A program for finding identical files on a computer. The best programs to find duplicate (identical) files

No matter how voluminous modern hard drives are, unfortunately, they still cannot stretch.

For those who like to randomly download various content to their computer, this means that sooner or later Windows will display a message about the impossibility of copying or saving a particular file due to lack of free space.

Program for finding duplicate files

In this case, willy-nilly you have to make a choice: buy an external hard drive, move files and DVDs, or simply delete some content to make room for new data. However, there is no need to rush. One of the most common reasons for lack of space on a hard drive is duplication of files.

It happens that a user, forgetting that a file has already been downloaded, downloads it again, possibly under a different name and with different metadata.

That’s why it’s so important to search for duplicate files before freeing the disk from “ballast.”

Duplicate Cleaner

This can be done using the Duplicate Cleaner program, specially designed to find duplicate files of different types. Thanks to this powerful and effective tool, you can get rid of duplicate videos, audio, test files, photos and other types of files in a matter of minutes. Duplicate Cleaner differs from similar programs in its high speed and accuracy.

In addition, the program supports a wide variety of filters that allow you to search by specified parameters - name, extension, metadata, etc. It is also worth noting the ability to search on network drives and inside Zip archives, preview duplicates (images only), save performed operations in a log, and export work results to CSV format.

Anti-Twin

Duplicate Cleaner is not the only program that can find and remove duplicate files. Anti-Twin is a free, fast utility that looks for duplicates just as well.

To start the search, just specify the section or directory being analyzed and click the start button - Anti-Twin will display a list of duplicates indicating the full path, number of objects, date and size.

The utility supports search by specified criteria, matching level (in percentage), image preview, quick transition to what was found and many other additional functions.

One of the features of this utility is the ability to compare two directories. Anti-Twin can be used as a portable application. Unfortunately, Anti-Twin does not have the Russian language, so setting up some options may cause some difficulties for a user who is not familiar with English.

SMF – Search my Files

Quite a powerful and functional program for finding duplicates. A distinctive feature of this application is a huge number of various filters and settings. SMF – Search my Files supports searching by size, extension, metadata and many other criteria. Thanks to this application, you can extract and analyze alternative ADS streams from any file type.

Found duplicates can be deleted (including without the possibility of recovery), moved, copied, changed its attributes (hidden, read-only, archived, etc.). It also supports exporting to a test format, viewing and editing data in the built-in hexadecimal editor, and searching on the command line. SMF – Search my Files does not require installation and can be launched from any media.

Bottom line

Which of these three duplicate finder programs is the best? Hard to tell. It all depends on what goals you are pursuing and what level of training you have.

Anti-Twin and SMF – Search my Files are good, but due to many specific functions they are more suitable for use by advanced users and system administrators.

This program will help you quickly and easily remove duplicate files from your computer's hard drive. With this tool, you can clear your computer of duplicate files, free up disk space, and improve the performance of your PC. Duplicate Remover Free is a very simple utility with an intuitive interface. Open the installation file, select the folder where you want to install the program, and after a couple of minutes you will be able to work with it. After starting the program, specify the folder or drive where you want to search for duplicates and click the "Start" button. On the next tab you will see the results of searching for duplicate files. All you have to do is mark those that you don’t need and give the program the command to delete them. As you can see, everything is very simple.

Removing copies of files that are clogging your hard drive

Why delete identical files? This free program will be simply irreplaceable if the user works intensively on a computer or laptop. For example, you should use it regularly if you create and edit a large number of different documents. When changing files, users often save the original document just in case, and store the new version either in a different folder or under a different name. Over time, the need for the original version of the file disappears, but, as a rule, they forget to delete the original file. As a result, multiple copies of files are stored on the computer's hard drive, which clutters the hard drive, causes confusion, and takes up a lot of free disk space. This program, which searches for clones, will very quickly find all duplicate files and delete them.

Automatic and safe removal of duplicates

Very often, users prefer to search for duplicate files manually, fearing that the program that searches and removes duplicates will automatically delete some important duplicate files. These fears are in vain, since this utility cannot delete anything without the user’s knowledge. The program deletes only those duplicate files that the user himself has marked for deletion. When working with this utility that searches for duplicate files, it is important to remember that the resulting report shows all versions of the files, including the original. Therefore, when marking files for deletion in the resulting list, you must leave at least one of them.

