How to Find Duplicate RAR Files

Do you download a lot of files online? If so, you might have acquired a lot of duplicate RAR files. If you’re wondering how to find duplicate RAR files easily, stay with us. We’ll discuss what RAR files are, and how deleting duplicate RAR files regularly can help you free-up your storage space. Let’s begin.

What is a RAR File?

The term RAR stands for Roshal Archive which is a proprietary file format developed by the makers of the popular WinRAR application. A RAR file works as a container that stores multiple files and folders together. It offers various other significant benefits such as multiple file compression options, file encryption, and password protection, among others. RAR files are available in different extensions including .rar, .rev, r01, and .r00.

How to Find Duplicate RAR Files?

Now, we’ll discuss the most common ways to find your duplicate Roshal Archive files.

Find Duplicate RAR Files Manually with File Explorer

Do you have fewer files? If so, you can consider manually finding duplicates using the file sorting functionality in File Explorer. You won’t need to download any external tool.

Steps

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Go to the directory that contains your RAR files.

3. Click on the Sort icon, and choose Name.

4. Look for files matching similar name patterns. For example, travel.rar, travel – Copy (2).rar, travel – Copy (3).rar

5. Move all matching files to a separate folder on your computer to manually confirm if they’re indeed duplicates.

Benefits

• It’s free! You don’t need to download any third-party application to find duplicate WinRAR archives.
• No hassle of getting familiar with a third-party application.
• No privacy concerns, especially if you’re dealing with confidential business data

Drawbacks

• Comparing hundreds of thousands of files manually can be impractical and error-prone.
• File name is not a strong or reliable factor for finding duplicates. By merely comparing file names, there is a risk of accidental data loss.

Find Duplicate RAR Files Automatically with a Tool

A specialized application automates the entire procedure and provides more accurate results. It gives you the freedom to customize the duplicate scan for your unique needs.

For example, while scanning duplicate WinRAR files using a specialized application, you will be able to find files that are above a certain size (such as 10 MB). Similarly, if you want to exclude certain folders from being scanned, it’s possible too.

Steps

1. Download Dupinout Duplicate Finder.

2. Click on the Add button in the New Search tab.

3. Select multiple folders or drives that you want to scan for duplicate WinRAR archives.

4. Set the Scan Mode to “File Content + Size”

5. Click on “Let me choose…”

6. Set the “Compressed” option to “Search”. Set everything else to “Ignore”.

7. Start the scan by hitting the “Start Search” button.

8. Once the scan concludes, click on “Review & Fix”

9. Click on the “Mark Duplicates” button and choose your preferred duplicate file selection criteria.

10. Click on the “Fix Duplicates” button, and choose an action: Move to Folder, Rename Files, Replace with Shortcut, Move to Recycle Bin, or Delete Permanently.

That’s it, it’s now easier to find duplicate RAR files than ever!

Benefits

• Fully-automated scan using smart algorithms that provide highly accurate results
• Scan customization options (file size, file type, etc.)
• Multiple file scans are available (File Content + Size, Music Search, Similar Photos, etc.)

Drawbacks

• It’s a paid application. (It offers a 90-day fully-functional free trial)
• It is currently available in limited languages.

Why Do I Have So Many Duplicate RAR Files?

Here are the most common scenarios that lead to duplicate RAR files:

• Downloading the same RAR files from multiple sources on different occasions, can fill your Downloads folder with unwanted identical copies.
• File copying operations are a leading cause of duplication. Sometimes we copy the same RAR files to multiple folders without ever realizing.
• Some people store multiple RAR files inside a single RAR file to meet their unique requirements. You might accumulate duplicates if you are extracting these files to multiple locations.
• Or perhaps you’ve multiple copies of the same RAR files stored on different devices. Regularly transferring files from these devices can lead to unintended duplicate archives.

Final Takeaway

RAR files are incredibly helpful and they serve in different ways. If you’re regularly transferring or downloading RAR files, it’s easy to get duplicates. While it’s possible to find duplicate RAR files manually, it can be difficult and error-prone if you have too many files to deal with. A dedicated tool can automate file scan, improve the level of accuracy, and provide better control over your files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why Are RAR Files So Popular?

Much like ZIP files, RAR files are also used by a significant number of people worldwide due to the various benefits they offer:

• File Compression: They reduce the size of your original files, making it easier to store many files in limited storage.
• Easy to Share: Uploading a single RAR archive containing hundreds of files is easier & convenient.
• Password-protection: Easily lock RAR files with a password before sharing them with your colleagues or family member.
• File Encryption: Encode your confidential data into ciphertext and prevent unauthorized viewing or tampering your files.
• Smaller File Backups: They can serve as backups across different types including full backup, differential backup, and incremental backup.