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Forum Discussion
Hap H.
11 years agoNew member | Level 1
Removal of duplicate photos in my dropbox photo library
I somehow uploaded several hundred photos from my iphone to dropbox. Not sure how I did it, but now I see a lot of duplicate photos in dropbox (carousel).
- Mirko H.New member | Level 1
It's getting even worse now. Today, duplicating photos where uploaded up to 5 times !
For me, dropbox is done, will definitely Not continue my subscription.
- Meghan M.Helpful | Level 5
For me I think this problem started when I started using iCloud sync. I'm not positive but I used Dropbox Camera Uploads for *years* with zero issues and in the last year it has become unusable. I have a workflow where my the Dropbox photo automatically dumps into Lightroom but I have had to disable it and am now investigating alternatives, none of which seem as good of a solution as Dropbox Camera Uploads was for a long time.
Manually deleting dupes or even using an app is not a solution. It's a band aid and a time consuming exercise in frustration. I need a sync/backup solution that doesn't upload dupes in the first place.
- Simon E.11New member | Level 1
Meghan, I totally agree. I think you've nailed the root of the problem.
- Jake M.6New member | Level 2
I am finding this issue extremely frustrating as well. I have used dropbox for probably around 5 years. Until this month, I have never had any issue with dropbox uploading the same files over and over. I go to clear everything out and then a couple days later the same files are uploading again. I do not understand what is going on with this app on my phone. I am a very technically inclined person and I have yet to find a solution to this annoying problem!!!! I wish there was some actual support from dropbox on this. I am ready to get rid of it if this keeps happening.
- Costa A.New member | Level 1
The fact that this issue has gone on so long with no formal response from Dropbox Support proves they are doing this by design to force people off the free/basic plans to generate more revenue. They just don't care about this known defect for over 1 year now, or else we would get a "thanks for reporting it, we are working on a fix". Fortunately for us there are dozens of alternate competitors out there that don't have this issue.
- Simon E.11New member | Level 1
I don't think that's the case to be honest Costa. I pay £99 per year and it's happening to me. I've switched off auto upload and put a reminder in my diary to upload at the end of each day. It's a poor show to be honest.
- Meghan M.Helpful | Level 5
I also pay $12/month for Dropbox. And still I have duplicates.
- Tina R.3New member | Level 1
Thank you, Hap. But I am sorry, there is no way to do this rather you have to do it manually. But in windows pc you can use DuplicateFilesDeleter. it is very simple to use. But make it sure to keep the important files in back up.
Thanks all dropbox users for your valuable times.
- Simon E.11New member | Level 1
I think we have 2 separate but related issues here.
1. Duplicates that already exist in Dropbox - I think everyone would like a solution to this integrated into dropbox rather than having to rely on the semi effective, rather spammy apps that do half a job and then constantly pressure you to leave 5 * ratings on the app store.
2. Duplicates created by auto upload, which appear to have started as a result of auto upload being unable to handle changes in the way iOS deals with photos. This, to me is the more pressing issue as it renders auto upload useless - worse than useless - and means that workarounds have to be found which rely on the user remembering to upload the day's photos or stringing together a workflow using a third party app.
I like dropbox and I want to continue using it, but at the moment I can't use it the way I want to. That means that when a working solution is provided by another service, I am more likely to spend my $99 per year with them.
- Terry P.Collaborator | Level 10
Simon E.11 sums up my own feelings too.
As a result of this serious upload issue, plus the announced discontinuation of the Public folder, and above all the apparent indifference of Dropbox Support to user complaints, I'm going to investigate Google Drive and iCloud and save myself £99 per year.
Terry, UK
- Meghan M.Helpful | Level 5
Yeah I think the main issue is not that we need a dupe remover (though that is a side effect of the main problem) but that Dropbox keeps making duplicates.
I used to be amazed that the Camera Upload mechanism recognized already uploaded photos. Now, as mentioned, there is no recognition that some photos have already been uploaded.
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