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10+ Tools for Finding and Deleting Duplicate Files on Windows

By TechSpot Staff on January 30, 2019
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We've covered many ways that you can save space on your storage drives over the
years, most recently discussing how to manually go through large files and testing
cleanup utilities, resetting Windows to its default state without losing your files, and
methods for deleting the Windows.old backup, in all scenarios potentially reclaiming
several gigabytes of storage in the process. Deleting duplicate files on your system could
easily result in clean out that is similarly sizable if only a few large files are found.

Windows doesn't make it easy to deal with duplicate files all by itself. While there are
many options for accomplishing this sort of task with batch files or PowerShell scripts,
we assume most people would prefer something that doesn't involve a command
prompt.

Without installing third party software, your only option is running a search for a specific
file via Windows Explorer and manually deleting the duplicates that appear. This isn't
helpful, of course, if you don't know which files have duplicates.
Those of you using the powerful File Explorer alternative Total Commander may know
already that it includes the ability to search for duplicate files (it's on the second search
page) among the dozens of other features it provides over the Windows File Explorer
aimed at power users.

If you'd rather not add any additional third party software to your system or learn your
way around a new file explorer, it's worth mentioning that CCleaner has a duplicate file
finder built in (Tools > Duplicate Finder), if you happen to use that already. Note however
we're not as fond of CCleaner as we used to be and there are better alternatives these
days.

Third party tools to nd duplicate les

You're probably going to need one of these tools...

CloneSpy

Duplicate Cleaner Pro/Free (15 day trial)

Wise Duplicate Finder

Dupscout
 Advanced Duplicates Finder

Duplicate Finder

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder

Fast Duplicate File Finder

Anti-Duplicate

We've installed all of the above and unless you're after some specific feature, CloneSpy
gets our recommendation for having a light, albeit somewhat cluttered interface.
CloneSpy displays just enough options by default, it's also free and can be run in
"portable" mode without being fully installed, which we tend to like for this kind of utilities.

For a more intuitive interface with simpler functionality than the above, we like Wise
Duplicate Finder:
On the premium end of things, Duplicate Cleaner is easily the most popular duplicate
tool in our download section, touting loads of features and displaying them in a modern-
looking interface that is responsive and scales well with a custom Windows DPI.

If you only plan to run a few quick scans and then uninstall it, the software offers a 15
day trial but costs $29.95 for a lifetime license.
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Although you have to uncheck crapware during its installation, Auslogics Duplicate File
Finder is free and features a GUI that is about as modern feeling as Duplicate Cleaner
yet walks you through the scanning process with a series of prompts instead of opening
to a switchboard full of options.
As a final mention, DupScout seems like a decent alternative to CloneSpy if don't care
about having a portable installation yet want a relatively clean interface that isn't quite as
dated or barren (add a profile on the left to get started).

Visualize Those Large Files

Didn't free up as much space as you thought?
Try looking for large files with one of these drive visualization tools...

SpaceSniffer

WinDirStat

TreeSize Free

Finding Duplicate Files on macOS

Duplicate File Finder Remover on the Mac App Store comes highly recommended, with
a ton of features on top of a very intuitive UI. Some advanced features are available at a
cost, but that's entirely optional.

Two more recommended apps for macOS users: Trend Micro's Dr. Cleaner is free and
offers a disk cleaner and big file finder. While Disk Inventory X is a dedicated tool to
 show the sizes of files and folders in a treemap graph, similar to the Windows example
above.

Other Useful Tips

Productivity Booster: Enable 'Night Mode' on All Your Devices

Where is the Windows 10 Recycle Bin? Removing it from the desktop & putting it
elsewhere

Computer Tips & Tricks Everyone Should Know

5 Ways to Access a Locked Windows Account

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User Comments: 14
Got something to say? Post a comment
noel24 June 26, 2018, 4:06 AM

Duplicate Cleaner up to version 2.0.6 was freeware and not bloated, so if you manage to find a setup file
online, You 're good to go. It's getting harder though, every year, so I'm keeping a copy on like 4 separate
drives. Duplicates of Duplicate Cleaner, LOL.

REPLY

2 people liked this | jobeard TS Ambassador June 26, 2018, 11:21 AM

Be very careful as the whole concept of "a duplicate" is complicated.

