How to Find Duplicate Files in Windows 10 without Software?

Duplicate files can appear unexpectedly, and you might not even realize it. When they pile up and take up too much space, your computer can slow down and become more likely to have problems. It's a good idea to delete them when you notice this happening.

In the next part, we will share how to find duplicate files in Windows 10 without software, and we'll also introduce a powerful duplicate file finder for Windows 10 users that can help find and remove duplicates easily. You can choose the method that suits you best to clean up those extra copies.

How to find duplicate files in Windows 10 without software

If you want to remove duplicate files without software on Windows PCs, you can typically do so through common methods like File Explorer, CMD (Command Prompt), or PowerShell.

Way 1. Use File Explorer to find duplicate files

File Explorer allows users to find duplicate files without using a software. However, this method is more suitable for people who are patient or have enough time to do so since it requires manually reviewing files, identifying types, and comparing the duplicates one by one.

Step 1. In the Search box, input Indexing Options and choose the matched one.

Step 2. Click Modify, and then select Show all locations. A pop-up will prompt you for your login information. Ensure that you're utilizing an administrator account for any modifications with this setting.

Step 3. Verify whether all the boxes in the Changed Selected Locations section are marked.

If yes, click OK, and then click the Close button. If not, check all the boxes.

Step 4. On your keyboard, press the Windows + E keys to open the File Explorer. It is easier to find your files under your user account. To open your user account, go to Windows (C:), then select the Users folder.

Step 5. On the upper-right corner, click Search, and then enter the following extensions based on their format:

Step 6. Sort the search results by Name: Click the View tab > Under the Panes section, select Preview pane > Under the Layout section, select Details > Under the Current view section, click Group by, and then select Name.

To arrange the files in ascending order, click Group by, and then select Ascending.

Step 7. Examine for duplicate files stored in various locations, and review the Date modified column to identify the most recent versions.

Step 8. After checking the files, select the file you want to delete, and then press DELETE on your keyboard.

Way 2. Find and remove duplicate files via CMD

If you have used CMD to troubleshoot other computer issues, and familiar with the meaning of command lines, you can follow the steps to find and remove multiple copies of files on your Windows computer.

Step 1. Open CMD as an administrator. To do this, click on Start, then type "cmd" into the search bar, and choose “Run as administrator”.

Step 2. Type this command into CMD: "dir /s /b *.extension". Replace ".extension" with the type of files you want to find duplicates of. For example, if you're looking for duplicate JPG files, type "dir /s /b *.jpg".

Step 3. Press Enter. The CMD will initiate the scan for duplicate files, and it will present the results in a list, showing the duplicated files.

You can also find duplicate files using the “WMIC FINDSTR” command:

Open CMD and type "FINDSTR /?" to see all options for the "FINDSTR" command.

Type "FINDSTR /I /C:WINDOWS *.jpg" to search for all JPEG images in the WINDOWS folder.

The results will show all the JPEG images in the WINDOWS folder, with duplicates highlighted in red.

▌To remove duplicate files in a specific folder, follow these steps:

Step 1. Open the folder using File Explorer.

Step 2. Right-click on the folder you want and select "Copy as path".

Step 3. Open Command Prompt. Type "del /s /f *.duplicate" and hit Enter. This command will remove all duplicate files in the current folder and its subfolders.

For a more advanced file deletion, you can use wildcard characters with this command. Just type "rmdir /s /q DirName", and it will delete all folders in "DirName" and its subfolders.

Way 3. Find and remove duplicates by PowerShell

PowerShell is similar to CMD, which is also suitable for users who are familiar with the commands.

Step 1. Right-click on the Windows icon, and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin). A pop-up confirmation window will appear. Click Yes to proceed.

Step 2. Enter this script: set-location –path C:\ in the Windows PowerShell window.

Step 3. Enter the script for the list of all duplicates and their location:

ls "(directory you want to search)" -recurse | get-filehash | group -property hash | where { $_.count -gt 1 } | % { $_.group } | Out-File -FilePath "(location where you want to export the result)"

In (directory you want to search), enter the folder location of your User Account.

In (location where you want to export the result), enter the folder location you want the result to be exported or saved (e.g. Documents or Desktop).

Step 4. Open the folder location you have exported or saved.

Step 5. Check for each location in the text file, and then delete the duplicate files.

Why do you need a duplicate file finder for Windows 10

Removing duplicates one by one manually can be quite slow and inefficient, especially if you have a large number of them. What's more, using CMD and PowerShell can be tricky for computer novices, as they involve complex processes and some potential risks of system crashes or errors.

Besides, these methods may not thoroughly and comprehensively identify all duplicates on a Windows PC, which can lead to an embarrassing situation where little progress is made, but a lot of time is consumed. This is where a duplicate file finder can be a lifesaver.

These tools are designed to simplify the task by quickly identifying and helping you remove duplicate files, saving you a significant amount of time and effort.

Try this powerful tool to effectively find duplicate files in Windows 10

Among many duplicate files finder, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is the one that we want to recommend most. It's a user-friendly computer management tool without any potential bundled software and malware, and it is suitable for both beginners and tech-savvy users.

Its strong duplicate file detection and removal capabilities can quickly scan your computer for duplicates. What’s more, it provides customizable options for handling duplicates, reducing the risk of accidental deletions and making the cleaning process more effective.

Choosing AOMEI Partition Assistant is like having access to a set of valuable tools:
✍ Storage space expansion assistant: This tool provides functions like Allocate Free Space, App Mover, Merge Partitions, Delete Large Files, and so on. You can explore them based on your needs.
✍ Problem-solving expert: It provides features for disk cloning, OS migration, system disk conversion between MBR and GPT, and MBR rebuilding, empowering you to tackle common issues on your own.
✍ Computer health monitor: You can also utilize its Disk Speed and Disk Surface Test functions to keep an eye on your PC's health.
✍ Additional benefits await exploration...

Step 1. Click the "Free up" on the main tab and select "Duplicate Files Finder".

Step 2. In this interface, you can see all the computer's partitions. Click on "Scan" to start the scanning process. Even if a partition is locked, the program will still scan it and reveal duplicate files on that partition. However, please note that it cannot remove duplicate files from locked drives.

Step 3. Once the process is completed, all duplicate files meeting your specified criteria will be shown. You can select "Preview" to view the duplicate files.

Step 4. You can select the duplicate files you want to delete. Or, click "Smart Select" to automatically select duplicate files. Then, click "Move to folder".

To sum up

This post shares how to find duplicate files in Windows 10 without software and also a duplicate file finder for Windows 10 users. You can choose the methods that you like. If you clean up duplicate files for storage space expansion, it is a nice idea to try the listed functions of AOMEI Partition Assistant. Windows Server users can choose AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.