How to Run Windows Search for Duplicate Files to Keep PC Clean and Fast?

Should you search for duplicate files on Windows PC and remove them?

Have you wondered why your drive is getting full without reason? There are several factors contributing to this, including numerous applications, junk files, large files, and software updates... but one factor that is often overlooked by many users, that is duplicate files.

When it comes to these files, the issue extends beyond mere storage space consumption; it can also adversely affect your system's performance and the overall organization of your files. Consequently, it is necessary to clean up them. The act of removing duplicate files not only results in faster boot times and enhanced system responsiveness but also assists in identifying and managing this clutter, reducing the risk of errors.

However, there are numerous types of duplicate files on your computer. Common categories include duplicates of audio files, photos, documents, and more. In the following section, we will explain how to clean these duplicates separately or all at once.

3 methods for running Windows search for duplicate files

Now that we know the drawbacks of duplicate files, and here we will share how to clean various types of duplicate files, including audio, photos, and others. Based on your needs, you can go directly to the specific part by clicking the Table of Contents on the left.

Way 1. Search for audio duplicate files on Windows PC

If you want to remove audio duplicate files, you can just utilize Search and follow the below guidance. Here we take the music file as an example.

Step 1. Access the Start menu and select Search.  Then enter the folder name where your music collection is stored.

Step 2. Inside the folder, choose the View option and switch to Detail View. This will display the complete list of your audio files.

 Step 3. Go to the Sort By option and choose the Name column. This will arrange your audio files alphabetically, making them easier to review.

Step 4. Examine each file closely to determine if they are true duplicates or if they just share a name but have different content. Once you've identified these inconsistent duplicates, delete them by selecting the Delete option.

Way 2. Find and remove duplicate photos

To find duplicate files on Windows computers can also be realized by File Explorer.

 Step 1. Go to the lower-left corner next to the Windows icon. Type "Indexing Options" into the search bar and then click on "Indexing Options".

Step 2. Click on "Modify" and select "Show all locations". A pop-up will appear, asking for your login details. Make sure you're using an administrator account when making changes here.

Step 3. Check if all the boxes are ticked under the "Changed selected locations" section. If they are, click "OK", then hit the "Close" button. If not, make sure to check all the boxes.

Step 4. Press the Windows key and E key on your keyboard at the same time to open File Explorer. It's easier to locate your files under your user account. To access your user account, go to Windows (C:), and then select the Users folder.

Step 5. Click on "Search" in the upper-right corner, and enter the following extensions based on their format. The common picture file extensions include .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tiff, .psd, .raw, .svg, .ico, and .webp.

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 one you want to delete, and then press the DELETE key on your keyboard.

Way 3. Remove all kinds of duplicate files on Windows computers

Manually running Windows search for duplicate files isn't the best way to keep it organized and healthy. Your computer has lots of different types of files, not just pictures and music. If you want to free up space, searching manually means you need to check and delete many different kinds of files, and each type might have lots of different file names. For example, music files can be in different formats, like .mp3, .aac, .m4a,...

At this time, it is recommended to use a professional duplicate files finder like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. This tool can comprehensively scan all drives and compile a list of various duplicate files simultaneously, making it easy to find duplicate files on Windows device.

Free download the demo and see how this advanced and powerful feature works.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, then click the "Free up" main tab and select "Duplicate Files Finder".

Step 2. In the new window, you can limit the scan range and file types. Then, click “Scan”. If you choose “Advanced”, you can set more details for the files.

Step 3. 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 4. When the scan is complete, you can view the results. All duplicate files will appear in the window, and you can check the size and time by clicking “Preview”. Click “Smart Selection”, and the program will choose the appropriate files to delete.

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.)

Verdict

Apart from running Windows search for duplicate files and remove them, AOMEI Partition Assistant can provides more solutions for you to keep PC clean and fast. It is also advisable to explore functions like App Mover, PC Cleaner, Delete Large Files, and so on. For business use, this tool offers the Server, Unlimited, and Technician editions as well.