Find Duplicate Files With rdfind
Scan directories for identical files and review the duplicates safely.
Run rdfind -dryrun true ~/Downloads to list duplicates without changing anything.
01Command
Command
$ rdfind -dryrun true ~/Downloads02What it does
rdfind compares files by size and checksum, ranking results by a chosen criterion (most recently modified or least), and prints a results file. Only after reviewing it should you run with -makehardlinks or -deleteduplicates.
03Risk
!Warning: Deleting duplicates is irreversible; always start with the dry run and keep the results file as a record.
04Undo
✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.
05Sources
- rdfindEvidence: Debian packages rdfind, which finds duplicate files and can replace them with symlinks or hardlinks.
- Debian package: rdfindEvidence: Debian packages rdfind, which finds duplicate files and can replace them with symlinks or hardlinks.
Last verified: 2026-09-22 · Category: Files & Folders
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