How Gatefold stops you adding a record twice
Gatefold checks whether you already own a record at every way in. Some places warn you and let you carry on, some skip without telling you, and one can't tell two copies apart yet. Here's which is which.
| Where | What happens |
|---|---|
| Add tab search | Warns: Yours on albums you own. You can still add another pressing. |
| The same pressing again | Stops you: You own this. |
| A batch or Spines | Skips records you own and tells you how many. |
| File import | Skips rows you own, counted after the import. |
| Discogs sync | Quiet: two copies of one release become one record. |
| Apple Music | Quiet: merges into the record you already have. |
| Tidal | Quiet for Tidal albums only. Doesn't check your other records. |
| Want tab | Warns: Owned on and the formats. |
Does search tell me I already own it?
Yes. Add tab > Type: an album you own says Yours, or Yours · 2 if you have two copies. It's a heads-up. You can still open the album and add a different pressing. A Cover or Listen result you own says Yours too.
What if I pick the pressing I already have?
In the pressing picker, the one you own says Yours, and That's mine turns into You own this. Open it. Gatefold won't add the same pressing twice: you get You own this. with Open it and Dismiss.
A different pressing of an album you own goes straight in, with no warning first. Afterwards, the confirmation screen usually says Your 2nd copy of this one (it can miss when your shelf hasn't finished loading). A second copy of the exact same pressing can't be tracked yet.
Is Add another a second copy?
No. On the screen after an add, Add another (or Scan another, Snap another cover, Listen for another) means the next record.
What happens in a batch?
- The same sleeve read again within a minute is ignored.
- After that, it asks Already in this batch · add another copy? and then Same or Different. Different opens the pressing picker. Same can't be tracked yet.
- A record you already own shows Already on your shelf in the tray, and nothing is added.
- Spines skips records you own and tells you how many were already on your shelf. Two copies side by side count as two, and shooting the same row again adds nothing.
Does a file import add duplicates?
- No. A row is skipped when you already own that pressing, or the same album in the same format, from Discogs or anywhere else. A row with no format is checked against the album.
- A streaming copy never blocks a physical row.
- After the import you see how many were already on your shelf.
- Import the same file again and it fills in blanks on the rows it added before. It doesn't add them twice.
File imports: Kebab (3 dots) > Settings > Sources. More in Import a spreadsheet.
What about Discogs?
Each Discogs release lands once. If your Discogs collection has two copies of the same release, Gatefold shows one, with the notes and condition of the last one it read. It doesn't warn you.
And Apple Music or Tidal?
- Apple Music: an album that matches a record already on your shelf is merged into it, not added again.
- Tidal: syncing again doesn't duplicate your Tidal albums. It only checks those, though, so a Tidal favorite you also own on vinyl can show up as a second, digital record.
What about live tapes and pasted links?
An archive.org tape you already have, the same tape or the same show, gets You own this. So does an Apple Music or Bandcamp link to something you own.
Does my wantlist know what I own?
- On the Want tab, a want you already own says Owned on and the formats. The buy button stays, in case you want another.
- Adding a record to your shelf takes the matching want off your list.
- Adding a want doesn't check your shelf.
- The Record Store Day list doesn't mark records you own yet.