Can Google Photos Detect Duplicates?

• User Case
• Can Google Photos Detect Duplicates?
• How Does Google Photos Handle Duplicates?
• How to Find Duplicate Photos in Google Photos
• Conclusion

User Case

Can Google Photos Detect Duplicates?

Google Photos is able to identify some duplicates, but not all of them. Its ability to detect duplicates is restricted and selective, primarily concentrating on precise file matches at upload. Unlike some specialized apps, it isn't a complete deduplication tool.

How Does Google Photos Handle Duplicates?

If you want to know more about Google Photos handling duplicates, here are the explanations:

1. Exact File Match Detection

• Google Photos verifies metadata (such as file size, creation date, etc.) and file hashes.
• The same file will typically not upload if you attempt to upload it twice.
• However, even a small change, such as rotating the image, altering the file name, or editing the image, can cause it to appear sufficiently different that Google Photos uploads it once more.

2. Upload Method Is Important

• Google Photos App (desktop or mobile): More efficient at preventing duplicates when syncing with the app.
• Manual Web Upload: Less accurate at identifying duplicates. If an image is slightly changed, it may be uploaded more than once.

3. Modifications Are Handled Like New Files

Even if the content is visually identical, if you use a third-party tool to edit a photo, it will probably be uploaded again because Google considers it to be a new file.

4. Various Sources of Backups

• Duplicates may result from uploading the same image from various apps or devices.
• Google Photos gives precise file information precedence over visual similarity and does not thoroughly cross-check duplicate content from various sources.

5. No Integrated Deduplication Tool

After uploading, there is no automatic deduplication tool to check your current library for duplicates. They must be eliminated manually or with the aid of third-party tools.

How to Find Duplicate Photos in Google Photos

In the above parts, you are told the answer to "Can Google Photos detect duplicates?" is yes, and how Google Photos detects duplicates. Here we will go further to explore more ways to find duplicates on Google Photos, which is a prerequisite for how to delete duplicate photos in Google Photos.

1. Google Photos' Built-in Detection:

• Automatic Prevention during Upload: Google Photos makes an effort to stop identical files from being uploaded twice by using automatic prevention during upload. When you upload multiple photos to Google Photos, the duplicates will be detected, and you will be told.
• "Identical Duplicate Detection": The purpose of this feature is to search metadata and content, and check if the photo is uploaded or not. It is enabled on Google Photos by default and makes Google Photos remove duplicates automatically.
• "Stacked Photos" (Experimental/Limited): This feature is used to collect duplicate photos into a single "stack" in an attempt to clear up clutter. But some users complain that this feature doesn't actually remove the duplicates or conserve space.

2. Manual Methods within Google Photos:

Because Google Photos lacks a powerful "find duplicates" button, you'll frequently have to use manual methods:

The search bar:

Use the search bar if you have information about the duplicate images, such as the name of a person, the location, or particular items in the picture. You can use this to compare and narrow down similar photos.

Sorting:

Typically, photos are sorted by date in your main Photos view. If duplicates were uploaded at roughly the same time, they might show up next to each other.

Scrolling and Deleting Manually:

• For large libraries, this takes the longest, but it's frequently the best way to delete near duplicates that Google Photos misses.
• Examine your pictures, paying particular attention to dates or occasions where you may have uploaded more than once.
• When a duplicate is discovered, click the "Trash" icon after selecting one copy (being careful not to select both if they are actually identical and you only want to remove one copy). Before being permanently deleted, deleted photos are kept in your trash for 60 days.

3. “Files by Google” App on Android Devices:

If you have the "Files by Google" app and Google Photos is syncing with your device, you can use the "Clean" tab to find the duplicates in the "Duplicate files".

Step 1. Launch the Google app Files.

Step 2. Tap "Clean" at the bottom of your screen.

Step 3. Find the tile labeled "Duplicate files" and tap "Select files".

Step 4. When you see duplicate files, the app will suggest which ones to remove, usually leaving the "Original" photo.

4. Third-Party Duplicate Photo Finder:

Many users use third-party apps because Google Photos doesn't have a thorough built-in duplicate finder. These tools frequently compare image content, metadata, and even visually similar photos, using more sophisticated algorithms.

Important Considerations When Using Third-Party Tools:

► Security and privacy: Use only trustworthy apps with transparent privacy policies and positive reviews. When giving permissions, exercise caution.

Examples:✎...

DupliSafe: Available for Android and iOS.

Google Photos Duplicate Finder: Available for Android and iOS.

PhotoSweeper: Available for Windows and macOS.

Duplicate Photo Cleaner: A popular option for Windows and Mac.

► Backups: It is strongly advised to create a backup of your Google Photos collection before utilizing any third-party tools. You can download your data using Google Takeout. Otherwise, you can use MultCloud to back up Google Photos to NAS, Google Drive, Amazon S3, MEGA, pCloud, IDrive e2, or other clouds.

Conclusion

Can Google Photos detect duplicates? The answer is yes. However, it can only detect the same photos. Any modification, such as renaming the photo, uploading from another app, or rotating it, will be detected as a different one. If you want to find the duplicates and delete them, there are also steps you can refer to.