How to find duplicate photos in Google Photos?

Delete Duplicate Photos
1

I have a ton of photos in Google Photos, and I realized that many of them are duplicates. It’s becoming a hassle to manage. Is there a way to find and delete these duplicate photos? Any tools or built-in features that can help?

2

First thing you wanna do is, unfortunately, face the truth: Google Photos doesn’t have a magical “find duplicate” button. Yep, sucks, I know. You’ll have to do a bit of manual labor. Here are a few steps and tools other folks have sworn by:

  1. Manual Search: If you got the patience of a saint, you can manually scroll through and delete duplicates. Good luck with that.

  2. Google Photos’ “Favorites” Feature: Start by favoriting unique photos, then filter by Favorites and compare. Delete what’s not favorited later.

  3. Third-party Apps:

    • Duplicate Photos Fixer Pro: Works on Android. You install it, grant it access, and let it search and delete duplicates. Easy peasy, but not free.
    • Remo Duplicate Photos Remover: Another good app. Pretty much the same drill—install, scan, delete.

  4. Google Backup and Sync App on Desktop: Download all your photos, use duplicate cleaning software like CCleaner or Duplicate Cleaner for eliminating duplicates, and then re-upload.

And beware of those automation apps; some people have horror stories of them going rogue and deleting precious, non-duplicate photos. Always have a backup!

Summing it up: No shortcut in Google Photos, manual grind, or third-party apps, with a side of caution. Safe deleting!

3

Honestly, it’s kinda maddening that Google Photos doesn’t have a built-in feature for finding duplicates. You’re left either painstakingly sifting through them manually or gambling with third-party apps. Have fun with that! I tried the manual route once, and let me tell you, I’d rather watch paint dry.

Instead of repeating the same suggestions, let’s talk strategy. One thing @codecrafter didn’t mention is taking advantage of Google Photos’ search function. You can search by specific terms, locations, or even dates, making it a bit easier to spot duplicates. If you have pics from a particular event, search for that event’s date and start cleaning up from there.

Another unconventional tip is to use Google Photos’ built-in Assistant feature to create albums from certain events or trips. You might realize you have duplicate photos while categorizing them into albums. Not perfect, but every bit helps.

Oh, and here’s a pro tip: when looking at photos, use the ‘Info’ button (the little “i” icon) to see the metadata. Sometimes duplicates might have differences in file size or timestamps that can help you distinguish the original from the duplicate.

If you decide to go the third-party app route, sometimes the free versions are enough to get the job done. Test them out before buying the full version. One reviewer’s ‘nightmare’ story about automation apps can sound like over-exaggeration, but always – and I mean always – keep a backup before running any batch deletion process. Paranoia pays off here!

In the end, if you’re desperate and willing to shell out some cash, paying someone on Fiverr or Upwork to clean it up is an option too. Sometimes outsourcing the headache is worth the bucks. Just scrutinize their reviews before entrusting them with your treasured memories!

Happy sorting! Or not.

4

Alright, tackling duplicate photos in Google Photos can be a headache, no doubt. @viajeroceleste and @codecrafter have thrown some solid advice your way, but here’s a slightly different strategy:

Automation Tools - Proceed with Caution:
While @viajeroceleste and @codecrafter mentioned third-party apps, consider trying PhotoSweeper if you’re on a Mac. It’s a razor-sharp tool that uses advanced algorithms to detect duplicates. It’s particularly good at recognizing files that look the same but might have different resolutions or lighting. However, downside? Not free and requires a bit of a learning curve.

Online Duplicates Remover:
Another option is to use an online service like Cloud Duplicate Finder. It directly links to your Google Photos (and other cloud storage) to find duplicates. Quick and no downloads needed. Downsides: Privacy concerns (you’re giving access to your cloud) and possibly slow if you have a massive library.

Linux Users:
For tech-savvy folks, a command-line tool like rmlint can be extremely handy. It can find duplicates across multiple directories and give you a CSV report to manually verify.

Prevention Tips:

  1. Regular Maintenance: Make it a habit to check for duplicates before uploading. Use tools like VisiPics or Anti-Twin to scan your local storage first.
  2. Google Photo’s Auto-Upload Settings: Adjust these settings to prevent multiple uploads of the same image. Combine this with regular checks in Google Photos’ “Recently Added” section to nip duplicates in the bud.

Pro & Con Analysis:

  1. PhotoSweeper:
    • Pros: Accurate, advanced features.
    • Cons: Costly, sharp learning curve.
  2. Cloud Duplicate Finder:
    • Pros: No installation, links directly.
    • Cons: Privacy, speed.
  3. rmlint:
    • Pros: Powerful, customizable.
    • Cons: Technical know-how required.
  4. VisiPics/Anti-Twin before uploading:
    • Pros: Preventive measure, effective.
    • Cons: Requires discipline, trivial for small uploads.

Final Suggestion: Patience and routine checks outperform any tool in safeguarding your cherished memories. And as @viajeroceleste noted, backups are non-negotiable before running bulk deletion processes! No tool, no matter how smart, beats the careful eye of a human when it comes to preserving memories. Happy decluttering!