How to Delete Duplicate Files on PC in Windows 10/11?

Summary: Generally, while working with a lot of files, you might come across duplicates of similar files. These occupy unnecessary disk space on your PC resulting in slowing down the system performance. Considering such a scenario, we have brought this article on “How to delete duplicate files on PC (Windows 10/11)/ External Hard drive/ Flash drive?”

In simple words, these identical files are copies of the pre-existing files on your Windows operating system. Here, the files can be of different types such as photos, videos, audio, archives, documents, etc. Next, the basic action from your side is to reclaim the drive space and optimize the PC’s efficiency by erasing duplicate files. The possible ways to do so are through Manual sorting, built-in tools of Windows, and using 3rd party products.

Why Remove Duplicate Files?

Read the section given below to find the reasons to erase duplicate files on PC (Windows 10/11):

• Eliminating redundant files on your PC can free up the disk space.
• The overall efficiency and responsiveness of the system are improved.
• It makes it easier to manage and organize files.
• Prevents confusion and errors while handling multiple files.
• Reduces the backup duration by removing the duplicates.
• Save time and effort in file retrieval and management tasks.
• Maintains data integrity by stopping the passage to overwrite files.

Watch the full video guide on how to delete any file on your computer for free without any plugins and attachments. Required codes are in the article as well as in the video description.

How to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on PC/ Flash drive/ External drive for Free? Using File Explorer

Before answering the above question, let’s first go through the most sought query i.e. does Windows 10 have a duplicate file finder? The straight response will be NO. But, you can make one. Let’s see, to get started, apply the following steps to eliminate similar files on Windows 11 or 10:

• In the search bar of the window, type the .ext command. Here, replace the .ext file extension with a duplicate file type (e.g., .jpg, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .pptx, etc). Then, press the Enter button.
• Now, the results will be displayed as per the entered file extension. Next, you can sort the results by their name, size, or date to find out the duplicates.
• At last, you have to manually review the duplicate files one by one and delete them accordingly.

Here are some of the common files and their corresponding file extensions.

Note: Like other web pages, we have not listed the Indexing Options here. Because Windows Indexing is only done to facilitate faster file searches. But, as per our experience, the File Explorer can also significantly speed up the process by using the pre-built index. So, there is no need to go for the Indexing Options.

How to Remove Duplicate Files on PC/ External Hard Drive/ Flash Drive? Via Powershell – Free  Way

Follow the steps given below to get rid of duplicate files from your Windows 11 & 10 using Windows Powershell:

• Press ‘Win + x’ and go to Windows PowerShell (Admin).

• Copy and paste the code listed below to find identical files based on their MD5 hash value:

$folderPath = “E:\Files”
$files = Get-ChildItem -Path $folderPath -Recurse | Where-Object { -not $_.PSIsContainer }
$hashes = $files | Get-FileHash -Algorithm MD5
$duplicates = $hashes | Group-Object -Property Hash | Where-Object { $_.Count -gt 1 }
foreach ($group in $duplicates) {
$firstFile = $group.Group[0].Path # Keep the first file
$duplicateFiles = $group.Group[1..($group.Count – 1)] # All but the first file

foreach ($duplicate in $duplicateFiles) {
Write-Host “Deleting duplicate file: $($duplicate.Path)”
Remove-Item -Path $duplicate.Path -Force # Delete the duplicate
}
}

Write-Host “Duplicate removal complete.”

Remember to replace the folder path E:\Files with the path of the folder you want to perform the search either it is local disk C drive, Flash drive or external hard drive.

The resulting state will be left with one instance of each duplicate set and erase the rest.

How to Get Rid of Duplicate Files on PC Windows 11/10 for Free by Batch File Method?

A batch script is basically a file that can help you to identify and delete duplicate files present in a specified folder based on filename and size.

Step 1: Create a Batch File
Open Notepad (Press Win + R, type notepad, and hit Enter).

Copy the following script into Notepad:

@echo off
:: === EDIT THIS PATH ===
set “target=E:\Files” REM Change to your target folder

:: === MAIN SCRIPT ===
title Duplicate File Remover – SAFE MODE
echo Scanning for duplicates in: “%target%”
echo.
echo [SAFETY CHECK] Duplicates will be listed first. No files will be deleted yet.
echo Press Ctrl+C to cancel if the target path is wrong.
echo.
pause

:: Step 1: List duplicates (no deletion)
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command “$hash=@{}; Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath ‘%target%’ -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object { $md5=(Get-FileHash $_.FullName -Algorithm MD5).Hash; if($hash.ContainsKey($md5)){Write-Host (‘DUPLICATE: ‘ + $_.FullName + ‘ (Original: ‘ + $hash[$md5] + ‘)’)}else{$hash[$md5]=$_.FullName}}”

echo.
echo ============================================
set /p confirm=”Type ‘YES’ (without quotes) to delete ALL listed duplicates: ”
if /i “%confirm%” neq “YES” (
echo Operation cancelled. No files were deleted.
pause
exit /b
)

