[Easy Methods] How to Find Duplicate PDF Files in a Folder?

Actions such as accidental copying, creating backups, or forgetting about copied or saved PDFs in different locations for organizational purposes can lead to the accumulation of numerous duplicate PDF files. These duplicates can clutter your computer. When you're looking for a specific PDF document, having duplicates can make it difficult to find the correct one.

These duplicate files not only make your PC disorganized but also consume a significant amount of storage space, potentially slowing down your computer. So we are here to share how to find duplicate PDF files in a folder and provide a method for their swift removal.

How to find duplicate PDF files in a folder with 2 methods

Based on the number of duplicates, 2 recommended methods are available. If you're looking for a small number of duplicate PDF files or a specific document, using File Explorer is a suitable approach.

However, when dealing with a substantial number of duplicate files for tasks such as expanding storage or maintaining a clean environment, using a reliable duplicate PDF file finder and remover is the most efficient choice.

Method 1. Find duplicate PDF files in File Explorer

If you want to find specific PDF files, File Explorer is a handy utility. All you need is to type the right file extensions and carefully identify the updated versions. However, if you want to find and remove a large amount of duplicate PDF files, this method can be exhausting and time-consuming.

Step 1. Enter "Indexing Options" in the Search box and then choose "Indexing Options".

Step 2. Click "Modify" and choose "Show all locations". A window will pop up, requesting your login information. Ensure you're using an administrator account while making changes in this place.

Step 3. Check if all the boxes are ticked under the "Changed selected locations" section. If they are, click "OK", and then hit the "Close" button. If not, ensure tick all the boxes. 

Step 4. Simultaneously press the "Win+E" keys on your keyboard to open File Explorer. Finding your files is simpler under your user account. To reach your user account, navigate to Windows (C:), and then pick the Users folder.

Step 5. Click "Search" in the upper-right corner, and enter the following extensions based on their format if you have other needs.

Step 6. Organize the search results by Name:

Step 7. Examine the files to find duplicates saved in different locations. Check the "Date modified" column to identify the latest version of each file.

Step 8. After reviewing the files, select the needed duplicate PDF files. If you want to remove them, press the DELETE key on your keyboard.

Method 2. Use duplicate document files remover

To find duplicate PDF files in a substantial quantity, we have prepared another effective method for you. You can employ AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, a dependable duplicate PDF files finder and remover. With this tool, you can scan your PC for all duplicate files and tailor the solutions to suit your specific requirements.

This tool works for other file types too, like documents, pictures, videos, and more. Taking only a few minutes, you can acquire an organized and fast computer.

Note:

If you want to thoroughly clean your device or free up storage space, advanced functions like PC Cleaner, SSD secure erase, App Mover, Delete Large Files, etc., are all worth trying.

For the Windows Server environment, kindly please turn to the Server Edition.

Step 1. Install and open AOMEI Partition Assistant. Next, click on the "Free up" main tab and choose "Duplicate Files Finder".

Step 2. Afterward, a new window will appear. The initial list contains all the hard drives and partitions on your computer. You have the option to include specific folders in the scan by adding them manually or exclude unnecessary partitions from the scan.

Step 3. Here, you have the ability to leave out specific file types by excluding their extensions. You can also choose to include picture, video, audio, document, and archive files selectively.

Step 4. Within the fresh window, you can set boundaries for the scan and specify the types of files. Then, click "Scan". If you opt for "Advanced", you can configure additional details for the files.

Step 5. During the scan, you can see the file numbers, time spent, and remaining time. If you want to stop the process, click “Stop Scan”.

Step 6. Once the scan finishes, you can review the results. All duplicate files will be visible in the window, and you can see their size and timestamp by clicking "Preview". Click "Smart Selection", and the program will automatically choose the right files for deletion.

3 deletion methods
✍ Delete directly: Duplicate files will be deleted directly and permanently.
✍ Move to Recycle Bin: Duplicate files will be moved to the Recycle Bin of your computer and can still be recovered. (Set as default)
✍ Remove to a specified folder: Move duplicate files to a designated location. You can set up a location to save the duplicate files.

You can also set your preferences in Settings as well.

Set personal preferences (This setting is for the smart set. For manual deletion, there is no need to set this option.)

Ending

The shared 2 methods on how to find duplicate PDF files in a folder can be helpful. If you choose the duplicate PDF files finder and remover, you can explore the recommended functions for a better clean experience. Except for storage expansion, this versatile tool also supports cloning disk for backup, moving OS for performance enhancement, converting system disk between MBR/GPT, and so on.