How to Find and Delete Duplicates in Google Photos and Google Drive on Windows Like a Pro

Google Drive does not have a dedicated method like iCloud Photos for detecting duplicate photos or files. You must use manual search processes or third-party apps to find and remove these copies if you want to reclaim space. I’ll show simple ways to scan Google Drive, remove duplicates, and avoid deduplication in the future.

How to Delete Duplicates in Google Drive

Let’s start with Google Drive. I’ll be explaining three ways to find and remove duplicates in Google Drive. They include the following:

Let’s cover these methods one after the other.

❓ Are search filters effective for finding duplicates in Google Drive?

Yes, Google Drive’s search field can help you find duplicate files if these files bear similar names. In many cases, duplicates are easily identifiable because Google attaches a copy of prefix to copies. You can also use filters and previews to spot identical files.

Here’s how to find duplicate files in Google Drive using search filters:

• Open Google Drive and click the filter icon in the search field. The search field is located at the top of the page.
• Depending on what you know about the duplicates you want to find, you can define search parameters by selecting file type, location, date modified, item names, and others.

• Click Search to show results.
• Select Grid layout to show file previews, which allows you to visually compare files.

• Now, to select multiple files, click the first file, hold the Shift keyboard button, and then click the other files. You can click files at the end of different rows.
• Go to the top of the page and click the Delete button.

You can always go to the Trash folder to see removed files and permanently delete them.

❓Are there dedicated Google Drive duplicate file finders?

Yes, there are dedicated Google Drive duplicate finders that run web-based searches on your drive folders to help you detect and remove file duplicates.

Here’s a quick overview of web-based tools and desktop apps that can help you deduplicate Google Drive files:

How to use Filerev to find duplicates in Google Drive

Using Filerev involves signing into your Google account and granting the tool access to your files, as I mentioned. Here’s how to find duplicate files in Google Drive using the web application:

• Open Filerev’s website and click the Get My Free Scan button.
• Click Sign in with Google.
• Select your Google account on the next page if you’re already signed in to Google on your browser. If not, enter your Google account’s login credentials.
• Click the Continue button to grant Filerev access to your Google account’s files.
• Next, read the terms and conditions and click Agree & Continue.
• You can now choose which folders to scan. If you’re using the free version, you cannot select specific folders. Instead, you can only scan your entire drive.
• Click Start the Scan.
• The tool will now scan Google Drive and display a report.
• Scroll down and select the Duplicate Files button. It shows how many duplicate files were found.
• Go to the top of the list, click the drop-down arrow next to the Select button, and choose Oldest or Newest, depending on which files you want to remove.
• Click the Delete button.

• The program will move selected files to your Google Drive’s Trash folder. Just as the prompt indicates, files shared with you but not owned by you will only be removed from your drive.

How to use Sorcim Cloud Duplicate Finder for scanning Google Drive

Like Filerev, Sorcim Cloud Duplicate Finder requires access to your drive files. However, you must first sign up to the platform.

Here’s the complete process:

• Open the Cloud Duplicate Finder homepage.
• Select a sign-up option. You can use your Google or Microsoft account or create an account with another email address.
• After signing up, select Google Drive at the top of the tool’s interface.
• Next, click Add New Drive , select your Google Drive account, and click the Continue button when Google asks for permission.
• After permission is granted, your drive’s folders will appear in the tool’s left navigation pane.
• Now, check the boxes for the folders you want to scan. You can check the Google Drive box if you intend to scan the entire drive.
• Click the Scan button in the top-right corner.
• Once the duplicate files appear, you can select which ones to delete manually or use the Select Duplicates button for automatic selections.
• Click Select Action to permanently delete or move the files if you’re a subscriber.
• You can also copy and paste the links beside the duplicate files in another browser tab to manually delete duplicates.

How to use Ashisoft Duplicate File Finder for cleaning Google Drive

Ashisoft Duplicate File Finder is a desktop app that integrates with Google Drive. It also prompts you to sign in to Google and provide access to your files. You can try it out to check if it works for you.

Here’s how:

• Go to Ashisoft’s website to download Duplicate File Finder.
• Once the setup file is downloaded, run it to install the program.
• Once the tool is installed, launch it and select the Cloud button.
• Now, click the arrow beside Google Drive.
• Your default web browser will now open and ask you to choose a Google account or sign in.
• Once you’ve selected an account, allow the tool to access your drive’s folders and files.
• Return to the app. Your folders should now appear under Google Drive. Now, drag the folders you want to scan to the right side of the app under Search Folders.
• Click the Start Search button.
• Once the search completes, select Keep Oldest or Keep Newest to automatically select the files you want to remove and keep. You can also choose Let Me Select to choose manually.
• Click the Delete button.

❓Can desktop duplicate file finders remove duplicates in Google Drive?

Yes. Duplicate file finders for Windows can help you find and remove duplicate files from Google Drive as long as your drive folders are synced with Windows and appear in File Explorer. The method is similar to detecting and deleting duplicate files in Windows.

Here’s an overview of the best desktop apps to use:

➡️ First of all: Sync your Google Drive Folder with Windows

To use the tools that follow, you must sync Google Drive with Windows so that your drive folders appear in File Explorer. Follow these steps if you don’t know how to do that:

• Go to Google’s download page for Drive and click Download Drive for desktop.
• Once the installer is downloaded, run it.
• When you see the installation window, select your shortcut preferences and click Install.

• Click the Launch button after the installation is completed.
• Click the Get Started button and select Sign in.

• If you’re already logged into your Google account on your default browser, select your account. If not, sign in.

