In the past, computers were not able to hold that much information at all. Today, however, it’s not uncommon for the average person today to have thousands of pictures on their devices.
Finding duplicate photos on your device is essential when it comes to maximizing your available storage space. However, not everybody knows the best way to search for them.
We’ve put together a guide that details everything you should know. Let’s take a look at how to search for duplicate files.
Why Do Duplicate Files Exist?
There’s a large handful of reasons why you may have duplicate files on your device. One of the most common that people encounter is an accidental additional download.
For instance, you might click a download link multiple times without meaning to, leading your computer to download multiple copies of the same file.
May also encounter duplicate files if a program uses a specific file on your computer for a particular process. In these scenarios, the application would use the source file as a reference and may accidentally copy it due to a bug or oversight.
Of course, you may also download or place a file on your computer that you already have without remembering that it already exists on your device.
What Drawbacks Can They Have?
Duplicate files can be highly inconvenient. Most notably, they take up an extra amount of space on your device.
If you have a large number of duplicate files on your computer, you could easily find yourself in a situation where you have far less storage than you anticipated. Those who have computers with smaller hard drives may not be able to add necessary files in the future under some circumstances.
Of course, having a large number of the same files can make it more difficult to navigate through your folders. So, there is something to be said about the additional level of convenience associated with removing copies of the same file.
How Can I Search for Them?
Unfortunately, many people are overwhelmed when it comes to how they look for duplicates on their computers. More often than not, they simply don’t know where to start.
You will be pleased to learn that it’s not as complicated as it seems. Let’s explore the two primary methods of doing so.
Manual Search
Manual searching can be effective in some cases. Of course, this is particularly true for those who do not have an abundance of files on their computer.
If you’re using a Mac, you can start by opening the Finder application. Afterward, you will want to navigate to File -> New Smart Folder.
In the upper right corner, you can then click the +. This will allow you to search through all of the files on your computer based on certain criteria.
For instance, you can sort all of your files based on their file type. Many people choose to do this when looking for a particular photo, for example.
When searching through your files in this matter, it’s recommended that you pay close attention to the date the file was added or created. Otherwise, you may inadvertently delete a file that you need by mistaking it for a duplicate.
The process for those who have Windows computers is highly similar. By pressing F3, you can open search functionality on your device.
This can allow you to search for and sort the files on your computer. As you might guess, it’s in your best interest to sort your files by a specific attribute. The creation date, overall size, and the last date of modification are all recommended.
If you are positive that you located a duplicate file, you can simply delete it from one of these interfaces depending on which operating system you’re using.
Using an Application
Using an application to locate copies of the same file is much more efficient. This is due to the fact that these programs are specifically designed to find identical files anywhere on your device.
These applications function by scanning your entire computer for files that have identical attributes. This means that it will look for files that were created on the same day and also have the same exact size.
This will allow the program to prevent false positives, something that could accidentally erase important files on your computer under this circumstance.
These applications even present duplicate files within an interface so that you can delete them directly from the scan results. This provides a high level of convenience that shouldn’t be overlooked.
When searching for the program you use, it’s imperative that you check what other people have had to say about it. If you simply download the first program you encounter, you run the risk of infecting your device with a virus.
Looking for a reliable application that can help you do so? You can check out this resource to learn more about the Gemini app.
Knowing How to Search for Duplicate Files Can Seem Overwhelming
The good news, however, is that it’s not nearly as difficult as you might think. The above information about how to search for duplicate files will be an essential resource in the future if you find yourself needing to do so.
Looking for more tips that can help you out later on? Check out the rest of our blog for plenty of more useful information.
