Drive Duplicate Auditor

Google Drive · read-only audit

Find exact duplicates.
Keep cleanup human.

Drive Duplicate Auditor scans an approved folder, proves uploaded-file matches with SHA-256 and puts the evidence in a review Sheet. It cannot delete anything.

See how files are checkedSee what it cannot change ↓
Uploaded files
Exact SHA-256
Google files
Possible match only
Source changes
None

01

The rule that matters

A similar name is a clue.
An identical hash is evidence.

Copied suffixes help people spot likely clusters, but they never decide a result. Two uploaded files enter an exact group only when their bytes produce the same SHA-256 digest.

A safe read-only scan

Check the files, then show the evidence.

  1. 01

    Start in an approved folder

    The script scans only configured folders and skips shortcuts that could lead elsewhere.

    Approved list
  2. 02

    Scan in small batches

    Each run checks one page of a folder, then records where the next run should continue.

    100 items
  3. 03

    Hash uploaded files

    Uploaded files up to 20 MB receive an exact SHA-256 digest. Larger files stay in the inventory without an exact match.

    Exact bytes
  4. 04

    Label Google files separately

    Docs, Sheets and Slides are only possible matches because their metadata cannot prove that the content is identical.

    Lower confidence
  5. 05

    Suggest, then wait

    Clear rules suggest which copy to keep, but every approval remains blank for a person to decide.

    Human review

The review Sheet

See the evidence before deciding what to keep.

The Sheet links to every Drive file and keeps the match strength, location, sharing warnings, recommendation and approval in one row.

  • DashboardGroups, space estimate and failures
  • Duplicate ReviewEvidence and blank decisions
  • InventoryEvery file and hash status
  • Run LogProgress and retries
Drive Duplicate AuditIllustrative rows
ConfidenceFileKeepApproval
Exact SHA-256Statement.pdfYesBlank
Exact SHA-256Statement (2).pdfNoBlank
Possible nativeProject plan (1)ReviewBlank

Safety

The auditor shows matches. You decide what happens next.

It cannot move, modify, share, trash or delete a source file. A failed file is retried on its own, then clearly marked for manual review.

✓ Approved folders only✓ One file can fail safely✓ Approvals start blank× No cleanup function

A Drew's Digest project

Less clutter.
More certainty.

Return to Drew's Digest ↗