User level: Level 1 (8 points)M3 MacBook Pro Max, macOS 27.0.1, somehow I have duplicate folders in Finder, e.g. Cab, Cab 2, Research, Research 2, Reference, Reference 2. All the duplicated folders ending in 2 are empty. This is every folder throughout my iCloud Drive, not just top level, they're duplicated all the way down the stack.
Any ideas about how this happened and any techniques for getting rid of the duplicated folders ending in 2, other than manually moving them to trash would be appreciated.
Thank you, J
Posted on Oct 4, 2026 5:47 PM
User level: Level 2 (228 points)Oct 5, 2026 8:23 AM in response to jbkendrick
You don't have to drag them out one at a time. A Finder search can gather every "… 2" folder from all levels of iCloud Drive into one list:
1. Open iCloud Drive in a Finder window and press Command-F (that searches only inside the window you're in).
2. A row of criteria shows up under the search field. Set it to Name, then "ends with", and type 2.
3. Click the + at the end of that row and set the new one to Kind is Folder.
Before deleting, skim the list in case one of your real folders also ends in 2 ("Year 2" and the like). Press Command-A, Command-click any you want to keep, then drag the rest to the Trash. Nested "2" folders inside another "2" folder just go along with it. Nothing is gone for good, it all sits in the Trash first.
As for why: when iCloud hits a sync conflict, often right after a macOS update, it sometimes keeps a second copy and adds a 2 instead of merging. I'd wait until iCloud Drive in the sidebar has finished syncing (no progress circle next to it) before cleaning up, otherwise it may bring them back.
— Dmitry · developer of ComfortFiles
User level: Level 1 (8 points)Oct 6, 2026 5:25 PM in response to DmitryRyzhkin
Thank you so much Dmitry for your quick reply and recommendation.
I was able to identify 166 folders ending in 2, and with Quick Look was able to scroll through the list and check for non empty folders which I tagged with purple. I then included a third criteria of tags is not purple which removed those from the list. I then moved all that remained to the trash.
And yes I remember a sync conflict after one of the 26.n point releases, so that is likely what caused it.
Again, really appreciate your help. J
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256370522