MS Photo Duplicates

• Open Start → type PowerShell → right‑click → Run as your user (not as Administrator).
• To just list files whose filename contains the literal "(1)":
  • Replace the path with your actual pictures folder (example uses the Pictures folder).
    
    Code:

    Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Pictures" -Recurse -File |
    Where-Object { $_.Name -match '\(1\)' } |
    Select-Object FullName

    Explanation: the -match '(1)' uses a regex so the parentheses are treated literally. This will not delete anything — it just lists matches.
• To check how many matches you have:
  
  Code:

  Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Pictures" -Recurse -File |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -match '\(1\)' } |
  Measure-Object

• To preview what would be deleted (do NOT run the remove until you verify):
  
  Code:

  Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Pictures" -Recurse -File |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -match '\(1\)' } |
  Remove-Item -WhatIf

  If the preview looks correct, remove the -WhatIf to actually delete.

• This makes sure you don’t accidentally delete unique files that happen to have "(1)" in name:
  
  Code:

  Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Pictures" -Recurse -File |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -match '\(1\)'} |
  ForEach-Object {
  $origName = $_.Name -replace ' \(\d+\)','' # strip " (1)" or "(2)" etc.
  $origPath = Join-Path $_.DirectoryName $origName
  if (Test-Path $origPath) { [PSCustomObject]@{ Duplicate = $_.FullName; Original = $origPath }
  }
  } | Format-Table -AutoSize

• Review the list. When you’re satisfied, you can delete the duplicates (again, do a backup or use -WhatIf first).

• To compute SHA256 for a pair and verify they are bit‑identical:
  Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 "C:\path\to\file (1).jpg","C:\path\to\file.jpg"
• If the hashes match, the files are identical; if not, don’t delete.

• Explorer/AQS and simple wildcards can treat parentheses or the number "1" as a general match depending on how you typed the query, so a search like (1) can match many filenames containing "1" or be interpreted loosely. For more reliable name-based searches use PowerShell or a file indexer tool. See the discussion of advanced search operators and faster name-based tools.

• Everything (Voidtools) — instant, literal filename search (type (1) and it will show only names containing that exact string). Great for quick visual verification before running deletes. Using a dedicated duplicate‑finder (dupeGuru, Duplicate Cleaner, etc. is better when you need content-aware duplicates rather than just name‑based. Forum posts recommend these kinds of tools for inspecting duplicates safely.

• Before deleting, pause or disable iCloud Photos sync on the PC so deletions don’t propagate to iCloud, or create a verified backup of your iCloud library. Photos.app and iCloud act on the local file system, so deleting the local file while sync is active can remove the cloud copy. See the notes about pausing sync / backing up first.

1. Make a backup (copy Pictures\iCloud Photos to an external drive or download from iCloud.com). (Do this first.
2. Pause iCloud for Windows (or sign out) so deletions won’t propagate to the cloud.
3. Run the PowerShell listing command above and review the results.
4. Option A (name-based): Use the "original exists" script to confirm pairs, then delete duplicates (with -WhatIf first).
   Option B (content-aware): Use a duplicate finder to compare image contents and remove duplicates after you confirm.
5. Re-enable iCloud and let it re-sync.

• The exact path where iCloud Photos stores your pictures (for example C:\Users\David\Pictures\iCloud Photos\Photos), and
• Whether the duplicates always show the pattern " (1)" exactly or sometimes other numbers,

DavidPatrick56 said:

When I add a photo to iCloud Photos, MS Photos creates a duplicate image: *.JPG and *(1).JPG. Only the original shows up in the iCloud. When I delete the duplicate *(1).jpg from MS Photos it leaves the original; however it deletes the original from iCloud.

How can I add photos to iCloud without getting duplicates in MS Photos?

How can I identify and delete the duplicates in MS Photo while maintaining a copy in iCloud?

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