I've renamed project directories on IntelliJ, and now, each launching, it recreates empty directories with the old names and an .iml file inside

Question

I've shortened my projects directories names, using F6 = Refactor → Rename → Directory Name:
Application → App

It worked, but now, each time I'm restarting IntelliJ 2023.3.1, it recreates on disk, and lists in the project window, old directories names among with the renamed ones.

The old directories recreated contain only an .iml file

Destroying them have no effect: they disappear, but they are recreated at the next launching.

Everything is working well, else.
And a Find in Files doesn't mention old directories names anywhere.

I don't understand where they are coming from.

• F4 - Project Structure works on renamed directories
• but not on these recreated old directories, because they aren't really a part of my project

so I have no clue about them.

Running the five steps of Repair IDE after having deleted them have no effect : they are still recreated at the next launching.

I would like to get rid of these recreated old directories.

Answer 1

I write the current workaround I've found:

it's to close IntelliJ, delete the hidden .idea folder at the parent folder of the project, and restart it.

It works, at the cost of loosing all your compilation and project settings.