A true duplicate has the same Name, File Size and even File Date.
On Windows, a drag-n-drop COPY will create this kind of pure-duplicate.

On a Mac, a COPY changes the new file's date to the moment of the copy.

Then there's a question on Links (aka Short-cuts, aliases).

Both Windows and Mac append a new extension to the file name for Soft Links(Unix/Linux term)
so it's obvious which is the original.

However, BOTH Windows and Mac also support Hard Links too, and this is were duplicates get real
complicated.
Most users never run into Hard Links and this becomes moot, but if you do have Hard Links, it's even hard to
tell!

A Hard Link makes an entry in the file name table and then points to all the data sectors in the original file.
Thus there's TWO Names --> same set of data sectors. Now is this a duplicate? Before you guess, be it known
that either file name, the original or the Hard Link, can be opened for write/update and the changes will be
seen in the other. So an original/Hard-Link is actually ONE FILE, not a dupicate!

So what? Guess what happens if you delete the Hard-Link? YEP, BOTH FILES disappear!

I have yet to find a tool that properly understands Hard-Links!

REPLY

lazer June 28, 2018, 1:36 PM

I use for a long time Duplicate Cleaner Free. I am very satisfied with it and recommend it to others.

REPLY

marekp September 10, 2018, 7:04 PM

Some notices about CCleaner are that it has been hacked. Don't know how it was resolved. ?????
Duplicate Cleaner website says it now addresses hard links; but it also says it DC is for up to Win7, no mention
of Win10. ?????

REPLY

Waco John September 17, 2018, 4:04 PM

I am not a pro software evaluator, but I think ALLDUP ... freeware deserves some mention.

http://www.alldup.de/alldup_help/alldup.php

REPLY

lazer January 3, 2019, 1:48 PM

I have been using Duplicate Cleaner Free (version 3.2.6) for years on win7. It is simple, works and never had a
problem.

I recommend it over CCleaner since it has a simpler and easier interface and does much more....

REPLY

James00007 January 4, 2019, 8:15 AM

Duplicate Cleaner has free versions ( Duplicate Cleaner Free 4.1.0 currently for me) and does the job nicely.
~"*(*).*" in windows search to find chrome numbered duplicates. I thought all trust for CCleaner was gone by
now?

REPLY

Draconian January 31, 2019, 4:54 AM

No mention of which of these programs can find duplicate folders.

Can they all find duplicate folders? I know Duplicate Cleaner can.

REPLY

fktech January 31, 2019, 6:18 AM

My experience: THEY NEVER WORK!!!

REPLY

SSA-Ed January 31, 2019, 1:20 PM

I have a 4-core i7 CPU so I get 4 copies of Notepad.exe and many other files, delete 3 at your own risk
because Windows' programs can use a copy in each core. So I would never allow any software to even look at
files in the Windows or Program* folders.

REPLY

moral hazard January 31, 2019, 2:01 PM

I have a folder with a number of duplicated videos at different resolutions and formats. The only effective
method I've found is to sort by run time. There is no tool that can match videos solely or in part by length.

REPLY

jobeard TS Ambassador January 31, 2019, 2:56 PM

moral hazard said:

I have a folder with a number of duplicated videos at different resolutions and formats. The only effective method I've found
is to sort by run time. There is no tool that can match videos solely or in part by length.

sort by size...

REPLY

jobeard TS Ambassador January 31, 2019, 2:59 PM

Draconian said:
No mention of which of these programs can find duplicate folders.

hmm; problem with the definition here:

duplicate folder NAME
duplicate all containing folder CONTENTS
or both, dup folder name and all contents are duplicates?

REPLY

jobeard TS Ambassador January 31, 2019, 3:02 PM

SSA-Ed said:
I have a 4-core i7 CPU so I get 4 copies of Notepad.exe and many other files, delete 3 at your own risk because Windows'
programs can use a copy in each core. So I would never allow any software to even look at files in the Windows or
Program* folders.

hmm; Each core can access the same program (eg Notepad), but I've never seen a system where each core
has a private copy of a program; eg
Program Files\core1\notepad
Program Files\core2\notepad
Program Files\core3\notepad
 Program Files\core4\notepad

REPLY

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