Easy Way to Delete Duplicate Tracks in Windows Media Player

antspants said:

OK worth a try

Can you please screenshoot or copy paste two of the filenames for duplicate files so we can see how they were duplicated. Like I said, they can’t be called the same thing in the same folder.

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@MalwareT
This is an example of type of information was asked for by @antspants:

Berton said:

@MalwareT
This is an example of type of information was asked for by @antspants:

View attachment 121333

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For some reason, I am having trouble finding those via File Explorer, even though I found them before.

Seems like all your duplicate/copy files have a similar naming pattern with (2) being included in the duplicate/copy name.

To delete them quickly download Everything — you can install it or use it as a Portable (without installing) — then launch it. Then have it search for the following pattern:

*(2).mp3
*(2).mp4
*(2).flac

And so on for all the file types that you might be using as your music files.

When Everything finds the duplicates/copies then inside Everything just select all the duplicates copies it finds using the hotkey combination CTRL+A. Now right-click on one of the selected files and chose 'delete'. All done and very quickly.

To search in a specific folder and its sub-folders then in Everything "Search" menu select "Match Path" and it will search only in those folders. So using that you might have a search string looking in a folder called "My Music" (and its sub-folders) like:

My Music\ *(2).mp3
My Music\ *(2).mp4
My Music\ *(2).flac

For more detail on this method of searching see: Everything Frequently Asked Questions and look in the "Searching" section there.

P.S. It might be the case that Windows can do this sort of thing 'natively' but I'm used to Everything so explain in that way.

BuddhaNature said:

Seems like all your duplicate/copy files have a similar naming pattern with (2) being included in the duplicate/copy name.

To delete them quickly download Everything — you can install it or use it as a Portable (without installing) — then launch it. Then have it search for the following pattern:

*(2).mp3
*(2).mp4
*(2).flac

And so on for all the file types that you might be using as your music files.

When Everything finds the duplicates/copies then inside Everything just select all the duplicates copies it finds using the hotkey combination CTRL+A. Now right-click on one of the selected files and chose 'delete'. All done and very quickly.

P.S. It might be the case that Windows can do this sort of thing 'natively' but I'm used to Everything so explain in that way.

Click to expand...

The addition of Copy and a number or the (2) or other number is Windows way of showing duplicates when choosing to keep both during a Copy or Move process of files, works quite well but then I've been dealing with Windows for the last 30 years, helps to learn the processes.

Using a third-party program is fine for some things but there's always a risk of them not working properly after Version Upgraded and/or Build updates. And the User has to learn how to use them. Since I have clients using Windows I have to be able to see what they are seeing so need to keep my system as designed, especially since only a License to use is provided, seen in the EULA.