How to Remove Duplicate Files from Samsung Galaxy Phones?

If you have owned your Samsung Galaxy phones for a while, chances are you have noticed the storage slowly shrinking even though you don’t remember saving much. This usually happens for a simple reason: duplicate files. They slip in quietly photos saved twice, downloads you forgot about, backups restored multiple times and screenshots taken more than once. Before long, they begin to occupy valuable space and make the phone feel cluttered.

The good news is that removing duplicates doesn’t require technical skills. Samsung gives you a few handy tools and the Android platform offers additional ways to track down and delete unneeded copies. Below is a practical and simple to follow guide on how to clear duplicate files from your Samsung Galaxy phones without risking your important data.

Remove Duplicate Files from Samsung Galaxy Phones?

Why Duplicate Files Appear in the First Place

Duplicate files usually build up slowly often in ways you do not immediately notice. Here are a few common scenarios

1. You download the same attachment multiple times because it did not open on the first try.

2. Messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram save photos automatically even if you already have the original.

3. When you switch to a new phone some backups restore images or videos that you already had.

4. Social media apps save edited versions of photos alongside the original one.

All these small unnoticed actions accumulate over months and eventually you are left wondering where the storage went.

1. Start With Samsung’s “My Files” Duplicate Scanner

Samsung includes a useful storage tool inside the My Files app that can detect obvious duplicates. It’s often the quickest place to start because it looks for files with the same name and size.

How to Use It:

1. Open the My Files app.
2. Tap Analyze storage at the top.
3. Scroll until you see Duplicate files.
4. Samsung will show a list of files that appear more than once.
5. Select the items you don’t need and tap Delete.

This built-in tool is straightforward, though it mainly detects precise matches. For more complicated duplicates like photos that look the same but have different names you will need to combine this step with others below.

2. Clean Up Duplicate or Similar Photos in the Gallery

Pictures are usually the biggest storage hogs on any phone, and Samsung’s Gallery app offers suggestions that help you identify images that look alike.

Try the Suggestions Tool:

1. Open Gallery.
2. Tap the menu icon (three dots).
3. Look for Suggestions or a section that highlights similar or repeated images.
4. Review the recommendations and choose what you want to remove.

This tool is surprisingly helpful because it doesn’t rely only on file names; instead, it compares the actual content of images. If you take multiple photos of the same scene or if social apps create edited copies the Gallery app can spot them.

Also Read: How to Choose the Best Duplicate Photo Finder Tool

3. Check the Downloads Folder Manually

The Downloads folder is messy for almost everyone. It tends to contain PDFs saved twice, app installers you no longer need, repeated images from social media, and documents from emails.

To Clean It Up:

1. Open My Files.
2. Tap Downloads.
3. Sort items by date, name or size.
4. Look through the list and remove anything unnecessary or duplicated.

Even though this part takes a few minutes, it can free up a surprising amount of space.

4. Use Files by Google for a Deeper Cleanup

Samsung’s tools are great but sometimes you need something that digs deeper especially for duplicate photos or files saved under different names. Files by Google is one of the safest and most reliable tools for this.

How to Use It:

1. Install Files by Google from the Play Store.

2. Open the app and give it permission to access your files.

3. Tap the Clean tab at the bottom.

4. Look for Duplicate files or Similar photos.

5. Review the selections and delete what you don’t need.

One advantage of this app is that it uses content-based matching rather than just comparing file names.

5. Identify Duplicates Created by Backups and Transfers

Often, duplicates appear after a phone upgrade or transfer. Smart Switch and Google Photos are both helpful but when used incorrectly they can restore content you already have.

Tips to Prevent Backup Duplicates:

1. Avoid restoring more than one backup on the same phone.

2. If you use Google Photos turn off Samsung Cloud for photos to prevent duplicates.

3. After transferring to a new device, check the Gallery and Downloads folders immediately before they become messy again.

Being aware of how your files restore can save you from repeat clutter in the future.

6. Clear App Cache and Temporary Files

While cached data is not technically a duplicate file then it behaves like one because it takes up space without providing much benefit.

To Clear Cache:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Apps.
3. Tap the app you want to clean.
4. Choose Storage.
5. Tap Clear cache.

This won’t delete personal data or files but it does help free space quickly especially on apps like Chrome or Facebook.

7. Organize Your Folders to Prevent Future Clutter

If you want to keep duplicates from building up again then consider organizing your files a bit more intentionally.

Some Helpful Habits:

• Create specific folders for documents, screenshots, and downloads.
• Review your camera photos monthly.
• Turn off automatic media saving in messaging apps.
• Delete unused WhatsApp media from the WhatsApp Images and WhatsApp Videos folders.

These small routines prevent the problem from returning.

8. Always Back Up Important Files Before Cleaning

Before you remove anything in bulk make sure you have backups of important documents or precious photos. You can use:

• A cloud service (Google Drive, Samsung Cloud)
• A computer
• An external SSD or USB storage device

A short backup process gives you peace of mind and prevents accidental loss.

Also Read: How to Remove Google Photos Duplicates

Final words

Cleaning duplicate files from a Samsung Galaxy phones does not have to be a stressful or complicated task. With Samsung’s built-in tools and a few reliable methods like Files by Google that you can recover valuable storage space in minutes. The key is to combine automated scans with quick manual checks and then develop small habits that stop duplicates from building up again. Once you get into the routine then your phone stays faster, cleaner and much easier to manage.