Delete Duplicate Files in Windows Media Player

Duplicate files take up several GBs of your hard disk. Duplicate files vary: music, videos, images, and so on. Windows Media Player always creates a mess while copying duplicate files from different devices and sources. This article comes in handy.

Fix error

Step 1

Scan For Duplicates in Windows Media Player

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Adding Files to the Library

The first thing you need to do is to add all files to your Library. You can do it either by adding all partitions or selected folders. Follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows Key.
  2. Start Screen will appear. Type Windows Media Player in Search Box.
  3. Click Apps icon and open the keyword from Search Results.
    Adding Files to Library
  4. You have now the player opened up.
    Windows Media Player
  5. Right-click Music on the left and select Manage Music Library.
  6. This opens up Music Library Locations dialog.
    Media Library Locations
  7. Click Add.
  8. Select a drive, say drive C:\ (you can add remaining drives as well).
  9. Click OK.
  10. Right-click Videos and select Manage Videos Library.
    Manage Videos Library
  11. Add all partitions of your hard disk. Click OK.
  12. Right-click Pictures and select Manage Pictures Library.
  13.  Add all partitions of your hard disk and click OK.
  14. This opens up the Library root.
    Library Root
  15. Double click Music.
  16. Double-click All Music.
  17. Sort the music files, name-wise. Right-click any duplicate music file and press Delete.
  18. Subsequently, specify you want to delete it from your hard disk and not just PlayList.
  19. Do the same with other duplicate files.
  20. Go back to Library, and click Videos | All Videos icon.
  21. Do the same with all duplicate video files (refer to steps # 18-20 above)
  22. Go back to Library again, and double-click Pictures | All Pictures.
  23. Do the same with all duplicate image files (refer to steps # 18-20 above)
  24. Go back to Library.
  25. Double click Recorded TV | All TVs.
  26. Do the same with all duplicate recorded TV shows (refer to Steps # 18-20 above).

 

Removing Duplicate Files

Finally, the time has now come to delete identical copies:

  1. Search all files and remove duplicate files.
    Sort Files Alphabetically
  2. Arrange them in an ascending order: Click Title column head. This arranges your items accordingly.
  3. Right-click any duplicate item, and press Delete. And then Confirm your action.

 

Deleting History Files, Frequently Played Media Info

Windows Media Player stores track of all recently played music, media information. Follow these steps in this article to delete duplicate files by clearing folder contents.

  1. Press Alt key to show the Menu Items.
  2. Click Tools, and select Options.
    Deleting History Files
  3. This will open Options dialog.
  4. Click Privacy.
  5. Click Clear History and Clear Cache.
  6. And, finally, click Apply | OK.

 

Disable Retrieving Media Info from the Internet

Merely cleaning your history files with frequently played media info doesn’t work only. You need to disable retrieving media info from the Internet. Here is your quick checklist:

  1. Refer to steps# 1-4 from Deleting history files, frequently played media info section.
  2. Uncheck these boxes:
    • Display media information from the Internet
    • Update music files by retrieving media info from the Internet
    • Download usage rights automatically when I play or sync a file

    Disable Retrieving Media Info from the Internet

  3. Click Apply.
  4. Click Library.
  5. Uncheck the Retrieve additional information from the Internet option.
  6. Click Apply | OK.

 

Empty Transcoded Files Cache

As its name tells: Transcoded Files Cache stores information about data converted from one digital encoding to another. This data isn’t necessary. It is worth deleting the cache contents to save your space and ensure maximum playback performance. Here’s a simple five-step process:

Empty Transcoded Files Cache

  1. Exit Windows Media Player.
  2. Press Windows Key + R.
  3. Type AppData in the Open Textbox and click OK.
  4. Open the following file:
    ..\Local\Microsoft\Media Player\Transcoded Files Cache
  5. Delete all files in the Transcoded Files Cache.