Homedex

Feature · Duplicates

Find duplicate files, even when the names differ

Updated

Short answer

Homedex fingerprints each file's contents, so copies are found even when they have different names or live in different folders. You review each group, and extras go to the Recycle Bin, never deleted permanently.

Duplicates: identical copies grouped; Keep 1, Trash 1 moves the extra copy to the Recycle Bin

Exact copies, matched by content

Name-based duplicate finders miss “IMG_2041 (1).jpg” versus “holiday.jpg”, and wrongly flag two different files that share a name. Homedex compares a content fingerprint instead, so only files that are truly identical are grouped.

Which copy it suggests keeping

In each group, the copy outside your Downloads folder with the shortest, most organised path is suggested as the keeper, because that is usually the one you filed on purpose. One click picks a different copy instead.

How to clear duplicates

  1. 1
    Open Duplicates

    Press Ctrl+Shift+D. Homedex shows how much space you'll get back in total.

  2. 2
    Review each group

    The suggested keeper is marked. Click any other copy to keep that one instead.

  3. 3
    Trash the extras

    Choose “Keep 1, Trash the rest”. Extras move to the Recycle Bin, so you can restore them.

Questions

Will it ever delete the original?
No. One copy in every group is always kept, and the others go to the Recycle Bin rather than being deleted permanently.
Does it download cloud files to compare them?
No. OneDrive, Dropbox and iCloud placeholders that aren't downloaded are skipped, so nothing re-downloads.
Does Windows have a built-in duplicate finder?
No. Windows has no built-in duplicate file finder. Our guide covers the manual way and its limits.

Every file you own, easy to find.

Homedex is a visual file browser for Windows. Big previews, plain-English search, text inside screenshots, duplicate cleanup — all on your device.

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