Srarna offers two methods for handling duplicate photos: automatic detection during uploads and a manual tool for removing duplicates across albums.
During Uploads
Srarna automatically identifies and skips duplicate files during uploads.
When you upload files, Srarna will ignore exact duplicates. This means you can resume interrupted uploads, drag and drop the same folder, or reinstall the app without worrying about duplicates. Srarna will only add new files.
Duplicate detection is tailored to each platform's specific characteristics.
Mobile
- iOS: Srarna uses a hash to detect exact duplicates. If a duplicate is being uploaded to an album where a photo with the same hash already exists, it will be skipped. If the duplicate is uploaded to a different album, a symlink will be created instead of uploading the actual file.
- Android: A hash check is also used. However, unlike iOS, Android's native filesystem behavior keeps physical copies if the same photo is in different albums. Srarna follows this behavior: duplicates in the same album are skipped, but duplicates in separate albums will create copies.
Web and Desktop
- On laptops (using the Srarna web or desktop app), both a hash check and the file name are used. The assumption is that if the user has two copies with different names, they want to keep both.
- A file is considered a duplicate and skipped during upload if a file with the same name and hash already exists in the album.
- If the same file with the same name exists in a different album, a symlink to the existing file will be created, similar to the "Add to album" feature, where actual files are not re-uploaded.
Manual Deduplication
Srarna also offers a manual deduplication tool found in Settings → Backup → Remove duplicates. This is useful for existing libraries with duplicates across different albums, allowing you to keep only one copy.
Adding to Srarna Album Creates Symlinks
When you add a file that's already in Srarna to another Srarna album, a symlink is created. This allows you to add the file to multiple albums while only counting the storage once.