How to Find Duplicate Files on Windows 11 (Built-in Steps First)

1. Compare files by hash in PowerShell

Get-FileHash returns Algorithm, Hash and Path, and defaults to SHA256. Microsoft's documentation says: "If the hash values of two files are identical, the contents of the files are also identical." Group-Object groups objects with the same property value and shows a Count.

Open PowerShell, replace D:\Folder with the folder you want to check, and run:

Get-ChildItem -Path "D:\Folder" -File -Recurse | Get-FileHash | Group-Object Hash | Where-Object Count -gt 1 | ForEach-Object { $_.Group | Select-Object Hash, Path }

It lists files, it deletes nothing. Files that share a Hash have identical contents.

Limits: it hashes every file, so it can take a while on big folders. It only finds byte-identical files, not resized or re-saved photos. For freeing space and duplicate photos, see C: drive full? Find duplicate photos first. To see your biggest files, see How to Find Large Files on Windows 11 (Built-in Steps First).

2. Delete safely by hand

Keep one copy, back up first, and prefer the Recycle Bin.

3. When an app helps

Disclosure: we (SolaceSoftware) make and sell Solace Sweep.

Solace Sweep, $36.75 once, 14-day money-back guarantee.

• Scans the Windows folders you pick for duplicates, oversized files, empty items and temporary data.
• Groups the results for review so you choose every file action. Nothing is removed until you review it.
• Reference paths let you protect a preferred copy during comparisons.
• Has a similar-images scan. Tested: it found 6 duplicate files in 5 groups (13.88 MiB), and the similar-images scan caught a resized copy. That was a test on sample duplicate files, not a test on a full drive.
• Runs on your own Windows PC, designed for reclaiming storage without uploading file data.

Limits: you need Windows 10 or newer, 64-bit. It is a portable, self-contained executable, and the ZIP is about 207 MB. The shop page lists the size and SHA-256 of the exact ZIP you download. Scan results can be incomplete or contain false matches, and delete, move and rename actions may be irreversible: preview every selection and keep a backup. The app isn't code-signed yet, so on first launch Windows may show "Windows protected your PC". Click More info, then Run anyway.

$36.75 once. No subscription and no automatic renewal. 14-day money-back guarantee. Refund terms.

Solace Sweep, $36.75 once, 14-day money-back guarantee.

or buy on Shopify

Questions before you buy: solacesoftware@smilingface.cloud

4. Questions

Is a duplicate the same name or the same content?

The same content. Microsoft's documentation: if the hash values of two files are identical, the contents of the files are also identical.

Will it delete for me?

Nothing is removed until you review it.

Does Solace Sweep upload my files?

The product page says it runs on your own Windows PC and is designed for reclaiming storage without uploading file data.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. There is a 14-day money-back guarantee. See the Refund terms.