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How to Remove Duplicate Photos from OneDrive and Google Photos
Question details
The user needs to safely remove duplicate photos resulting from simultaneous backups to OneDrive and Google Photos without deleting the original files from their iPhone.
- Product
- OneDrive, Google Photos
- Device & OS
- Windows PC (HP), iOS
- Scenario
- Trying to free up local and cloud storage space by eliminating redundant photo backups across multiple cloud services.
- Observed behavior
- Photos from the user's devices are being backed up to both Google Photos and OneDrive concurrently, which creates unnecessary duplicate copies and consumes extra storage space on the computer.
Verify that every photo has successfully completed its cloud backup to either OneDrive or Google Photos before attempting to delete any local copies or duplicates.
Use 'Free Up Space' in OneDrive to Remove Local Copies
This method removes the local duplicate copies of your photos from your PC's hard drive while ensuring the files remain safely stored in your OneDrive cloud.
When managing OneDrive files through File Explorer, deleting a file directly will move it to the Recycle Bin and delete it from your cloud storage as well. To strictly remove the file from your computer but keep it in the cloud, you must use the built-in storage management feature.
Open File Explorer on your Windows PC and click on the OneDrive folder located in the left navigation pane.
Navigate to the Pictures or Camera Roll folder and highlight the photos or folders you wish to remove from your local drive.
Right-click the selected files and click on 'Free up space'. The status icon next to the files will change to a blue cloud, indicating they are now online-only.
Disable Redundant Auto-Backups to Prevent Future Duplicates
By turning off the automatic camera upload feature on one of the two cloud services, you can prevent future photos from being duplicated across both platforms.
Manage Your Documents Effectively with WPS Office
While managing your cloud storage for photos, you might also need a lightweight and cost-effective way to handle your documents. WPS Office is a powerful, free alternative to Microsoft Office that provides excellent compatibility and seamless cloud integration for your productivity needs.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software on your PC.
- 3. Sign In and Sync: Launch the application and sign in to activate your free WPS Cloud storage for seamless document syncing across devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting photos from my PC remove them from my iPhone?
If you simply delete a photo that is actively syncing via OneDrive or iCloud, it will delete the cloud copy, which in turn removes it from your synced iPhone. To avoid this, always use the 'Free up space' option on your PC to remove the local file while keeping the cloud copy secure.
How can I find out which photos are duplicated between OneDrive and Google Photos?
Because OneDrive and Google Photos are entirely separate services managed by different companies, there is no automatic cross-platform duplicate finder. You will need to view your galleries side-by-side or download both archives to a local drive and use a third-party duplicate finding software to compare them.
Is it safe to keep both OneDrive and Google Photos backups enabled at the same time?
While it is technically safe and provides a redundant backup layer, it consumes double the upload bandwidth and takes up storage space across two different cloud plans. It is generally recommended to choose one primary service for automated photo backups to prevent confusion and duplicate file management.