• After selecting your account, click the Sign in button on the permissions page.
• Once you get the Success! notification, return to the Drive window.
• Now, you can select the folders you want to sync with Drive or skip the process entirely.
• You can also skip the Back up photos and videos to Google Photos option or choose a folder to back up.

• Click Next and select Open Drive.
• Select the Open Drive folder button in the top-left corner to see your drive folder in File Explorer.

How to use Auslogics Duplicate File Finder

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder is a dedicated desktop app designed primarily to clean up local drives. But since Google Drive shows up as a drive in Windows when you sync it with your system, you can use Auslogics DFF to reclaim Google Drive space.

These steps will show you how to find and delete duplicate files in Google Drive using Auslogics Duplicate File Finder:

• Go to the download page of Auslogics Duplicate File Finder to download the program.
• Install the tool after downloading the setup.
• Next, launch the program and click Start Scan.

• Select your Google Drive under This PC and deselect other drives.

• Go to the right side of the screen to choose your scan preferences. Click Next after selecting your choices from each page.
• Now, click the Search button.

• The tool will now scan your synced folders for duplicates.
• Click View Results when the scan completes.
• Use the Select Files in Group or Select Files in All Groups buttons to select multiple duplicates at once and click the Delete Selected Files button to send duplicates to the Recycle Bin or Rescue Center or permanently delete them.

How to delete Duplicate Files in Google Drive using AllDup

AllDup is an open-source duplicate file finder that focuses on finding duplicate files in local drives. However, if you sync Google Drive such that it appears as a drive, you can use the tool to scan it.

Follow these steps to use the tool:

• Go to the AllDup website to download the tool. You can get the setup or portable package.
• Once you’ve installed or extracted the program, launch it.
• If you want to scan your entire synced Google Drive, check the box beside your drive and click the Start Search button.
• However, if you want to pick specific folders, click the arrow beside Source Folders and select Add folder. From there, expand Google Drive and select the folder you want to scan.

• Once the folder appears under Drives/Folders, ensure only your selections are checked before clicking the Start Search button.

• After the scan completes, click the arrow beside the selection icon, choose an auto-select option, and click the file manager icon at the top row.

• Select your removal options and click the OK button.

How to delete duplicates in Google Drive using dupeGuru

dupeGuru makes it to this list because it is available for macOS, Linux, and Windows. It doesn’t have the best security options and user interface, but it gets the job done. Here’s how to use the tool:

• Go to the DupeGuru website to download and install the program.
• Once installed, click the arrow at the bottom of the program to add your Google Drive folder.

• Once the folder is added, you can select it or expand it and choose subfolders to scan. Click the Scan button.

• DupeGuru’s Mark menu allows you to mark multiple files, but it is quite limited. Mark All selects duplicates, while Invert Marking allows you to choose the opposite of your current selections.

• Click Actions and select a removal option.

How to Delete Duplicate Photos in Google Photos

As mentioned, images backed up with Google Photos are not visible in Google Drive, even though they use the same Google Drive storage allocation. The problem with Google Photos is that most of your backups are treated as new files if you make slight edits, such as name changes.

Since finding duplicates in Google Photos is a different kettle of fish, I’ll show workarounds within Photos itself and third-party duplicate file finders:

❓Are there methods to find duplicates in Google Photos on the web?

Yes. By default, Google Photos shows you picture thumbnails that make identification easy. You can select duplicates by clicking each photo’s top-left corner.

Once you select one duplicate, you can click any subsequent photo to continue your selections. You can also hold the Shift key to mass-select multiple pictures at once.

The following tips will help you locate and detect duplicates:

• Use Google Collections to find duplicate photos: Google Photos categorizes images by people’s faces and location.
• You can click People and select a face to see every picture where a person appears. You can also select places to check photos taken from a specific location.

• Now, select multiple pictures and click the Delete button.
• Click Move to trash after that.

• Use the search box. If you carefully named your backed-up photos, you can enter those names in the search box to find duplicates.

❓Can I delete duplicate Photos in Google Photos using third-party duplicate finders?

Yes. This method involves downloading your entire Google Photos library and scanning the downloaded files for duplicates. Here are the steps you can take:

• Once you open photos.google.com, select the first photo (click the top-left corner).
• Now, hold the Shift keyboard key, scroll down, and click the last photo.
• Click the three dots in the top-right corner and select Download or press Ctrl + Don your keyboard.
• Google Drive will download the selected images as a zip folder.

• Extract the ZIP folder, and use a desktop duplicate file finder to scan it using any of the options I explained earlier under the Google Drive section.
• After that, reupload your photos to Google Photos.

How Can I Avoid Duplicates in Google Drive and Google Photos

These tips can help you avoid filling up your storage with duplicate files and images:

• Try sticking with one folder for Google Photos backups if you must back up your photos from Windows. Avoid the Backup & sync feature for multiple devices.
• Avoid syncing folders with photos on Windows, especially if these photos are backed up to Google Photos.
• Practice good file management and organization habits. Name your files and folders appropriately. Also, organize your file and folder names so that your computer or device will alert you when you’re about to create duplicates.
• Avoid resaving edited versions before removing originals unless you need both.

Find and Delete Duplicate Google Drive Files and Photos to Save Valuable Drive Space

It’s unfortunate that Google has yet to provide built-in deduplication features. However, I’ve used desktop and web-based duplicate file finders to locate and remove duplicates from my Drive in the past. Google Photos is where the real headache resides, since it lacks third-party support. Be that as it may, the manual process still works, even if it can be time-consuming.

If you have a fast internet connection, downloading your library and reuploading it can be quite effective. Just remember to delete the library after you have downloaded it.

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