2 Ways to Find and Delete Duplicates in Google Drive

Google Drive is a personal cloud storage and file-sharing platform. Many users use it to back up or store files, photos, and more.

While it's convenient, it comes with a 15 GB free storage limit. That’s why it’s necessary to find and remove duplicates in Google Drive, as they take up valuable space.

In this post, you'll learn several ways to find and delete duplicate files and photos in Google Drive. Read on for all the details!

How to Find and Delete Duplicates in Google Drive Online

If you use Google Drive online, follow the steps below to find and remove duplicate files it stores.

1. Open Google Drive in your browser.
2. Sign in to your account.
3. Click "My Drive" on the left ＞ click the "List view" icon.
4. Look for files or photos with names ending in "(1)", "(2)", etc., or starting with "Copy of".

   

5. Right-click the duplicate file, then select "Move to trash". (To delete multiple files, hold down the Command key and select the files you want to remove.)
6. Empty the Trash to free up space.

How to Find and Delete Duplicates in Google Drive with a Duplicate File Finder

Finding all duplicates manually in Google Drive can be challenging, especially when you have a large number of files in different formats. In such cases, you can use a third-party duplicate file finder, such as BuhoCleaner (for macOS) or Czkawka (for Windows).

Note, however, that this method works only if the Google Drive desktop app is installed on your computer.

Here, we’ll use BuhoCleaner as an example to show you how to delete duplicate files and photos in Google Drive on Mac.

1. Free download, install, and launch BuhoCleaner.
2. Click “Duplicates” in the sidebar, then click the “+” button and select “Choose Custom Folder.”
3. Navigate to Google Drive > My Drive, click “OK,” and then click “Scan.”

   

4. Click "Auto Select" or choose "Smart Select".
5. Click the "Remove" button.
6. Go to your Google Drive online and empty the Trash.

FAQs about Removing Duplicates in Google Drive

1. Does Google Drive Detect Duplicate Files?

Yes. When uploading a duplicate file, Google Drive shows a warning that the file already exists in the location. You’ll be given the option to replace the existing file or keep both.

However, this detection is based only on file name and format, not file content.

2. Why Should I Remove Duplicate Files from Google Drive?

• Duplicate files take up valuable space.
• The free plan offers only 15 GB of storage.
• Keeping your Google Drive clean makes it easier and faster to find what you need.