{"id":"duplicates.why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it","url":"/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it","category":{"id":"duplicates","title":"Duplicate files"},"subcategory":{"id":"scanning","title":"Scanning and Auto-scan"},"question":"Why does the Duplicates window start scanning as soon as I open it?","alt_questions":["Duplicates scan starts by itself when I open the window","Why is it scanning again?","Opening Duplicates triggers a scan","Can I stop the scan that starts when I open Duplicates?"],"short_answer":"With Auto-scan on, opening a source whose results are more than a few minutes old refreshes it so you see current results. Click Stop to end it, or switch Auto-scan off for that source to only scan when you click Scan now.","answer_markdown":"When **Auto-scan** is on for a source and its results are more than a few minutes old, opening that source refreshes it in the background so you see current results — with the same progress line as a manual scan. Clicking between sources doesn't re-scan them over and over, and anything already scanning is left alone.\n\nIf you'd rather it didn't, click **Stop**, or turn **Auto-scan** off for that source; the window will then just show the last results until you click **Scan now**.","answer_html":"

When Auto-scan is on for a source and its results are more than a few minutes old, opening that source refreshes it in the background so you see current results — with the same progress line as a manual scan. Clicking between sources doesn't re-scan them over and over, and anything already scanning is left alone.

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If you'd rather it didn't, click Stop, or turn Auto-scan off for that source; the window will then just show the last results until you click Scan now.

","answer_text":"When Auto-scan is on for a source and its results are more than a few minutes old, opening that source refreshes it in the background so you see current results — with the same progress line as a manual scan. Clicking between sources doesn't re-scan them over and over, and anything already scanning is left alone.\n\nIf you'd rather it didn't, click Stop, or turn Auto-scan off for that source; the window will then just show the last results until you click Scan now.","tags":["duplicates","auto-scan","scan"],"related":[{"id":"duplicates.what-is-auto-scan-in-duplicates","question":"What is Auto-scan in the Duplicates window?","url":"/faq/duplicates/what-is-auto-scan-in-duplicates"},{"id":"duplicates.how-do-i-turn-off-auto-scan-for-duplicates","question":"How do I turn off background duplicate scanning?","url":"/faq/duplicates/how-do-i-turn-off-auto-scan-for-duplicates"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why does the Duplicates window start scanning as soon as I open it? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"With Auto-scan on, opening a source whose results are more than a few minutes old refreshes it so you see current results. Click Stop to end it, or switch Auto-scan off for that source to only scan when you click Scan now.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Duplicate files","path":"/faq/duplicates/"},{"name":"Why does the Duplicates window start scanning as soon as I open it?","path":"/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does the Duplicates window start scanning as soon as I open it?","alternateName":["Duplicates scan starts by itself when I open the window","Why is it scanning again?","Opening Duplicates triggers a scan","Can I stop the scan that starts when I open Duplicates?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When Auto-scan is on for a source and its results are more than a few minutes old, opening that source refreshes it in the background so you see current results — with the same progress line as a manual scan. Clicking between sources doesn't re-scan them over and over, and anything already scanning is left alone.\n\nIf you'd rather it didn't, click Stop, or turn Auto-scan off for that source; the window will then just show the last results until you click Scan now.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it"}}]},"fragment":"
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Duplicate files · Scanning and Auto-scan

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Why does the Duplicates window start scanning as soon as I open it?

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Short answer: With Auto-scan on, opening a source whose results are more than a few minutes old refreshes it so you see current results. Click Stop to end it, or switch Auto-scan off for that source to only scan when you click Scan now.

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When Auto-scan is on for a source and its results are more than a few minutes old, opening that source refreshes it in the background so you see current results — with the same progress line as a manual scan. Clicking between sources doesn't re-scan them over and over, and anything already scanning is left alone.

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If you'd rather it didn't, click Stop, or turn Auto-scan off for that source; the window will then just show the last results until you click Scan now.

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