Discovering and Eradicating Duplicate Files in Google Drive

Hey there! Today, I want to chat with you about a nifty trick I discovered that can help you track down and remove pesky duplicate files lurking in your Google Drive. Trust me, it’s a game-changer!

So, here we go. Duplicate files. We’ve all been there. They sneak into our Google Drive, cluttering up our space and causing unnecessary confusion. But fear not, my friend! I’m here to lend a hand and show you an easy way to find and delete those duplications.

First things first, let’s get started. Open up your Google Drive and make sure you’re logged in. You’re going to want to be in the driver’s seat for this adventure. Once you’re in, take a moment to breathe and prepare yourself for the journey ahead.

Now that you’re steady and ready, it’s time to battle those duplicates. Locate the search bar at the top of your Google Drive screen. Trust me, it’s your secret weapon in this quest. Click on it, and watch as a whole new world of search options unfolds before your very eyes.

Okay, I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but stay with me, it’s worth it. In that magical search bar, type in the following command: “name: *” – without the quotes, of course. This command will unveil all the files in your Google Drive, allowing you to see them in a list. Take a moment to let the magnitude of this sink in. All your files, right there in front of you.

Now, I can practically hear your brain buzzing and thinking, “But wait, how do I find the duplicate files in this sea of information?” Ah, my friend, that’s where the real magic happens.

To find those sneaky duplicates, we’ll make use of Google Drive’s advanced search capabilities. In the search bar, you’ll want to type “name: *” following the format “name:file name.extension” – still without the quotes. This search command will show you all the files with the same name and extension, making it a breeze to identify those duplicates.

Once the duplicates have been exposed, it’s time to muster up your courage, click that right mouse button, and select the “Move to Trash” option. Yes, my friend, it’s time to bid those duplicates farewell. Don’t worry, they won’t be missed.

And just like that, you’ve conquered the realm of duplicate files in your Google Drive. Take a moment to revel in your newfound triumph. You deserve it! Your Google Drive will thank you for the extra breathing room, and you can now navigate through your files with ease.

Remember, my dear friend, this newfound power comes with great responsibility—keeping your Google Drive organized and free from duplicates. So, make it a habit to regularly embark on this journey to maintain a clutter-free digital world for yourself.

You’ve got this, my friend! Happy hunting and deleting!

Google Drive is one of the most popular cloud storage services in the world. But the free 15 GB storage it offers might not be enough, especially since that space is shared with Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos. So, you need to keep your cloud storage account organized and tidy, especially if you share your Drive with someone. This also means making sure there are no duplicate files in your Google Drive, which can take up a lot of storage space that you could use for other things.

To make things easier, here’s how you can find and delete duplicate files in Google Drive.

How to Find and Delete Duplicate Files in Google Drive

1. Find and Delete Duplicate Files from Offline Google Drive

If you have Google Drive synced to your PC, you can easily find and delete duplicate files. However, you’ll need to use a third-party app for this. This is also the method I recommend if you want to create a local backup of your Drive before deleting any files.

If you’re using Windows, you can use dupeGuru to find duplicate files. Just install the app on your PC and follow the steps below:

1. Go to the My Drive folder, right-click, and select the scan option. You’ll see a window like the one below with all your Drive files.
   
2. Click on Dupes Only to see all the duplicate files in your Drive.
   
3. You can select the files from the list and click on Remove Marked from Results to delete them.
   

If you’re using macOS, you can use Gemini 2 for this purpose.

1. First, I’ll need you to install and open Gemini 2.
2. Next, click the plus icon to open the folder selector.
3. Now, click on Choose Custom folder and select Google Drive > My Drive.
4. After that, click on the Open button.
5. Finally, click on the Scan for Duplicates button.

Now, we just need to wait for the results. If there are any duplicate files, Gemini 2 will reveal their names.

But there’s one catch: Gemini 2 can’t scan and remove native Google Drive files like Sheets or Docs. Don’t worry, though, I’ll show you another method for dealing with those kinds of files.

2. Export Google Drive Files, Remove Duplicates, and Reupload

Sometimes, you may not want to sync Google’s cloud storage with your PC. In that case, you can download all your Google Drive files to your PC instead. There are two ways to do this: you can use Google Takeout or download the files manually.

Once you’ve exported all your files, you can use the same duplicate file-removing app we mentioned earlier to get rid of the duplicates. If you’d rather not use a third-party app, you can use the built-in features of Windows or Mac to find and remove duplicate files. For example, you can sort files by size, search by name, and so on. Just keep in mind that this can be a bit of a tedious process.

3. DeDuplicate – Cloud Cleaner

If you don’t have enough storage space on your PC to download all your Google Drive files, I recommend using the DeDuplicate app. With DeDuplicate, you can identify and delete duplicate files directly from the cloud, without having to download them to your phone.

1. First, download the DeDuplicate app and log in with your Google account.
   
2. Next, allow the app to scan your entire Drive.
   
3. The app will then show you all the duplicate files and how many copies there are.
4. You can go through the information and select the files you want to keep. The app will take care of removing the rest of the duplicates for you.

DeDuplicate works with Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox, and more. It can detect different types of files, such as photos, videos, audio, Google Docs, and spreadsheets. Best of all, it’s completely free to use, and there are no limits on how many files you can scan or delete.

4. Manually Find and Delete Duplicate Files in Google Drive

If you have a relatively new Google account that isn’t used much, you can manually search for and delete duplicate files in your Google Drive.

To do this, open Google Drive in your PC’s browser. Start by sorting the files alphabetically by clicking on the arrow sign next to the file names. Then, simply find the duplicates and remove them.

Hey there! If you happen to know the name of that pesky duplicate file, you’re in luck! Just use Drive’s awesome search feature to track it down and delete it. Simple as that!

If you want to do a more specific search, you can use search filters in Drive. They make it easier to skim through files by filtering them based on their type and last modified date.

For example, if you think you might have created a duplicate spreadsheet in the past week, you can select “Spreadsheets” in the Type menu and “Last 7 days” in the Modified menu to get filtered results.

When your account is close to being full, one option is to transfer the ownership of a file or folder in Google Drive to another account. This means you have to manage both accounts, but it can be a temporary solution until you figure things out.

No More Duplicates

Having duplicate files, videos, and images is one of the main reasons why your Google Drive can run out of space. So, it’s important to regularly delete duplicate files in your Drive. This will ensure you have enough space and your cloud storage is well-managed. If you frequently scan documents to Google Drive, make sure to delete unwanted files on a regular basis.

FAQs

Q: Can Google Photos remove duplicates?

A: No, Google Photos cannot remove duplicate photos. However, it has a feature that detects identical duplicates and won’t let you upload photos that are already there. So you don’t have to worry about removing duplicates.

Q: Does Google Drive prevent duplicate files?

A: No, Google Drive does not have a feature to prevent duplicate files like Google Photos. If you try to upload files with the same name, you will receive a warning about duplicate file upload with an option to skip it.