Windows 10: What is the meaning of the red dot (X) on file folders ? How does one clear them? I see not...

Red dots with a x have appeared on my file folders after transferring pictures from a back up drive to a new dell system, What do they mean? How do I correct ? files look ok but some of the pictures are not opening on their own.

:)

 

what does red x mean in file explorer?


I just purchased a new laptop with presumably latest Windows 10. Working through some stuff I now see red circles with an "X" inserted by some File Explorer folders - some very important like "Documents". I tried restarting File Explorer and rebooting the computer but the symbols remain. Also, trying to access some files that I thought were saved are missing. Maybe I didn't actually save them or maybe there's another problem like trying to save to an "X"d folder.

What do these troubling symbols mean and how can I return to a clean File Explorer?

ADDED LATER:

Still looking for a solution I found here that the problem may be related to MSFT One Drive, which I was working with when the problem surfaced. As far as I can tell from the help, the "sync" operation is working. One Drive works okay on my desktop machine and no red x has ever shown previously or now.

Then, I see that the avast antivirus program may use a red x? see the screen capture. but Avast says no threats. Also, McAfee came preloaded on this new laptop and I'm unfamiliar with it's notifications and maybe the red x means that Avast is not working because McAfee is??

just some more clues.....

 

File Explorer shows red "x" mark at a folder name

File Explorer shows red "x" mark next to a folder symbol, however this folder is accessible and seems all right. What does red "x" mark mean? Thank you

 

Red X symbol in front of Documents folder

Hi Rhonda_M

That red X, if it is in the bottom left corner of the Documents Icon, means OneDrive has not been successful in syncing that folder, there may be just one file in that folder which OneDrive cannot sync . .

The documents folder contains a lot of application data that is specific to each user. your best option is to have a folder inside the documents folder for all your files

Then in OneDrive Settings remove the documents folder form the list of synced items and add that folder winch contains only your files . . .