This article explains how to delete duplicate RAR files on Windows. It covers the common reasons why duplicate RAR files occur and provides step-by-step instructions for deleting them using File Explorer and MiniTool Partition Wizard.

Duplicate RAR files can take up storage space and make your files harder to manage.

To fix this problem, it’s helpful to understand why these duplicates appear and how to remove duplicate WinRAR files on PC.

The following sections explain the common causes and show you how to delete duplicate RAR files.

Why Are There Duplicate WinRAR Files on Your PC?

The presence of duplicate RAR files on a computer is typically linked to downloading, copying, or file management practices. The following is a detailed explanation of the common causes:

  • Duplicate downloads: When you download the same compressed archive multiple times, the system automatically saves multiple copies.
  • Interrupted or restarted downloads: If a download is interrupted and subsequently restarted, some browsers or download managers may create a new file rather than resuming the original download, thereby generating a duplicate file.
  • File transfer and backup: Duplicates can occur when copying files between different folders, disks, or external storage devices without checking for or overwriting existing files.
  • Improper organization: When moving or renaming files, a lack of clear tracking can result in identical files being left behind in multiple locations.

How to Delete Duplicate RAR Files

Over time, duplicate RAR files can accumulate, creating unnecessary redundancy on your computer.

The section below outlines two simple methods to help you efficiently find and delete duplicate RAR files.

Method 1: Delete Duplicate RAR Files via MiniTool Partition Wizard

MiniTool Partition Wizard is a free duplicate file cleaner that helps you find and delete duplicate RAR files on your computer, external hard drives, and other storage devices.

Tips:
It has many powerful disk management features, such as creating/extending/resizing partitions, changing cluster size, cloning a hard drive, wiping a disk, etc.

Follow the steps below to identify and delete duplicate RAR files.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to its main interface and click the Duplicate Cleaner feature on the toolbar.

The MiniTool Partition Wizard main interface with the selected Duplicate Cleaner option.

Step 2: In the new pop-up window, you can adjust the settings to choose the disks and other parameters to scan. By default, all file types will be scanned. Here, you need to select the Archives option in the Filter bar, then leave RAR files. After making your selections, simply click Scan Now to begin.

Tips:
For the Scan Location, Excluded, and Protected sections, leave the default options unless you have specific requirements.
MiniTool Partition Wizard Duplicate Cleaner interface with the selected Scan Now option.

Step 3: Once the scan is finished, a list of all duplicate RAR files will be displayed. Expand each entry to see the duplicate RAR files. Choose the one you wish to delete, then click Delete Selected Files in the bottom right. A Delete Options window will pop up, here you can choose Delete the selected files permanently, then type YES and OK.

The Delete Selected Files and OK option selected in the bottom right corner of the MiniTool Partition Wizard interface.

Method 2: Via File Explorer

File Explorer is a built-in tool in the Windows operating system that can also help you find duplicate RAR files.

With its basic search features, you can manually identify repeated RAR files and delete them without needing to install any third-party software.

This makes it a simple and convenient way to manage and clean up duplicate RAR files on your computer.

Note:
File Explorer offers limited functionality when it comes to finding and deleting duplicate RAR files. It cannot automatically identify duplicates, requiring you to manually compare filenames and file details instead. This process is inefficient and becomes particularly cumbersome when dealing with a large number of RAR files.

Here are the steps:

  1. Click the File Explorer icon to open File Explorer.
  2. Choose the This PC and type .rar file type in the Search box.
  3. After a few minutes, all the .rar files will pop up. In Windows 10, go to the View tab and select Details. In Windows 11, choose the View > Details option.
  4. Manually review the listed RAR files, make sure the RAR files are true duplicates with identical content, not different archives that just have similar names.
  5. After confirmation, select the duplicate RAR file, right-click, and select Delete.
File Explorer interface with the selected Delete option.

My computer was cluttered with duplicate RAR files. Fortunately, I used MiniTool Partition Wizard to find and delete these duplicates.Click to Tweet

Delete Duplicate RAR Files FAQ

1. What are duplicate RAR files?
Duplicate RAR files are compressed files with identical content, though they may be stored in different folders or use different filenames.
2. Is It Safe to Delete Duplicate RAR Files?
Deleting duplicate RAR files is generally safe, as these files are mostly just redundant copies that do not affect system operation.
However, before deleting them, it is advisable to first verify that their contents are absolutely identical rather than archives with similar names but different contents. This helps avoid accidentally deleting important data.
3. How much space can be freed up by deleting duplicate files?
The amount of space freed up by deleting duplicate files depends on the number of duplicates and the size of the individual files. If there are only a few small files, the freed space may not be significant.
However, if there are duplicate copies of multiple large RAR archives, a substantial amount of disk space could be reclaimed.
4. Is it possible to batch delete duplicate RAR files?
File Explorer does not support intelligent batch deletion. You would have to select the files manually. To batch delete duplicate RAR files, you need to use a specialized duplicate file cleaning tool.

Bottom Line

This article explains why there are duplicate WinRAR files on your PC and teaches you use MiniTool Partition Wizard and File Explorer to find and remove the duplicate RAR files.

If you have any questions or feedback about MiniTool Partition Wizard, feel free to contact our support team at [email protected] for additional help.

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About The Author

Cecilia
Cecilia

Position: Columnist

Cecilia is a new member of MiniTool. She works as an English editor on the MiniTool team. She likes to learn articles about computers and is passionate about partition management and Windows operating systems. She is committed to allowing readers to use simple, efficient, and fast methods to solve the computer problems they encounter. To provide more professional solutions, she will continue to learn and master computer knowledge.

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