Why is my Mac creating hundreds of duplicate documents?

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Level 1

8 points

Why is my Mac creating hundreds of duplicate documents?

Starting March 1, my Mac has begun duplicating Word docs and PDFs (it may be duplicating other types of files too) and putting the duplicates in deep folders. It's taking up a ton of space. Why did it suddenly start doing this? Is there any way to make it stop?

I'd rather stop it from doing this than manually deleting them all over and over.

Several, if not all, are in "Attachments": Macintosh HD > Users > [my name] > Library > Group Containers > UBF8T346G9.Office > Outlook > Outlook 15 Profiles > Main Profile > Files > S0 > 1 > Attachments

...Is this a problem with the Mac trying to communicate with Outlook? Why did it just start?

Thanks in advance for any help.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Apr 26, 2021 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,975 points

Apr 26, 2021 10:09 AM in response to fifdude

Start wit this...

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

EtreCheck is a FREE simple little diagnostic tool to display the important details of your system configuration and allow you to copy that information to the Clipboard. It is meant to be used with Apple Support Communities to help people help you with your Mac. It will not display any personal info.

https://www.etrecheck.com/

Pastebin is a good place to paste the whole report if you capture the URL while there…

https://pastebin.com/

Whew, they've changed pastebin & made it harder, but after pasting in, click Create new paste button, then Embed button, then copy the URL...

<script src="https://pastebin.com/embed_js/KuvnghqA"></script>

The important part of the above is...

https://pastebin.com/embed_js/KuvnghqA

Workable but harder for me to work with...the Note tool on the bottom of this editor's toolbar, as shown in the image, to copy and paste the output from EtreCheck. In a Reply before you click post, look for this to add longer texts...

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Answer 2

fifdude Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 26, 2021 11:05 AM in response to BDAqua

Hi BDAqua,

Thanks for the recommendation. As it's my work computer, I can't download EtreCheck, though I know it's safe. In the meantime, though, I booted it in Safe Mode. I'm not seeing any newly duplicated files yet, but I'll keep looking. If it persists, I'll follow up with IT about EtreCheck and get back to you. Thanks!

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,975 points

Apr 26, 2021 12:30 PM in response to fifdude

Ok my friend, thanks for letting me know so far.:)

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Why is my Mac creating hundreds of duplicate documents?

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