How to Use SearchMyFiles to Remove/Delete Duplicates

Having duplicate files is not something new for anyone who uses a computer. We all make duplicates of files on our drives, be it intentionally or unintentionally. In most cases, it would probably not even bother us but there comes a time when you need to free up some space and the duplicate files are the first things you need to remove.

There are many ways to do that but one specific method we want to discuss in this article is a tool called SearchMyFiles. This is a versatile program that offers an array of features for its users including finding SearchMyFiles remove duplicates. With this feature, you can do a focused search of the data on your drives and find duplicates which you can then delete. We will be taking a close look at how this program works and what other alternatives can you consider.

Quick Navigation

Part 1. How to Use SearchMyFiles to Remove Duplicates

Part 2. Pros and Cons for Using SearchMyFiles to Delete Duplicates

Part 3. SearchMyFiles Alternative to Delete Duplicates – iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions for Removing Duplicates

Part 1. How to Use SearchMyFiles to Remove Duplicates

According to the developer of SearchMyFiles, it is not “just another duplicate files finder. It is a much more focused program and SearchMyFiles remove duplicates according to the selected criteria and location as decided by its user. This focused search is a key part of this software as you can cut down the time that it takes to scan the entire drive and only look for duplicates in folders where they can find Of course, that is not the only way that you can narrow down your search with this program. You also have the option to determine the file size limit that you want to search inside and even choose file creation dates. There are several other factors offered as well and each of them helps you reduce the load that the software needs to bear to SearchMyFiles remove duplicates for you.

For anyone who wants to use SearchMyFiles effectively, we are sharing a step-by-step guide so that you can get the maximum benefit out of it. Read each step carefully and implement it as needed because it will determine the outcome of your search directly.

1. Before starting, you need to make sure that the SearchMyFiles delete duplicates software is installed on your computer. You can download it from its website in a .zip archive which only needs extraction and no further installation. You can choose between the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version depending on your computer’s configuration. One thing to keep in mind here is that if you are unsure about your computer’s properties, simply choose the 32-bit option and 64-bit systems also support them.
2. Extract all the files in the .zip archive that you just downloaded into a dedicated folder. Having a folder for it would make it easier to find all the application files in case you need to move or delete them. Once the files are extracted, you need to run the SearchMyFiles executable file. This will be the one with the .exe extension.
3. The program should launch in its default mode and to switch to the duplicate finder, you will open the dropdown list under Search Mode on top of the window and select “Duplicate Files”. Now you are ready to configure your search parameters before you run the program.
4. For the sake of demonstration, we will assume that you are going to be searching for any file that is larger than 1,000 bytes in all the subfolders under the C:\users directory. The image below shows what that would look like.
5. You can also select through other attributes for files and folders like hidden, compressed, archived, encrypted, and more. This can be used to both expand or concentrate your search parameters while focusing on specific features. You can also select the number of files the software files before it stops searching for more.
6. With all the parameters set, you will simply click on the OK button at the bottom of the window and wait for the process to run. The app will start finding files and putting them in a new window where both the files will be put together so that you can choose one to delete or save. The files that the tool recovers during the search also come with specific color codes and even a duplicate number column to make the post-processing effort much easier and more effective.

One thing to keep in mind when using the SearchMyFiles delete duplicates feature and other options is that the developer recommends using search filters to narrow down the search criteria. If you do not do that, the program can become quite slow and take a long time to go through all your files before presenting you with all the duplicates that it managed to find.

Part 2. Pros and Cons for Using SearchMyFiles to Delete Duplicates

While SearchMyFiles is a highly capable program, it is still not the perfect tool for finding duplicates. We are sharing all the processes and cons that you can expect to see when you use SearchMyFiles to delete duplicates from your computer.

Part 3. SearchMyFiles Alternative to Delete Duplicates – iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder

Now that you have seen what a basic option looks like, we are sharing with you an alternative that takes the experience to the next level. While SearchMyFiles remove duplicates hidden or otherwise along with a wide range of other parameters, it is still not as capable as the alternative we have in mind. The tool we are referring to is the iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder. It takes what you can do using SearchMyFiles to remove duplicates hidden and makes the experience better in every possible way.

iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder is a highly capable tool that has support for a large collection of file formats. This means you can not only find everything you need but also narrow it down to quite an extent using a wide array of filter options.

When compared to SearchMyFiles removing duplicates hidden or otherwise, iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder performs much better in many ways.

Some of the key benefits that you can get from using iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder include the following:

Step-by-step Guide for How to Use SearchMyFiles Alternative to Delete Duplicates

Now that we have established iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder as a highly capable alternative to SearchMyFiles, you must be wondering how the software even works. To help you with that we are sharing this step-by-step guide so that you can use it effectively the very first time.

1. Install and run iBeesoft Duplicate File Finder on your computer.
2. In the main window, you will see a large plus sign that you can click on to select the directory that you want to search for duplicate files. An alternative way is to simply drag and drop the folder on top of the plus sign to select it. At this point, you can also choose the file size limit to be applicable on the search, whether you want to search for hidden files, and other filter types as well.
3. Once all the settings are applied, the tool will start the scanning process and you will start to see the duplicate files appear in the next window. You can see the file name and path along with the number of duplicates that it has found.
4. One great option here is to see the individual files and figure out which one you want to keep and which one you want to delete. This is especially useful if you have files that have the same names but different content in them. An example of this can be multiple edited photos that a photographer may have in their collection.
5. Once you have all the duplicates found, you can simply select them using the checkboxes next to them and choose to either select the duplicate you want to remove or simply click on the Remove button on the bottom right to delete the duplicate files.

An additional handy feature that you will notice here is the way file types are segregated to give you an idea of how much space each file type duplicates are taking. The files that get removed are sent to the Recycle Bin which means you do not lose them permanently in case you ever need to retrieve something that got deleted accidentally.

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions for Removing Duplicates

1. Does Windows 11 have a duplicate photo finder?

Windows 11 does not come with a dedicated duplicate photo cleaner. However, what you can do is arrange all the files in the folder that you want to search the duplicate files for by name and look for files that may have (1) or Copy written at the end of their name. Typically, these are duplicate files, and you can easily delete them after checking their contents.

2. How do I remove duplicate files in Windows 11 for free?

The best way to remove duplicate files for free in Windows 11 is to use a tool that lets you remove duplicates for free. iBeesoft free duplicate file finder for Windows 11 is a great option for anyone who wants to remove up to 20 duplicate files from their system as it is completely free to do that. Alternatively, you could also look for a tool that is completely free but the options available are quite technical and not well-designed.

3. How do I use SearchMyFiles?

You can use SearchMyFiles for a variety of functions and each of them comes with its own set of options to choose from. You can select the mode you want by going through the dropdown menu on top of the screen called Search Mode. Once you have selected the option you want, you can configure the parameters of that option and perform your search.