:: Step 2: Delete duplicates
echo.
echo DELETING DUPLICATES…
echo.
powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command “$hash=@{}; Get-ChildItem -LiteralPath ‘%target%’ -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | ForEach-Object { $md5=(Get-FileHash $_.FullName -Algorithm MD5).Hash; if($hash.ContainsKey($md5)){Remove-Item -LiteralPath $_.FullName -Force; Write-Host (‘DELETED: ‘ + $_.FullName)}else{$hash[$md5]=$_.FullName}}”

echo.
echo OPERATION COMPLETED. Check above for deleted files.
pause

Step 2: Replace the E:\Files with the actual path of the folder where you want to find duplicate files.
Step 3: Save the File as a .bat File

1. Click File > Save As.
2. In the Save as type dropdown, select All Files.
3. Name it RemoveDuplicates.bat.
4. Click Save.

Step 4: Run the Batch File

Navigate to the folder, right-click on the .bat file and open it as administrator. This method uses MD5 hash to detect duplicate files and cleans it automatically.

Issues in the Free Solution to Delete Duplicate Files

Given below we have listed only the major limitations of the manual methods to find and delete duplicate files shown above:

• Time-Consuming
• Limited Search Criteria
• No Automated Deletion
• Risk of Missing Duplicates
• Complexity for Non-Technical Users
• Limited File Attribute Comparison – Uses only MD5 hash comparison
• Inability to Handle Metadata
• No Undo Option
• Lack of Versioning
• Risk of Deleting Needed Files
• No Centralized Reporting

Instant Solution on How to Delete Duplicate Files on PC Windows 10/11

To manage the above manual or free solutions, we have an alternative i.e. a quick, effective, and trustworthy approach. Using the SysTools duplicate file finder can be beneficial in removing all the duplicate files on the PC. Further, through its powerful scanning engine, you can delete all the clogged-up redundant files, speeding up your computer performance. Let’s see some of the standout features of this proficient utility:

• Smart Scanning Mechanism
• Recursive Scanning Option
• Move or Delete Duplicates
• Scan more than 70 file types
• Detects Exact Similar Images
• Frees up External hard drive/ C drive/ Flash drive/ others
• Protects and Secures User Data
• One-time purchase for Lifetime

You can Perform the Scan using the Try Version!

Salient Steps to Find and Remove Duplicate Files on Windows 11/10:

Step 1. Download and launch the Duplicate file remover software.

Step 2. Then, click on Add Folder to open the folder you want either it is in your PC (local drive C or D) or External Hard drive or Flash drive.

Step 3. Check the radio button in the Scan Configuration as per your requirement. Also, select the file type (.docx, .xlsx, .txt, .pptx, etc.) under the “Select from file extension in folder.” Tap on Continue.

Step 4. Next, to erase the duplicate files, hit on Delete tab.

Step 5. Once the process is completed. The Action tag will change to “Deleted.”

Final Takeaway

In this article, we have given the appropriate solution to the question of “How to Delete Duplicate Files on PC (Windows 10/11)?” Irrespective the search is on i.e. C drive, Flash drive, External hard drive, and any other. We have covered the basic manual and free solutions to remove identical files on Windows. However, there are some instances, where the easily accessible approaches fail. Therefore, we have come up with the SysTools finder application to find and delete similar data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I find duplicate files in Windows?

Ans. You can find and remove the duplicate file in Windows 10 &11 using the file explorer:

• Open File Explorer with Windows key + E.
• Navigate to the target folder or drive.
• In the search bar, type “.” and press Enter to display all files.
• Sort files by clicking “View,” then “Sort by,” and choose “Name.”
• Manually review files, focusing on similar names, sizes, and dates.
• Use file properties (right-click, select “Properties“) to verify size and modification date.
• Delete duplicates by right-clicking on the file and choosing “Delete.”

Q. How do I delete duplicate files for free?

Ans. All the methods shown in this article are available for free, you can use the tool or method according to your need to get the best results.

Q. Is It Safe To Delete Duplicate Files?
Ans. Yes, it is generally safe to remove duplicate files, but remember the following points:

• Backup: Before deleting duplicates, make sure to have a backup to avoid accidental data loss.
• Verify Content: Examine the similar files that are exact copies and not crucial variations.
• Use Reliable Tools: Use the finest application to identify and remove identical files.
• System Files: Check before you delete. If you delete some of the essential system files, it may cause instability in your operating system.