Using minimal PC resources

Duplicate Remover Free is the best software for finding and removing duplicates also because it is free. The version of the program, which you can download from the link below, does not require registration and is absolutely free. The intuitive interface of this utility allows even novice PC users to work with it. The program is easy to install, takes up little space on your hard drive and uses a minimum of system resources. This tool is suitable for use on any version of the Windows operating system, including Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.

Everyone has a folder on their computer in which they store various photographs or images, and it often happens that duplicates of such files appear on the hard drive. The question immediately arises of how to quickly get rid of them. The article will list a number of programs that are able to perform such actions quickly and efficiently.

It is a simple and easy-to-use program that can search in several ways and create galleries from selected images. What sets it apart from other tools is the presence of an assistant window, which makes using Duplicate Photo Finder even easier. Among the disadvantages are paid distribution and the lack of Russian language.

Duplicate Photo Cleaner

Duplicate Photo Cleaner is also an easy-to-use program that can also read a wide range of graphic object formats. It has several ways to search for duplicates, and the presence of a Russian-language interface makes it stand out from most of the solutions described here. At the same time, Duplicate Photo Cleaner is paid, and the trial version has very limited capabilities.

Duplicate File Remover

Another powerful tool for finding duplicate photos is Duplicate File Remover. In addition to searching for images, it is also able to scan your computer for other identical files. The capabilities of Duplicate File Remover are significantly expanded by the plugins that are installed with it, but they can only be activated after purchasing a license key. Another drawback is the lack of Russian language in the settings, but this does not prevent you from using Duplicate File Remover for its intended purpose, since all actions here are performed on an intuitive level.

Duplicate File Detector

This is a powerful multitasking program that is able to instantly find identical documents in a specified directory. Duplicate File Detector supports a large number of formats that will be checked during operation. This is the only tool among the ones we reviewed that provides the ability to hash any file, for which there is a built-in hash calculator. Thanks to the latter, you can get the result in 16 hash code options. Using Duplicate File Detector, you can rename a selected group of files according to one of the proposed templates. The program has been translated into Russian, but is paid.

ImageDupeless

ImageDupeless is a powerful tool for finding identical images on your computer. In its functionality, it is very similar to the previously described Duplicate Photo Finder. There is the same assistant, the same search capabilities for identical graphic files, and the function of creating a gallery from images. But ImageDupless has a Russian-language interface, which makes it stand out from the mentioned program. The main disadvantage can be considered paid distribution and the fact that many features are available only after purchase.

DupKiller

DupKiller is one of the best ways to find not only duplicate images, but files in general. It provides the ability to search almost anywhere on the computer, has a very wide range of settings, and supports plug-ins. In addition, it is distributed completely free of charge and translated into Russian, which makes it possible to use it without any restrictions.

AllDup

AllDup is a small free program that is designed to search for identical (including graphic) objects on the hard drive. It supports a large list of formats, which guarantees a high-quality search for duplicates. AllDup will also be an excellent option for computers that are used by several people at the same time. What sets it apart from the rest is the ability to create multiple profiles with specific settings. This feature will greatly save users time that would otherwise be spent on reconfiguring the program. You can also add to the list of positive qualities of AllDup the presence of the Russian language and free distribution by the developer.

DupeGuru Picture Edition

Using DupeGuru Picture Edition, the user will receive a free, simple and uncomplicated search engine for duplicate photos on a computer with a Russian-language interface. Among the additional features, it is worth highlighting that here you can export the results obtained to a browser or to a CSV format that is read by .

Dup Detector

Dup Detector is probably the simplest utility on the list provided. It does not have the Russian language and any additional features other than creating galleries from images, but at the same time it provides a choice of several options for searching for duplicate photos. In addition, Oak Detector is distributed by the developer completely free of charge and supports a large list of graphic formats.

This article reviewed programs that can be used to quickly and effortlessly detect duplicate photos on your hard drive and delete them permanently. Let everyone decide for themselves which tool to use, but it’s worth knowing that any of them will 100% cope with the task.

