Child Item

Is there a way to bulk identify and delete duplicates?

Device: MacBook Pro, Tahoe 26.3
Operating System/Browser: Safari
Question or Issue
I was trying the "find duplicates" function available on the web interface because it's not available through the desktop app (on Mac at least). The web interface is almost completely unusable. As someone who has nearly 2 decades of files backed up, I have probably close to 100,000 duplicate files and I'd like to do a bulk find and delete.

The web interface requires that I select every single file separately AND that I approve any deletion through a separate click - I can't even bulk-select files and approve a deletion.

Is there a function that allows bulk deletion? Or do I have to buy a third-party tool for this? I have a pro account if that matters.

Find more posts tagged with

Delete

Sort

Organize

Accepted answers

Mark

I dont believe there is anything you can use other than the official Dropbox one you already mentioned.

If the files are local (i.e. all downloaded and saved locally) you may be able to run a tool on the folder structure instead but given the quantity you are talking about I assume thats unlikley.

All comments

Mark

I dont believe there is anything you can use other than the official Dropbox one you already mentioned.

If the files are local (i.e. all downloaded and saved locally) you may be able to run a tool on the folder structure instead but given the quantity you are talking about I assume thats unlikley.

Purple_unicorn

Thanks. It's at least clear.

And... I know you're not the dev, but ngl, this is about the worst tool design I've ever come across. Maybe a dropbox dev or product manager will read this...

I don't understand the point of making a duplicate file identifier then forcing a user to open every single duplicate separately and approve them separately - one by one. So 6 clicks to delete one file. If I have 2, it's 12 clicks. And no one has 2 or 5 or 10 - they have 1,000 or more, at least when it becomes an issue.

I can't imagine anyone bothered to even test it.

Walter

Hey @Purple_unicorn - thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this with us.

I've shared your feedback with our team internally and you can let us know if you have anything else to add.