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Before you start
- Safe Merge from Microsoft Store on Windows 11 24H2 or later, x64, with full access or a trial merge available, and enough space for a separate result.
- Two distinct source folders on supported local NTFS storage in Safe Merge, outside network and cloud/sync locations. Neither source can be inside the other.
- A separate result location that is not inside either source folder.
- Different sample files with the same name if you want to check the behavior first.
Using the free trial? It includes two qualifying merges in total, shared across windows and launches. A verified saved result counts even if optional recycling later stops. How the free trial works.
Follow these steps
Set up two different sample files
Put copies of two different PDFs in separate folders, such as Laptop research and USB research. Give both copies the filename Sleep research.pdf, then select the folders as First folder and Second folder.
Keep both
Set When names match to Keep both. Leave Recycle originals after merging unchecked for the first check.
Keep both preserves different files with matching names. Enlarge image. - Keep both preserves both versions when their names match.
Create a separate result
Enter a name such as Combined papers under Merged folder, use Choose location to choose the folder that will contain it, and select Merge Folders.
Open the merged folder to inspect both papers. Enlarge image. Open both versions
Choose Open merged folder and open both Sleep research PDFs. Check that both different papers are present. Read Merge Summary to see where each result came from.
Both different papers are in the new folder. Enlarge image.
Check your result
- Both different sample files are present in the finished result.
- The actual names are taken from the result, not an assumed fixed suffix.
- The originals remain because recycling was left unchecked.
- Any incomplete or stopped outcome is checked before removing sources.
If you need more help
Three examples of matching names
Different contents, matching paths: both sample folders contained Sleep research.pdf. The result kept the two versions as Sleep research.pdf and Sleep research (2).pdf.
Equivalent contents, matching paths: if both folders contain identical copies of a file at the same relative path, Safe Merge can keep one copy in the result.
Same name, different paths: one source has Photos/notes.txt and the other has Documents/notes.txt. Both keep their own folder path; the matching filename alone is not a conflict. Safe Merge does not scan all unrelated paths to remove duplicates.
Choosing by date or size
The other choices are Keep the newer file, Keep the older file and Keep the smaller file. Date choices use the last modification time. If the comparison ties, both different versions are kept.
A newer date or smaller size does not tell you which document contains the work you need. Choose Keep both when you need to open and compare them. A different version omitted from the result stays at its source even if recycling was requested.
Why the number can differ
The app chooses an available numbered name and preserves the extension. If Sleep research (2).pdf already exists in the planned result, another available number is used. Do not depend on one fixed suffix to identify a source; use Merge Summary.
Need the app?
Safe Merge. Check requirements and download options.