What a pity that hard drives are not rubber! I wanted to download a couple of movies for the weekend and install a new game on my PC, but it’s a shame - I’m almost out of free space. And you can’t free it, because only the important and necessary are stored on the disk.

Chin up! You can increase the amount of free space by 5-50% without the risk of losing valuable information. How? By deleting identical copies of documents, photographs, audio recordings, videos and other goodness, of which several hundred accumulate over a year of computer operation. So, how to find and remove duplicate files in Windows

Unfortunately, the disk cleaning tool built into the system is not “trained” to search for identical copies of data, and we will have to turn our attention to third-party applications. Today's review includes 5 free utilities that do this job quickly, clearly and cleanly.

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder

Just the fact that it declares a certain level of quality and claims to be trusted by users. The program supports all editions of Windows, is regularly updated, has a Russian language and is very easy to learn. To find duplicates, it uses a special intelligent algorithm - it compares not only names, but also the internal contents of files, which guarantees highly accurate results.

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder Features and Capabilities

Setting up a filter by object type: all or only images, audio, video, archives and applications.
Excludes files smaller and larger than a specified size from the search.
Excluding names, file creation/modification dates, and “hidden” attributes from the search criteria.
Finding duplicates with specific names or a given fragment in a name.
3 ways to delete duplicates: to the trash, permanently and by saving to the archive.
Recovering data from an archive.
Preview objects before deleting.
Support for custom exclusion lists from scanning files and folders.
Restore the system to a restore point from the program interface.

Using Auslogics Duplicate File Finder is easy and convenient. In addition, you don’t have to worry that the program will destroy any data without your knowledge and the possibility of recovery (unless you yourself have chosen the option to delete bypassing the trash can). The impression is spoiled only by the “unobtrusive” offer to install other products of the developer, which sometimes appears at startup.

CloneSpy

The utility is designed to search for duplicate files not only on the hard drive, but also on portable drives. It is a little more difficult to use than Auslogics Duplicate File Finder, but it is more functional and can work without installation on a computer - when running the installer, the user can choose its standard or portable version.

CloneSpy Features and Capabilities

Supports any file types.
Search for duplicates by identical content or the same name in combination with other criteria - extension, name, size.
Finding objects of zero length.
Many options for operations with copies of files: manual or automatic deletion (you can select in advance which object to delete - new or old), placing in a specific folder, creating a list of duplicates without deleting, etc.
Any operations with found duplicates (including deferred ones) using batch command files.
Replacing deleted copies with shortcuts or hard links.
Calculation of checksums to be able to check objects for identity.
Support for custom search filters.

CloneSpy functions quickly and smoothly, supports all versions of Windows, regularly receives updates, but does not have a Russian language, which makes it somewhat difficult to master. In addition, some users are put off by the Windows 98-style interface.

Soft4Boost Dup File Finder

The developers of the utility took care not only of functionality, but also of the beauty of their product: 11 stylish design options (skins) are at your service. In addition, the application is translated into 9 languages, including Russian, and has intuitive controls.

Soft4Boost Dup File Finder gets down to business right away - when you first launch it, a wizard window opens in the background of the main window, which will guide you step by step through all the setup steps. You won't be able to get confused and make mistakes.

Functions and features of Soft4Boost Dup File Finder

Finding copies of objects by content.
Select a search category: among all files or only images, audio, video, archives or applications.
Option to ignore object names.
Scan local and network folders, as well as removable media (you can select several).
2 ways to delete: to the trash and permanently.

Unlike many “free” applications that try to recoup their free nature by installing garbage or intrusively displaying advertising, Soft4Boost Dup File Finder only modestly offers to buy products from the same developer in bulk for 1,399 rubles. If you don't need them, just don't click on the banner.

Like the rest of the programs in today's review, Soft4Boost Dup File Finder supports all versions of Windows and is updated regularly.

AllDup

The utility is not as intuitive as the previous one, but it is rich in functions. Without the Russian language, not everyone would be able to master all the features in 5 minutes. Although there is nothing complicated in this program. When you first start it, a small prompt opens along with the main window - the “Quick Start” window with three buttons: “Select source folder”, “Select search method” and “Start search”. Pressing these buttons in turn opens areas where you need to select or configure something.

