When you import clips, each one is fingerprinted locally on your device. That fingerprinting is what allows ReelWorkshop to flag or exclude exact duplicate files without uploading anything to check them against a server.
What counts as a duplicate
The detection works on exact duplicate clips — the same file imported more than once, for instance if you dragged a folder in twice or the same clip exists on your phone and your camera roll backup. It's not a near-duplicate or similar-scene detector; two different takes of the same shot won't be flagged against each other.
Steps to clean up a project
- Import as normal
Bring in all your source files; fingerprinting runs automatically in the background.
- Check flagged duplicates
Review any clips the system has identified as exact matches.
- Remove or keep intentionally
Delete the redundant copy, or leave it if you actually want that exact clip's footage available twice for some reason.
- Re-check your clip count
With up to 100 clips per project, clearing duplicates first keeps you from wasting import slots on redundant files.
Why this matters for edit plans
An undetected duplicate wastes one of your import slots and can also skew quality scoring or scene selection by giving the plan two identical options where it should have one plus something new. Cleaning duplicates before generating plans keeps the pool of material genuinely varied.
If you filmed the same moment twice with slightly different framing or timing, those are two distinct files as far as fingerprinting is concerned. You'll need to compare and remove the weaker take yourself.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming duplicate detection also catches similar or re-shot takes — it only catches exact file matches.
- Ignoring a flagged duplicate and letting it eat one of your 100 clip slots for no benefit.
- Removing a duplicate without checking which copy has your intended trim already applied, if you'd started trimming both.
When you need more than this
If you're trying to dedupe near-identical takes across a large personal archive before you even start a project, that's a file management task better handled in your operating system or a dedicated media manager first, then import the winners.