fdupes

What fdupes is

fdupes is a free, open-source Linux utility for finding duplicate files in directories you choose. It can scan subdirectories and, if enabled, follow symbolic links. Matching can use file size and MD5 signatures, with byte-by-byte comparison available to confirm matches. A quick summary mode skips that slower confirmation, while an optional database cache stores file signatures to speed comparisons. You can narrow results with minimum or maximum file sizes, exclude hidden or empty files, match permissions, and sort by time, change time, or name. When removing duplicates, interactive deletion asks which copies to preserve; no-prompt modes can delete duplicates automatically. The project warns that deleting files while following symbolic links, or specifying the same directory more than once, can cause data loss. The project recommends installing through your operating system’s package manager when available, or downloading a release and compiling it. A full-featured build requires ncursesw and PCRE2. Without ncurses, the screen-mode selection interface is disabled. fdupes works on directories supplied on the command line and has no documented third-party service integrations.

Who it suits

fdupes suits Linux users who want to find and manage duplicate files in chosen directories, including their subdirectories. It is also suitable for users who want control over matching, filtering, sorting, and whether deletion requires confirmation.

Limits

The software is free under a license permitting use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale of copies. A full-featured build requires ncursesw and PCRE2; without ncurses, screen-mode selection is disabled.

Getting started

1. Open the fdupes project website.
2. Install fdupes through your operating system’s package manager when available.
3. Alternatively, download a release and compile it.
4. For a full-featured build, provide ncursesw and PCRE2.
5. Run fdupes against the directories you want to scan.

Verdict

Choose fdupes if you want a free Linux command-line utility with configurable duplicate matching and interactive deletion. Review its symlink and repeated-directory warning before using deletion.