication issue in NextCloud starting from version 4.0.0. After installing version 4.0.1, we forced a sync and it created folders with the same root names inside the Group Folders.

Uninstalling the 4.0.1 client

Installing version 4.0.0

Using the TeamShare named “Teste - Duplicação”

I will create several folders inside it and observe the behavior

After that, update to version 4.0.1 and check how it behaves

Apparently, the client should correct the folder visualization on Windows, but due to some process it may be creating duplicate folders, which is why they appear on the web.

I used the 4.0.0 client and created some folders, and they were duplicated

I updated to version 4.0.1 and they were still displayed

The folders only disappeared when I synced something new in that folder — it seems like it performs a scan and updates according to what exists on the server side

Could you please advise us on the best way to correct visualization issues for users who are experiencing this problem?

[wwe]

hello @rcorte there is a reason why mods and many helpers spend lot of time in the forum to help users solve their issues. use search or least open your eyes - since a week there is a pinned post describing the problem!

i merge your topics there.

[Munro]

Hi,

directly since updating to version 4.0.0 of the Windows desktop client, I see the following behavior not present before:

1. I save or update a file (either through the Windows Explorer or through saving, e.g., a Word file).
2. Then subfolders are created automatically in each folder, going the whole way back to the name of my login, e.g.:

Login name: MyCloud

File: \Nextcloud\vacation_pictures\june\1.jpg

Then the following folders are created automatically:

Folder 1: \Nextcloud\vacation_pictures\june\june

Folder 2: \Nextcloud\vacation_pictures\vacation_pictures

Folder 3: \Nextcloud\MyCloud

All newly created folders are empty.

I tried restarting the PC and the client, still the same. The issues is present at two different PCs.

Maybe you can retrace the issue and solve it in the next version.

If you need any more information, please let me know!

Best

[Munro]

Update: The foldersare not being syncronized to the server / other clients. They only appear at the respective client.