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A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated. I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a way of doing this other than a track at a time. Is there an alternative?

A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated. I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a way of doing this other than a track at a time. Is there an alternative?

Posted on Dec 8, 2011 7:54 AM

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Posted on Dec 8, 2011 8:50 AM

Are these physical dupes, with more than 1 copy of the file in either the same folder or two different locations? Or are they logical dupes, multiple entries in the library to the same physical file? Worst scenario is that there is a mix.


If everything is one type or the other then:

  • Select the List view
  • Hold down Option, then click iTunes > Show Exact Duplicates (Hold Shift, File > Show Exact Duplicates on a PC)
  • Turn on the Date Added column if not already present
  • Sort the listing on Date Added
  • Scroll down the list to the point when all the duplicates were created
  • Select all the duplicates to delete and delete them
  • For physical dupes allow the files to be sent to the trash, for logical dupes keep the files


If there is a mix, or they've built up over time, then it probably best to use a third party tool such as Dupin or Dupin Lite.


tt2

5 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Dec 8, 2011 8:50 AM in response to alan from ilkley

Are these physical dupes, with more than 1 copy of the file in either the same folder or two different locations? Or are they logical dupes, multiple entries in the library to the same physical file? Worst scenario is that there is a mix.


If everything is one type or the other then:

  • Select the List view
  • Hold down Option, then click iTunes > Show Exact Duplicates (Hold Shift, File > Show Exact Duplicates on a PC)
  • Turn on the Date Added column if not already present
  • Sort the listing on Date Added
  • Scroll down the list to the point when all the duplicates were created
  • Select all the duplicates to delete and delete them
  • For physical dupes allow the files to be sent to the trash, for logical dupes keep the files


If there is a mix, or they've built up over time, then it probably best to use a third party tool such as Dupin or Dupin Lite.


tt2

Apr 21, 2014 10:10 AM in response to Lucasda

I've a nifty (if I say so myself) script for cleaning up on Windows which merges ratings play counts & play list membership. I don't how Dupin or Dupin Lite compare on that front. The main piece of advice I omitted earlier was to take a complete backup of the library before you start just in case you find that you get over zealous at some point and remove more than you should.


tt2

A large number of my albums in i Tunes have all the tracks duplicated. I want to delete the duplicate tracks but can't see a way of doing this other than a track at a time. Is there an alternative?

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