Best Ways to Find & Remove Duplicate Files from Google Drive

Why You Must Delete Duplicate Files in Google Drive?

The reasons for clearing duplicates from Google Drive are mentioned here:

• To free up Google Drive’s storage, which is wasted unnecessarily.
• Several copies of the same file make identification of the recent one a difficult task.
• Organizational efficiency is decreased, and the folder structure is also affected. 
• The backup and sync operations become less efficient with the duplicates. 
• Improve the Google Drive performance and simplify data organization. 

In short, to reclaim storage and productivity, it is mandatory to free Google Drive space. But before identifying the methods to remove duplicates in Google Drive, we must find their causes. 

How Duplicates Occur in Google Drive?

The probable reasons for the occurrence of duplicates and cluttered storage in Google Drive are: 

• Multiple uploads of the same files and folders 
• Google Drive syncs along with the local folders
• Shared files, which were to be referenced, are copied to the Drive
• Team collaboration creates similar files across departments 
• Synchronization conflicts create duplicate versions 
• Mistakenly restored backups multiple times
• Overlapping identical files during data transfers 

Traditional Way to Remove Duplicate Files from Google Drive

There are different ways for manual cleanup using various built-in Drive options. These are explained in detail below. 

Method 1: Using Search Filter for Drive Duplicate Cleanup 

1. Open Google Drive and sign in to your account with duplicates. 
2. Then, in the Search Bar, apply filters for Location, Type, People, and Modified. 
3. Further, click the Filters icon in the search bar, and apply advanced search options as desired. 
4. Tap Search to locate the duplicate files. Once identified, select them.
5. Right-click and choose the Move to Trash option to eliminate them. 
6. Later, go to Trash and use the filters again, if required, and select duplicates. 
7. Finally, press the Delete icon to remove them permanently as needed. 

Method 2: Removing Duplicate Files in Google Drive by Sorting

1. Sign in to your Google Drive account with duplicates on the web. 
2. Then, go to My Drive and click on the Sort icon from the top right. 
3. Further, choose Sort by, Direction, and Folders to find duplicates. 
4. From the list, try identifying the duplicates and select them. 
5. Once selected, repeat steps 5-7 as in Method 1 to delete them. 

Loopholes of the Methods:

• For bulky and large duplicate files, the freeway is time-consuming. 
• Users need to put in a lot of effort to identify each similar file or folder. 
• The search filter doesn’t specifically detect only duplicates. 
• Unsuitable for teams or enterprise-level Google Workspace accounts.
• An inefficient and risky way in shared environments and critical files. 

Advanced Way to Remove Duplicate Files from Google Drive

SysInfo Google Drive Duplicate Finder is a smart, dependable cleanup tool to scan multiple Google Drive files altogether and identify duplicates. It allows preview before deletion, scans quickly across all folders and files, and gives a comprehensive storage summary too. Additionally, it cleans up the Drive while retaining the original folder structure and data integrity. Moreover, it has high data privacy and security, works on all Windows and Mac OS, and even has a Demo Version for evaluation and free cleanup upto 100 GB. 

Quick Steps to Delete Duplicate Files in Google Drive

1. Launch the Google Drive Duplicate Cleaner and Sign In with your account.

2. Next, choose the Drive or folders to scan and click Start the Scan button. 

3. Further, preview the storage summary and check the folders.

4. After that, use the filters to identify duplicates on numerous criteria.

5. Finally, choose to manage duplicates by Move or Bulk and Selective Delete options.

This is an efficient way of handling Google Drive duplicates instantly. It is because you can not only remove duplicates in Google Drive in bulk, but also on a selective basis, as per your choice, or save them in a different folder or location on Drive directly with ease. Efficient for all technical and non-technical users, it is the simplest way of duplicate removal in one go.

Conclusion

Duplicate files are a major cause of affected performance and cluttered Drive storage. Whether you are dealing with a personal or a business Drive, it is mandatory to remove duplicate files from Google Drive to optimize efficiency. The manual method helps with a few file cleanups, but for smart cleanup, automated software is the best choice. It provides speed, effortless cleanup, accuracy, and saves time and cost without complexities. Hence, the user satisfaction increases and the business remains consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

About The Author:

Simran Bhatia

Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms.