Duplicate images on Google photos - Move media files to SD-card needs to work over and over again

[reiche1]

Hello!

First some facts:

Phone: Xperia Z5 (not compact, not premium)

Country: Denmark

Memory app version no: 1.1.A.0.1

Xperia android version: 32.2.A.0.305

I had started to get this "Memory is 75% full - move files to SD-card?" message. Even though there is (or was) several GB free on phone, I started moving files to SD-card. The SD-card is a 64GB, which content were copied from a previous 32GB card.

First this seems to work. After the movement has completed, there is more free space in the internal memory, and more space has been used on the SD-card. But the after some hours (usually a night), the occupied space in internal memory is the same, and the space on the SD-card is still at the same level.

Around the same time I've discovered that on my Google Photo account I'm starting to get duplicate images files. Some have the same name, others are named DSC_0001.JPG, DSC_0001_70.JPG and DSC_0001_73.JPG and likewise. The date and visible metadata is the same. I have also noticed that when moving files to the SD-card there is a small Google Photo icon popping up along with changing photos of mine, as if it discovers a new photo. I have activated "Backup and sync" in Google Photo, upload size high.

I have tried unmounting the SD-card and completely moved the image folders DCIM/100_CFV5 and DCIM/100ANDRO to my computer. Still same happens, after moving the files to the SD-card, the internal memory fills up again. I can also see the duplicate images in the folders I moved to my computer. There has been no errormessages from the movement of the files to SD-card, just the "complete" notification.

After each move of files I usually have 5GB more free space on internal memory (documented by screenshots).

First task is to stop the phone from filling up internal memory, and after this try to eliminated duplicates. If read that the deprecated Picasa can do this.

Any help?

[Uliwooly]

That' rather odd, what if you use the File Commander instead, also, settings > apps > album > storage > clear data > restart the phone 

[reiche1]

Thank you for your suggestion 🙂

I have tried clearing the data for the Album app. and restarting the phone. And finally tried moving files to SD-card. So I'm back to around 25GB use of internal memory, which I find quite high with my limited collection of apps btw.

So I'll know tomorrow, if the memory has filled up again.

But then... a strange thing happened. I now got a notification that there is an update for my phone. Which is called Xperia system update 32.2.A.0.305. That's the same version I have already installed. I double checked! For now I'll leave it as it is.

/M

[Uliwooly]

This is what I would do, since I backup all my data with cloud storage, SD card, External Drive and a computer. 

Connect your phone to your computer > SD card > DCIM > 100Andro/repeat with other folders,  cut this folder > paste it somewhere on your computer > disconnect the phone from the computer > file manager > internal storage > DCIM > copy 100Andro > SD card > DCIM > paste > internal storage > delete 100Andro > repeat as needed. 

[NeoBeum]

Do those Sync features work if files are in hidden folders? I have no idea because I manually sync all of my stuff.
So I have deleted Picasa/Google Photo/Facebook/File Commander.

If the sync features can't read hidden folders, maybe you could try moving files to a folder created prefixed with a "."

.EXAMPLEHIDDENFOLDERNAME

[reiche1]

The internal memory was filled up to more than 30Gbytes. And even if I unmounted my SD-card in the settings, I would have the same set of photos/videos available for transferring to SD-card the next morning. It always happened during the night.

As I noticed I was getting a notification for firmware update, even though I had updated the firmware to the .305 version. I tried to update, but nothing changed. So I ended up resetting my phone to factory defaults (which is half the truth as the current firmware was still installed). That operation released around 13Gbyte of internal memory measured after reinstallation of backup including apps.

Another good effect is that here at around 20:38 o'clock still have 58% juice in my battery, and thats without using stamina-mode. usually the phone were hard to keep alive until 22:30, even though things got better after the first install of the .305 firmware. 

So, for now the problem is cured 🙂 Thanx for your help anyway.

[Bhonder]

You might want to install "File Explorer" app and use "analyze sdcard" to see where the space is eaten. I use the pro version but the standard app should suits you as well.

Dont't forget to enable the hidden files option or you will not take into account those ones starting with a dot.