---
id: duplicates.why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/why-does-the-duplicates-window-start-scanning-when-i-open-it
category: "Duplicate files"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["duplicates", "auto-scan", "scan"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/what-is-auto-scan-in-duplicates", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/how-do-i-turn-off-auto-scan-for-duplicates"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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**.