Flash drive sometimes fills up with many unnecessary duplicate files and it can be difficult to find important files. This happens when you copy the same file again and again, like files may be transferred from different computers or the same file may be saved again under different names. If your flash drive has only a few files, you can check duplicate files and delete manually. If there are many files then you need software which can easily find and delete them.
In this guide you will learn how to delete duplicate files on flash drive manually and when manual checking is difficult then how you can use software-based method to delete duplicate files on flash drive.
Why Do Duplicate Files Appear on a Flash Drive?
Usually duplicate files are created when the same photos, videos, documents or other files are stored more than once on the flash drive. Here are some common situations
- Copying the same folders more than once on flash drive
- Moving data from different computers to same USB drive
- Keeping multiple copies of downloaded files
- Saving another copy of the file instead of renaming the original file
- Creating the same data backup more than once
Duplicate files can be with the same name, similar name or completely different name. Two files can have different names but still contain the same data so checking file names only is not enough to identify duplicate files.
How to Delete Duplicate Files on Flash Drive Manually
If you have a small number of files in the flash drive, then you can identify and delete duplicate files on flash drive with the help of Windows Explorer. In this process, you have to sort files, compare their details, and delete unwanted copies. Follow these steps:
1. Connect the Flash Drive
Connect the flash drive to your computer or laptop and wait for the flash drive to be detected.
2. Open File Explorer
Open File Explorer and select the flash drive from the available list.
3. Open the Folders
If you suspect duplicate files in certain folders, check the folders one by one.
4. Change the Folder View
Change the folder view to see important details such as file name, size, and modified date.
5. Sort the Files by Name
Sort the files by name. Same and similar file names are shown next to each other, which makes it easier to identify possible duplicate files.
6. Compare File Details
Check the file name, file size, file type, and modified date. If you think that two files are copies, check their content first before deleting a file.
7. Select the Duplicate Copy
Select the file that you no longer need. Before deleting the file, make sure you do not delete the original file.
8. Delete the Selected File
After confirming everything, delete the selected file. Make sure you do not repeat the same process with another file by mistake.
9. Check the Flash Drive Again
After deleting the unwanted file, check the flash drive again and confirm that your required files are still available.
Do not assume that files with the same name are always duplicates because files with the same name can be stored in different folders. It is better to check their content first before deleting them.
Limitations of the Manual Method
- Takes a lot of time to check files one by one in flash drive
- Faces difficulties to check across different folders
- Makes it harder to find duplicate files because it may have different names
- Files have very similar names but contain different content
- Risk to delete the wrong files
- Difficult to check different file types like finding duplicate photos, videos or other documents that may require extra effort
How to Delete Duplicate Files on Flash Drive Using Software
A duplicate file checker tool can scan and delete duplicate files on flash drive and find matches based on available scan methods. SysTools duplicate file finder and remover software supports storage devices like USB drives or pen drives. It also provides the option to find duplicates based on file content and file name.
You have to follow these steps to find duplicate files on the flash drive through software:
1. Download and Launch
You need to download SysTools software and install it on your computer or laptop.
2. Connect with Flash Drive
You should connect the flash drive to the computer, or you can skip this step if it is already connected.
3. Select the Flash Drive
Select the flash drive or folder that you want to scan.
4. Choose the Required Scan Configuration
The software provides options for scanning files according to file name, file content, or file extension.
5. Choose File Types
Choose the all files scan option or select file types such as JPG, PNG, or PDF.
6. Set File Size Filter
If you have many files on your flash drive, you can filter the files based on file size and set a size filter.
7. File Date Filter
You can set a date filter such as the last modified date or created date.
8. Start the Scan
Allow the software to scan the files according to the selected filters so it can identify possible duplicate files.
9. Review the Detected Duplicate Files
Before deleting anything, check the possible duplicate files carefully so that you can decide which files you want to remove or keep on the flash drive.
10. Use the Deletion Option
After reviewing the files carefully, click the delete button to remove unwanted files.
11. Check the Flash Drive
After the deletion process, confirm that the files you want to keep are still available on the flash drive.
Best Practices to Remove Duplicate Files from a USB Drive
- Create backup folder and copy all important files from flash drive and move to another location.
- If duplicate files have different dates, then keep most recent version.
- Avoid deleting files when you are not sure about their purpose.
- Delete only duplicate files carefully that you no longer need.
- Do not remove your USB drive when software scans your drive or deletion process is running.
- Check USB drive again after deletion process is complete and confirm that file you wanted to keep are still available.
Conclusion
If you have some files in your flash drive then you can find possible duplicate files through file explorer by checking file names, sizes, dates and file content. But it is important that you review files before deleting.
If you have a large number of files on flash drives then software-based methods can be a useful way to identify duplicate files. The method you want to use totally depends on the number of files, ease of finding duplicates or how much you want manual checking.
We hope now you understand how to delete duplicate files on flash drive and which method you want to use.