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NatalieScott's avatar
NatalieScott
Iron Contributor
May 15, 2025

What is the best duplicate image finder for Windows 11?

The free space on my Windows 11 laptop becomes much less and only 5GB is available. As far as I know, there are many duplicate files especially the photos imported from my Android phone. I guess it is quite effective way to get more free storage by removing the photo duplicates.

However, it is impossible for doing this manually. Does anyone know a good duplicate image finder that works on Windows 11? I tried 2 free ones but only dozens of duplicate photos are found and this doesn't do any help for my situation.

Best Regards,

Natalie

14 Replies

  • JosiahTurner's avatar
    JosiahTurner
    Silver Contributor

    If you want to check if two images are ​​exactly identical​​ (same format, dimensions, and pixel data), you can:

    1. Compare file hashes​​ (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256) ​​
    2. Compare pixel-by-pixel​​ (for uncompressed formats like BMP, PNG, or TIFF)

    An ​​exact comparison​​ checks whether two files (like images) are ​​completely identical at the binary level​​, meaning every single byte matches. You don't need any duplicate photos finder app with this trick. This is the strictest form of comparison and is useful when you need to confirm that two files are ​​true duplicates​​ (same content, format, metadata, and compression).

    How It Works​

    Binary-Level Check​​: The comparison examines the raw bytes of the files. If even ​​one bit​​ differs, the files are considered non-identical. No additional duplicate image finder tool required with this method.

    Common Techniques​​:

    ​​File Hashing​​ (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256): A hash function generates a unique fingerprint (hash) of the file. If two files have the same hash, they are ​​bit-for-bit identical​​.

    ​​Direct Byte Comparison​​: Read both files byte-by-byte and check for mismatches.

    Best for​​:

    1. Verifying ​​unmodified copies​​ (e.g., backups, downloaded files).

    2. Detecting ​​true duplicates​​ (e.g., duplicate photos with identical metadata).

     

    • cindylouwho1962's avatar
      cindylouwho1962
      Copper Contributor

      I'm a bit lost on the instructions. Can you please be more descriptive?

  • TristanLewis's avatar
    TristanLewis
    Iron Contributor

    Hey! If you're looking for a duplicate image finder for Windows 11 PC, I’ve played around with a few, and I can suggest some decent options that won’t cost you a dime.

    One of the best duplicate image finder tools I’ve used and liked is VisiPics. It’s pretty straightforward—scans your folders, finds similar or identical images, and helps you delete the duplicates easily. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done and is lightweight. The only thing is, it’s a bit old-school looking, but hey, it’s free and works well.

    Another good one is Duplicate Cleaner Free. It’s a bit more polished, with options to scan specific folders, compare images by size, content, or metadata. I’ve used it a few times to clear up clutter, and it’s pretty reliable. Plus, it supports different image formats, which is a plus.

    From my experience, just be careful when deleting—double-check the duplicates before hitting delete, especially if you’re scanning folders with important images. Sometimes, the tools might flag similar-looking images that you actually want to keep.

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