Users who speak English can learn AllDup using the built-in help, which opens in the right place by clicking on the question icons.

AllDup functions and capabilities

A large list of search criteria: name, extension, size, content, creation and modification dates, file attributes, hard links, similar images. Search by a combination of several criteria.
Scanning the contents of archives (finding individual duplicates in archives).
Customizable way to compare object names: by complete match, by the initial characters in the name, by a specified number of matching characters, etc.
Finding files with similar names.
Comparison of file contents.
Flexible search options with the ability to select additional actions before and after it.
Maintaining a scan log.
Flexibly customizable filter for ignoring objects.
Creating a hard link or shortcut to the saved file in place of the deleted duplicate.
No restrictions on the number of directories scanned.
Scanning removable media.
Preview of found files with display of various parameters - in case of difficulty when making a decision about deletion.
Compiling convenient lists of search results. Export lists to txt or csv format.
Saving the scan result. Allows you to close the program without waiting for the scan to complete. And after restarting, start not from the beginning, but from the moment you stopped.
Create and save multiple settings profiles.

AllDup differs from many competitors in its high scanning speed and complete detection of duplicate objects. By the way, thanks to the search for similar files function, the program can be used to find any data on the hard drive without the purpose of deleting it.

Another nice feature of the AllDup utility is the complete absence of advertising. Instead, on the top panel there is a button “Support the author” with any acceptable amount, if you want it yourself.

DiskBoss

It cannot be completely classified as a program for removing duplicate files. This is just one of the functions, in addition to which the utility can do a lot, very much. DiskBoss is a disk space optimizer and advanced file manager. It is designed to analyze the use of drives and manage all the objects that are located on them.

DiskBoss Features and Capabilities

Disk space exploration with a pie chart showing how much space certain objects take up.
Classification, sorting and grouping of files and folders according to multiple criteria, including user rules.
Finding and cleaning duplicates on workstations and servers running Windows. Flexible search criteria.
Several options for dealing with found duplicates - deleting, archiving, moving to another location, etc.
Replacing deleted duplicates with links.
Saving scan reports and cleaning disks from duplicate data in html, excel, pdf, txt, csv and xml formats.
Displaying duplicate search results on pie charts.
Creation and execution of automatic disk cleaning scripts.
Improved disk data search system.
Synchronizes data in specified directories.
Delete groups of files based on specified criteria.
Monitoring changes in the disk file system in real time.
Integrity analysis and other operations with files.
Much more.

DiskBoss is a good choice for those who need a complete picture of the contents and status of their disks, as well as the ability to manage all the data on them using manual and automatic methods. The application comes in a free version and several paid versions, with the first containing almost everything that is in the paid pro version, except for a few automation tools.

Perhaps the only drawback of DiskBoss is the lack of Russian language, but for the sake of such a wealth of functions you can put up with it. Otherwise, the utility is very good, and for some tasks it is irreplaceable.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of programs designed to delete identical copies of files. There are dozens of them, maybe hundreds. However, this modest set is enough to satisfy the needs of 90% of Windows users. I hope that some of them are useful to you too.

Also on the site:

Find and remove duplicate files in Windows using five free programs updated: August 4, 2018 by: Johnny Mnemonic

A program for finding duplicate files is most often needed by users who store a large amount of music, photos and documents on disk.

And, although you can delete such unnecessary copies manually, specialized applications can save a lot of time.

Especially if the files are located in different folders or in .

You can search for such duplicates using universal software or one designed for a specific type of data.

In the first case, the search speed increases, in the second, the probability of finding all copies increases.

Content:

Universal Applications

Universal applications for finding copies mainly work on the principle of comparing file sizes.

And, since the probability of the same number of bytes in different photos is practically zero, identical values are considered a sign of a duplicate.

Sometimes the algorithm provides for checking names - also an important parameter for the search, especially since the same data in most cases also matches by name.

The advantages of the programs are the ability to find files of any type with their help and the relatively high speed of operation. Disadvantage: lower detection accuracy.

