Search and Remove Duplicate Files on your Windows PC

If you use a new Windows computer, your PC will most likely be free of redundant duplicate files. If, on the other hand, you have used your PC for quite some time now (years maybe), you most definitely have a couple of files that have been duplicated on your device. Having duplicated files on your device eats up your PC’s internal storage space (without your knowledge), leaving little space for important program files to run efficiently.

Why you have Duplicate Files on your PC

Duplication of files on Windows PC could be as a result of:

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  1. User: Yes, it’s possible you put them there. Perhaps you downloaded an image of your friend twice or you clicked the download button twice when you tried to save a file from a webpage. Sometimes, users also assign a file the same name they’ve previously given a dissimilar file/document. These things happen. It could be unintentional but let’s face it: you are the reason you have duplicate files on your PC. And it isn’t a bad thing. We’ve all done it — at least once.
  2. Automatic OS Build-up: Sometimes it’s your PC. They (Windows PCs) build-up redundant duplicate files and saves them up in your hard disk. To protect your PC (and files) against certain types of malware, the Windows OS automatically creates a duplicate of some files and saves them in a private place on your computer. Windows does this so that the files can be easily restored/replaced should a virus/malware corrupt/delete them.
  3. Software Programs: Some programs you have on your PC could also create duplicate files. This sometimes happens when they are being updated to a newer version; certain programs leave old redundant duplicate files behind in your PC.

If you have noticed that your PC’s storage space is low, and you haven’t been storing a lot of data on it, you might want to scan your computer for duplicate files and delete them (or a copy, preferably).

How to Remove Duplicate Files on Windows PC

Since you do not know which files have duplicates/copies and Windows lacks a built-in feature to automatically detect files that have more than one copies, you’d have to rely on third-party software called Duplicate Files Finder or Duplicate File Remover.

Thankfully, there are a handful of these programs out there that you can download and use on your Windows PC. However, we’ll walk you through the steps of using one of them (CCleaner) and likewise recommend some other effective ones.

Using CC Cleaner to remove Duplicate Files

CCleaner is a popular storage cleaning and privacy utility available for PC running the Windows and Mac OS. CCleaner is small yet effective in cleaning out junks files, broken shortcuts, temporary files, etc. from your PC.

If you have CCleaner installed on your PC, follow the steps below. Otherwise, visit CCleaner’s official download page, install CCleaner on your PC and follow the steps below.

1.Launch CCleaner on your PC

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2. On the left-hand side of the program, click on “Tools”

Remove Duplicate Files on your Windows PC

3. Click “Duplicate Finder”

How to Remove Duplicate Files on your Windows PC

On the Duplicate Finder page, you’d faced with a couple of filters. With CCleaner, users can find duplicate files that are identical by Name, Size, Date Modified, and by the Content of the files. You can also choose to find or ignore Read-only files, System files, Zero byte files as well as duplicate files that are over a specified size.

4. Click “Search” and the program begins the hunt for duplicate files on your PC.

How to Remove Duplicate Files on your Windows PC

5. Upon completion, it displays a message. Click “OK” and proceed to examine the duplicate files on your PC.

On the result page, CCleaner displays the files, their names, location on your PC, and their respective creation dates.

Caveat

It is super easy for these programs to scan and identify but it’s not exactly easy to tell which one you should delete or leave on your PC. Ensure that you thoroughly and meticulously review the files and their respective paths before removing them from your PC.

While it is safe to delete personal files (music, videos, pictures, documents etc.), it is recommended that you should not delete system files and folders that are located in C:\Program Files path because they are required by some System programs to function efficiently. Deleting duplicate files in Windows and Program Folders may cause some of your programs to break and possibly, damage your PC’s operating system.

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Yes, it’s safe to delete some of the duplicate files that your duplicate file finder may identify. It’s just not easy to tell which ones. And without knowing, it’s possible very possible you’ll break an application, or worse, your operating system.

Again, before deleting a duplicate file, ensure that it is not needed by your computer. Some other duplicate File Finder software that scans your PC for duplicate files include Paralells Toolbox, Duplicate Cleaner Pro, Auslogics Duplicate File Finder, SearchMyFiles, etc.

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