Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Windows: Complete Guide
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Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
November 3rd, 2025 - Read Time
6 minutes
User Query: “How can I find and delete duplicate files on Windows computer? My system storage is getting full, and I want to clean up unnecessary copies of files easily.”
Summary: Duplicate files are one of the main reasons why your PC storage gets filled up so quickly. Over time, we often download, copy, or backup the same files multiple times without realizing it. These duplicates take up valuable space and make it difficult to manage your data efficiently. In this complete guide, you’ll learn how to find and remove duplicate files from Windows. You can either use the manual method or a professional DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder and Remover Tool. We’ll explain simple methods that anyone can follow, even without technical knowledge.
Real-Life Scenario:
Edeny, a college student, noticed that her laptop was running out of space even though she hadn’t downloaded many new files. She decided to check her folders and found multiple copies of the same photos, music, and project documents saved in different locations. Instead of deleting them one by one, she used the DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover. Within a few minutes, the tool scanned her entire system, showed all duplicate files, and allowed her to delete them safely.
Instant Steps to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Windows
- Install and open the DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover.
- Choose to scan for Duplicate Photos or Duplicate Files/Documents.
- Select All Files or use Custom Scan for specific types like images & more.
- Add folders or choose Scan Whole Computer, then click Scan.
- Use Auto Remove for quick cleanup or View Results to delete manually.
- Lastly, select duplicates, apply actions, and export results to a CSV file if needed.
Why It’s Important to Remove Duplicate Files on PC
Duplicate files are exact or similar copies of your photos, videos, documents, or other data stored in different folders. They may not seem harmful, but they can cause several problems, such as:
- It takes unnecessary disk space.
- This makes your system run slower.
- Confusing data organization or backup.
- Also, it causes sync issues with cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive.
By deleting these duplicate files, you can free up storage, improve system performance, and keep your files neatly organized.
Manual Method to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Windows
If you don’t want to install any third-party software, you can use File Explorer to search for and remove duplicate files. Steps to Find Duplicate Files Manually:
- Firstly, open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E.
- Then, go to the folder where you want to check for duplicates.
- In the search bar, type a file extension like .jpg, .pdf, or .mp4.
- After that, change the view to Details by clicking on the View tab.
- Further, sort files by Name, Size, or Date Modified.
- Compare files visually, and if you find duplicates, right-click and delete the unnecessary copies.
Note: Be careful while deleting files. Some may be system or program-related. Always double-check before removing them permanently. In addition, this method also contains several limitations.
Limitations: Manually Command to Find Duplicate Files in Windows
- There is no built-in option to auto-detect duplicate files.
- It takes a lot of time to search and compare files manually.
- High risk of deleting important or system files by mistake.
- You can’t detect duplicates with different file names.
- With the manual method, no side-by-side preview to confirm duplicates.
- Moreover, not suitable for bulk file cleanup.
Professional Tool to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Windows
To avoid all the limitations of the manual method, you can use the reliable DRS Duplicate File Finder & Remover. This tool allows you to scan the whole computer or a custom folder to detect duplicate files. Offer several delete options, like Retain Oldest, Retain Newest, or Clear All Selection. Also, it has a simple interface, which means every user can easily perform it without needing any technical skills. Apart from that, the demo version is available to evaluate its features & performance.
One-Time Service Option
The DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover offers a one-time service option. Perfect for users who want to clean up their PC without long-term commitments. With this option, you can:
- Perform a complete system scan once to find and remove all duplicate files.
- Enjoy full access to advanced features during the cleanup process.
- Ensure safe and accurate deletion without needing a recurring license.
- Pay only once for a single-use service, no subscriptions or renewals required.
Detailed Steps to Clean Duplicate Files in Windows: Hassle-Free
- First, download and install the DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover on your computer, then open the tool.
- Now, choose what you want to clean: Duplicate or Similar Photos for images, or Duplicate Files/Documents for other file types.
- Then, select All Files if you want to scan your entire system, or use Custom File Scan to check only specific file types like Documents, Videos, Music, Images, or Archives.
- Afterwards, add the folders you want to scan by dragging and dropping them into the tool, or select Scan Whole Computer to check your full PC. Then click Scan to start.
- Once the scan is done, you can either choose Auto Remove for an instant cleanup or View Detailed Results to review and delete duplicates manually.
- Finally, select the duplicate files you want to delete, choose your preferred action, and if needed, export the results as a CSV file for your records.
Conclusion
In this technical blog post, we explored several methods to find and delete duplicate files on Windows. The manual method is free to use. But it takes too much time and also has several limitations. So, this method is not a reliable solution for many users. That’s why several experts highly recommend using the professional tool. By removing these unwanted copies, you’ll not only free up valuable storage space but also make your system run smoother than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: Duplicate files usually appear when users copy or move files to different folders, download the same file multiple times, or back up data repeatedly. Syncing with cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive can also create extra copies unintentionally.
Ans: You can use a tool like DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover, which scans your PC and removes duplicates in just a few clicks.
Ans: Yes. With the Auto Remove feature in the DRS Duplicate File Finder & Remover tool, you can automatically delete duplicate files. The tool also lets you keep only the latest or oldest versions of files, ensuring no important data is lost.
Ans: The DRS Softech Duplicate File Finder & Remover is one of the best tools available. It offers deep scanning, quick results, multiple filter options, and an easy interface. You can try its free demo version to analyze and clean duplicate files safely before upgrading to the full version.