So, for example, none of these utilities will consider the same file saved with different resolutions to be a duplicate.

1. DupKiller

And among its advantages we can note:

ease of setup;
setting multiple search criteria;
the ability to ignore certain files (with a certain size or creation date, as well as system or hidden ones).

Important: If files with a size of zero are found, they do not have to be deleted. Sometimes this may be information created on another operating system (for example, Linux).

Rice. 4. CCleaner system optimization program can also search for duplicate files.

5.AllDup

Among the advantages of another program, AllDup, we can note support for any modern Windows operating system - from XP to 10.

At the same time, the search is carried out inside hidden folders, and even in archives.

Although the comparison of information by default occurs by file names, so it is advisable to change the settings immediately.

But during the search process, each duplicate found can be viewed without closing the application.

And if a copy is found, you can not only delete it, but also rename it or move it to another location.

Additional benefits of the application include completely free work for any period of time.

In addition, the manufacturer also produces a portable version in order to search for copies on those computers on which the installation of third-party software is prohibited (for example, on a work PC).

Rice. 5. Search for files using the portable version of AllDup.

6. DupeGuru

Another useful application that searches for duplicates with any extension is DupeGuru.

Its only drawback is the lack of new versions for Windows (although updates for MacOS appear regularly).

However, even a relatively outdated utility copes well with its tasks when working in newer operating systems.

With its help, even system files are easily detected, and the menu is intuitive and in Russian.

Rice. 6. Detecting copies using the DupeGuru utility.

It is noteworthy that, in addition to the usual universal option, the manufacturing company has created a utility for searching for files of a certain type.

There is a separate version for images and another for music.

And, if you need to clean your computer not only from documents and system files (which, by the way, need to be deleted very carefully - sometimes it’s even worth leaving an “extra” copy rather than disrupting the system’s functionality), it’s worth downloading these applications as well.

7. Duplicate Cleaner Free

Duplicate Cleaner Free, a utility for detecting copies of any file, has the following features:

filtering data by extension;
Russian interface language;
possibility of free use;
high speed.

Its disadvantages include minor limitations when searching for images (for this it is recommended to purchase a paid version) and not entirely accurate translation of individual menu elements.

However, due to its effectiveness and ease of use, the application enjoys some popularity.

Rice. 7. Find duplicates using the Duplicate Cleaner Free utility.

Finding duplicate audio files

If the search results for duplicates are not satisfactory for the user, you can consider an option designed for specific files. For example, for accumulated on disk.

This need often arises when downloading several albums and collections of the same artist at once - often the same tracks end up in different folders.

They can have similar sizes and differ, by and large, only in names. Especially for this, there are utilities for searching for similar melodies.

8.Music Duplicate Remover

Among the features of the Music Duplicate Remover program are relatively fast search and good efficiency.

In fact, this application “listens” to the composition and compares it with other audio files.

At the same time, naturally, its operating time is longer than that of universal utilities.

However, the amount of data checked by the program is usually tens of times less, so the average scan duration rarely exceeds a couple of hours.

Rice. 8. Detection of copies of music and audio files by album.

9.Audio Comparer

At the same time, photo analysis also takes longer compared to searching for files of any extension, but the result is worth it.

Images are detected even when there are several duplicates of the same image on the disk, but with different resolutions and, accordingly, sizes.

In addition, to increase efficiency, files with any graphic extensions are scanned - from to .png.

Rice. 11. Search for pictures using another version of DupeGuru.

12. ImageDupeless

Moreover, it is distributed free of charge and has a Russian interface. And the manufacturer periodically releases updates to it, increasing the efficiency of image search.

Rice. 12. Stylish interface of the ImageDupeless application.

13. Image Comparer

The advantages of the Image Comparer application, in addition to its simple interface, include the presence of a step-by-step wizard that allows you to learn how to quickly and efficiently search for images.

This feature distinguishes the utility from most others, to work with which you will have to read help files that are not always correctly translated (and sometimes even provided only in English).

In fact, the application is another version of Audio Comparer, and is also distributed under a “shareware” license - that is, the user will have to pay for certain functions.

Rice. 13. The Image Comparer application is a good way to find duplicate images.