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S K Marshall
S K Marshall
Participant
November 10, 2019
Answered

How can I deal with duplicate files

ave searched the help looking for guidance on how to deal with duplicate files - any ideas please.

gary_sc
gary_scCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 10, 2019

HI S_K_Marshall,

 

There is no easy & quick solution to this, very sorry. I'm even more sorry to say that this is "probably" a good thing, because you do not want images automatically tossed as that way you had no input on which version of that image to delete.

 

That notwithstanding, you didn't mention if you have duplicates in the same folder or differeent folders. If they are in the same folder and if they have a mostly similar name (e.g., myphoto_2213.jpg and myphoto_2213-1.jpg), that's pretty easy: look for all of the "-1" and delete them. If they are all over your computer (different folders), than using software like "PhotoSweeper," can help.

 

However, as you've discovered, Bridge cannot directly help you on this.

 

Hope that helps.

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12 replies

AtlaHeilig
Inspiring
June 14, 2024

I know this is late, but there is a program called "Alldup" that is for donation or free if you need it to be.  It's a duplicate image / file finder.  I don't know how, but I ended up with HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of duplicates of my photos.  Some were different sizes, new names, I have no idea what happened.  But I let alldup run overnight and it showed me all the duplicates.  I choose to keep the largest file by size and automatically delete the smaller duplicates.  It took all night for the program to run, but it works like a charm.

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MikeBowenPics
Participant
January 29, 2023

I won't both going into why I have a large number of duplicates, but the number is currently 17,000.  I found an add on app to Lightroom that appears to do a good job of finding duplicates.  It creates a smart collection called duplicates.  The method I am using is to 1) find the original I want to keep and clear the duplicate keyword.  Easy enough.  2) I have to go to the go to the folder in the library so I can delete it.  I tried doing a right click and remove from the smart collection and it won;t let me do that.  

 

Is there a faster way I can speed up this process?

 

Mike Bowen

[Personal information was removed by a Moderator. Sadly, not everyone going through these forums is a good person; never leave any personal information online.]

 

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matts9646435
matts9646435
Participant
February 26, 2025

I'm seeing this question 2 years after it was posed.  To delete photos from your mac computer from inside any collection or search in LRC, press and hold Shift / Option / Command and press the delete key (the one that eats from right to left) and it will delete the photo from lightroom but also from the disk - actual "gone gone."

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gary_sc
Community Expert
gary_scCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
November 10, 2019

HI S_K_Marshall,

 

There is no easy & quick solution to this, very sorry. I'm even more sorry to say that this is "probably" a good thing, because you do not want images automatically tossed as that way you had no input on which version of that image to delete.

 

That notwithstanding, you didn't mention if you have duplicates in the same folder or differeent folders. If they are in the same folder and if they have a mostly similar name (e.g., myphoto_2213.jpg and myphoto_2213-1.jpg), that's pretty easy: look for all of the "-1" and delete them. If they are all over your computer (different folders), than using software like "PhotoSweeper," can help.

 

However, as you've discovered, Bridge cannot directly help you on this.

 

Hope that helps.

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    S K Marshall
    S K MarshallAuthor
    Participant
    December 24, 2019

    Many thanks for taking the time to respond - appreciated Scott

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