I need suggestions for a utility that can be used on a Windows 11 machine that will find all the duplicate files on my PC. I did a search on Google and found some ideas for utilities that would accomplish this task. Just wondering if anyone has a personal favorite they have used with success.
The approach that occurred to me is terribly cumbersome, but perhaps of some use.
Run at the command prompt: dir /s lists files not only in the current directory but recursively in subdirectories. There are options for filtering and sorting; unfortunately sorting is only within a directory. Rather than have it go to the screen, the output can be redirected to a file by putting >filename.txt after it.
If I were attempting to use that I would use wildcards to explore a specific file type, as in dir *.doc /s.
dir /? gives a summary of options, but google can get more detail.
I would probably start by using a wildcard with redirect to get a file of everything for that type, then put it in EXCEL (if it fits) where I can sort it, get rid of the directory stuff, parse the rest into columns, then sort on name. Once I identify a duplicate I would have to go back and search on that specific fine name, preferably using Windows not a command prompt, and see where they are, comparing sizes, dates, whatever.
I did say cumbersome!
I don’t think it’s exactly what you are looking for but I’ve always liked Beyond Compare to look at two folders at a time and find duplicates. I like it because it shows file size and date modified too so you know it really is the same file and not one that you named the same thing but put in two different folders.
Here’s the website:
Well, although I’ve used Beyond Compare (mentioned by another replier) at my job for various tasks, I don’t think it’s that easy to use it to find dups that may be scattered over many folders with different folder hierarchies.
Based on googling (which I know you also did), these two seem to be the best:
First choice:
Second:
Caveat Installer: I haven’t tried them myself though.