If you have reached this article, your phone needs your help and its storage bar tells you that. You can overcrowd your camera roll with screenshots, blurry selfies, and other useless photos. Your phone has become a real mess in the inside. Probably, you have seventeen photos of the same sunset because of filters.
Deleting duplicates is no fun at all. You need to go through hundreds of photos and it strains your eyes. Sometimes, you think that you already deleted the photo and find its twin three years later. This mess takes a lot of gigabytes that you could use for installing some useful applications.
Fortunately, duplicate finders solve your problem in an easy way. They simply scan your gallery and find identical photos. You just need to select duplicates and press delete button. It sounds complicated, but is easier than finishing the first level of Mario.
First, let us consider the problem of Windows users. There is a piece of software called dupeGuru which will help you out. This is open-source software, which means it is free and works because of the work of developers. It is capable not only of working with photos, but also with documents and music.
It may look intimidating at first because of the interface of dupeGuru is gray and very plain. However, it scans folders incredibly fast and unites files according to their contents and not according to their names.
For example, you have IMG_001.jpg and vacation_edit.png. They have different names, but dupeGuru finds out that these are the same files. This program uses fuzzy match algorithms to compare the content of images. It is amazing how modern software is able to do this.
Now, turn to Mac users. Usually, you can use such programs as PhotoSweeper. However, you can try using built-in functions of Photos first. With the help of Smart Folders feature you can unite your files according to the date or location and find duplicates.
However, if you need something more advanced, try using Awesome Duplicate Photo Finder. This program works in Windows OS and it compares your photos and shows how similar they are. You may compare original and duplicates in the program.
Drag-and-drop functionality makes this process easy. It simply means that you need to drag a folder and drop it into the program window. Then, you should click on the button Start.
This software is really foolproof, especially if you are struggling with the problem of finding the power button on your laptop.
Android users have lots of options. For example, Files by Google. This program is pre-installed on most Android devices and sits quietly in your App drawer. Just open it and go to Clean tab which you can find in the bottom of the page.
The program scans your phone for duplicates and creates a special card for them under the name "X MB can be freed". All you need to do is click on Review, choose copies you want to delete and Confirm. It is incredibly satisfying to free this space with one click.
Things become a bit harder for iPhone users. Apple has a very strict control over the file system, so you cannot scan your phone like PC. However, iOS 16 has brought built-in duplicates album.
Just open your Photos application and go to Utilities tab at the bottom. After that, click on Duplicates. This will show you all duplicates that your system has found. You may merge them and keep the best copy of the image.
What about cloud storage? Usually, Google Photos is quite effective in detecting duplicates, but it is far from perfect. Sometimes, it keeps duplicates of the same file if it was uploaded from different devices. So, it tries to deduplicate your data, but this process is not always successful.
If you sync your phone with your PC, then this process becomes even more problematic, as Google Photos creates extra backups. That is why it is better to use desktop software in this case. You may connect your phone to your PC as if it was a disc and then scan it. Programs like dupeGuru are working with your phone like with any other hard drive. It gives you more control over your files than mobile application.
Also, do not forget about screenshots. We make them every day to save memes and other information. It is easy to create huge amounts of them. By default, most of duplicate finders ignore them, but you may configure them differently.
Do not forget about burst photos. You know, that thing when you keep the shutter pressed for ten seconds. You get fifty photos of the same pose, and probably only one of them is really good. Duplicate finders are not able to unite them as they are technically different files.
For burst photos, you need to be a judge yourself. Just group your photos by date and find clusters. You will easily spot all those photos where your eyes are closed.
Let us talk about file formats. You can have JPG and PNG of the same image. Of course, you see that it is the same file. However, your PC sees that it is two different things. Good duplicate finders can make cross-format comparison. They understand that BMP is just a bloated version of JPG.
Before you delete something, please back up your files. Seriously, do not forget about this. Just buy an external hard drive or upload everything to cloud storage that you trust. Once you delete file from recycle bin, it is gone forever.
Imagine that you lose valuable memories because you clicked on delete too many times. It will be a catastrophe. Fast backup will take one hour, and data recovery will require some miracles.
While you are scanning your gallery, pay attention to dates. In general, you should keep the most recent file. However, you may keep older version of file if it has better crop. Use your logic before clicking on "Confirm".
Some people save every single photo they have ever taken. It is a really bad habit that prevents you from finding the good stuff. A clean library is a happy library.
Think about it like about cleaning your room. You will never find your favorite hoodie if your floor is full of laundry. Digital hygiene is as important as physical hygiene. It helps you to keep your device running fast and your mind clear.
So, install a duplicate finder now. Spend thirty minutes on cleaning your library and feel relieved. Your phone will finally stop asking for an upgrade. Also, you will have some space to download new game.
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