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Duplicate Files Search & Link
What Duplicate Files Search & Link is
Duplicate Files Search & Link is a free Windows utility for locating duplicate files and consolidating them. It compares file contents byte by byte, so identical data can be found even when filenames differ. Audio, video, and JPG files can also be matched by identical media content while metadata or media tags differ. After identifying duplicates, the program can replace them with hard links or symbolic links. Scans can cover local drives and folders, network folders, ZIP archives, and multiple physical drives. The search engine can process several independent drives at once or multiple files on one SSD. Results include duplicate visualization, filtering, sorting, file preview, and Recycle Bin support, with paths longer than 260 characters supported. An option in version 10.8.1 skips online-only files in OneDrive, Google Drive, Yandex Disk, and other cloud services. Windows downloads include standalone and installer packages for versions 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, with .NET Framework 4.8 or .NET Desktop Runtime choices. Version 5.3.0 is listed for Windows XP. The maker offers the software free for non-commercial use and accepts donations.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users who need content-based duplicate detection across local, network, archived, or multi-drive storage. It is also useful when duplicate media has differing tags, or when replacing redundant files with hard or symbolic links is part of the cleanup plan.
What it does well
- Byte-by-byte matching works regardless of filename
- Scans local, network, ZIP, and multiple physical drives
- Matches identical audio, video, and JPG content
- Can replace duplicates with hard or symbolic links
- Supports paths longer than 260 characters
- Includes preview, filtering, sorting, and Recycle Bin support
What to know first
- Free use is limited to non-commercial purposes
- Runs on Windows platforms
- Digital certificate signature was removed in version 10.8.1
Limits
The listed Free plan costs nothing for non-commercial use. Commercial use is not covered by that plan.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free for non-commercial use | Non-commercial use | Free |
As malich.ru lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the maker’s Duplicate Files Search & Link website
- Choose a Windows download for your system
- Select a standalone package or installer
- Install the required .NET Framework 4.8 or .NET Desktop Runtime option if applicable
- Choose drives, folders, network locations, or ZIP archives to scan
Verdict
Pick Duplicate Files Search & Link if you need detailed duplicate detection based on file or media content and link replacement on Windows. Look elsewhere if you need a platform other than Windows or require commercial use under the listed free plan.
Questions
How much does Duplicate Files Search & Link cost?
The Free plan costs nothing for non-commercial use. The maker also invites donations, suggesting $5 or €5 while accepting any amount.
Which platforms are supported?
The platform is Windows. Downloads are listed for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, and version 5.3.0 is listed for Windows XP.
What locations can it scan?
It can scan local drives and folders, network folders, ZIP archives, and multiple physical drives.
Can it detect media with different tags?
Yes. Audio, video, and JPG files can be matched by identical media content while ignoring metadata or media-tag differences.
Can duplicates be replaced with links?
Yes. The program supports identifying and replacing duplicates with hard or symbolic links, including support for Linux EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 partitions mounted through the Ext2Fsd Windows driver.
Can cloud-only files be skipped?
Version 10.8.1 adds an option to skip online-only files in OneDrive, Google Drive, Yandex Disk, and other cloud services.
Facts from Duplicate Files Search & Link's own pages
- Cloud files
- Version 10.8.1 added an option to skip online-only files stored in OneDrive, Google Drive, Yandex Disk, and other cloud services during scans. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Code signature
- The changelog says the digital certificate signature was removed in version 10.8.1. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Donation
- The maker invites donations to support development and keep the application free, suggesting $5 or €5 while accepting any amount. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The download page lists standalone and installer packages for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, with .NET Framework 4.8 or .NET Desktop Runtime options. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Fast scanning
- The search engine can scan multiple independent drives at once or multiple files on the same SSD. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- File management
- Includes duplicate visualization, filtering and sorting, and support for paths longer than 260 characters. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Legacy support
- The page lists version 5.3.0 as the latest version for Windows XP, released May 2, 2023. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Link support
- Supports identifying and replacing files with hard or symbolic links; the page also describes link support for Linux EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4 partitions mounted through the Ext2Fsd Windows driver. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Media matching
- Can identify audio, video, and JPG files with identical media content despite differences in metadata or media tags. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Searches for duplicate files by byte-by-byte content comparison, regardless of filename, and can replace duplicates with hard or symbolic links. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
- Security checks
- The maker says the downloads were checked with Kaspersky Internet Security 2020 and links to VirusTotal results, noting false positives are possible. · malich.ru, 9 Oct 2026
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