Why is there a Documents folder and Shared Documents folder after upgrading from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2016?

Question

I recently completed an upgrade (db attach) from SharePoint 2010 to SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016. Users now see a "Documents" folder and "Shared Documents" folder under Subsites - Site Contents. I have a user who uses Windows Explorer to manage SharePoint content who noticed more files under "Documents" folder than under "Shared Documents" folder. I assume "Documents" folder is the SharePoint 2016 replacement for "Shared Documents."

Why are there two folders?

Should these folders be mirrored?

Can "Shared Documents" be deleted?

What is best practice for this scenario?

Answer 1

Do you have publishing features activated on one of these sites? I think I have spotted similar behavior when migrating from SharePoint 2010.

A Documents library (and also other libraries) is automatically created if you once had the publishing features activated, and won’t get deleted even if you deactivate the features later.

It is certain that these libraries are all safe to delete if they are not in use. You can just keep them as they are, or merge them into one based on content organizing consideration.