The best vacuum cleaners for pet hair can make all the difference in picking up any stubborn pet hair and even neutralising unpleasant odours your four-legged friend might leave in their wake.
Many of the best vacuum cleaners already do a great job at picking up dust and debris on both hard floors and carpets; however, being able to pick up deep-rooted pet hair is a challenge that only the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair can face head-on.
The best vacuum cleaner for pet hair should not excel in hair pick-up but also offer additional features that actually set them apart as being pet-specific, such as anti-hair wrap technology, anti-odour capsules, and sealed filters that ensure pet dander is contained for those with allergies. That’s why I, alongside my team of expert reviewers, have put some of the very top choices, including a selection of the best cordless vacuums, from leading brands, such as Dyson, Shark, Henry, and Halo through their paces to see if they have what it takes.
Every one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair in this guide has been tried and tested by me (or another member of the Ideal Home team), so not only can we personally speak to each device’s performance, but we can also effectively compare them to other vacuum cleaners we’ve tested to help you make the right choice for your home.
Quick list
In a rush and only want the need-to-know details on the best vacuum for pet hair? Find our top picks after testing below or keep scrolling for our in-depth reviews.
Best overall
The Halo Capsule X makes light of cleaning up after your furry friends by effectively picking up deep-rooted pet hair on carpet, upholstery, and more thanks to its powerful Performance mode and dedicated pet tools for smaller jobs. Plus, its bagged system has a notable 2L capacity, helpful for those with pets who shed like no tomorrow, fuss-free emptying, and keeps dust, hair, and pet dander fully sealed from those who are allergy-prone. All of these combined make it the best vacuum we’ve tested for pet hair overall, ticking all our major criteria.
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Best for ease of use
Although the AirRAM Platinum works great across all types of flooring because of its unique ‘AirLOC technology’, which ensures pick up in both forward and reverse, we think its capabilities are best shown on carpet, where it picked up a ton of deep-rooted pet hair with ease. Its foot controls are so easy to use, it stands up on its own, and it offers a no-fuss system overall if you value simplicity without sacrificing power. It gets bonus points for the scent cartridges it comes with too, which help to keep unpleasant pet odours at bay.
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Most reliable
If you’d rather stick with a good, old canister vacuum, we don’t think it gets better than a Henry, who has a long lineage of reliability in both professional and home settings. The XL Plus, in particular, offers a supersized bagged capacity of 15L, allowing tons of dust, hair, and dirt to be picked up and sealed away before needing to be replaced and has a wide range of pet tools for cleaning stairs and upholstery alike. If you have a bustling household with kids and pets, look no further.
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Best lightweight
The V8 Absolute is one of Dyson’s oldest, entry-level cordless vacuums, but it absolutely still packs a punch today – boasting super effective suction power, great pet hair pick-up, and de-tangling technology that’ll keep your floorhead hair-free. Its motorised pet tool is fantastic at refreshing a pet’s bed, stairs, and upholstery, and its extremely lightweight and compact build makes it very easy to manoeuvre around awkward corners and bends. This makes it a favourable choice to easily pick up for quickly cleaning up after pets.
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5. Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty System
Best anti-odour technology
The Shark PowerDetect offers advanced Detect cleaning technology that automatically adjusts according to floor type, effectively picks up pet hair, dust, and debris in both forward and reverse, but it’s the auto-empty dock that is a game-changer. The base of the dock has Odour Neutraliser technology and an Anti-Allergen seal, making bad pet smells and pet-related allergies a thing of the past, holding up to 45 days of dirt. It’s ideal if you want dust and pet dander sealed away, but don’t fancy a bagged vacuum. You get the best of both worlds.
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6. Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Best upright
If you’re looking for the power of a corded vacuum without the added faff, this upright Shark vac ticks those boxes. Boasting superb power levels, smart features, and good battery life, it’s a great all-rounder for pet hair pick-up – especially if you have a ton of stubborn hair that doesn’t want to budge. In our tests, it created a visible line of clean carpet after just one pass, a testament to its suction power and PowerFins design, which reaches deep into the carpet’s fibres. Plus, its Lift-Away function is fantastic for tackling stairs or the car.
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Best vacuum cleaners for pet hair 2024 – tried and tested
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Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair overall
After testing the the Halo Capsule X, we can confidently say that it’s achieved its biggest goal: making bagged vacuums cool again. What a lot of people don’t know is that despite the rise in popularity of bagless vacuums, their bagged counterparts often still continue to outperform them in terms of suction power (especially on carpet), bin capacity, and ease of emptying – something of big importance when dealing with pet hair, as you’d want a model with the power to pick up even the most stubborn, deep-rooted hair, sport a large capacity so you don’t have to keep emptying it mid-vacuum, and keep pet dander sealed away so as to not trigger allergies when you’re emptying it.
What the Halo Capsule X does well is combine this practical bagged system with the convenience of a cordless model, offering an easy cleaning solution with all the benefits of a bagged vacuum. Plus, it has some awesome pet-specific tools that performed the best out of any other vacuum we’ve tested, earning it the top spot as the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair overall.
Features we loved during testing
As we briefly mentioned just above, the standout feature on the Capsule X were the included pet attachments, namely, the upholstery tool and mini power brush. The results from using both of these greatly impressed our reviewer, Lauren, who tested them on her furniture that she has come to accept will never be dog hair-free – until coming across these tools, that is.
Lauren tested the upholstery tool on her velvet sofa bed which she noted was ‘the bane of her life’ as her dog, Barney, has claimed it as his everyday lounging spot. With minimal effort, she praised the upholstery tool for doing a ‘stellar job’ at precisely picking up all the noticeable hair, leaving the sofa bed spotless. When following up with Lauren after the initial testing period, she confirmed that the Halo Capsule X’s upholstery tool is still the best attachment that has given her the most impressive results among the vacuums she’s tested. She shared the same sentiment when she used the mini power brush on her living room sofa, which her dog often dirties up with mud and dirt after being outside. With just a few swipes, her light coloured sofa looked good as new.
These tools, paired together with the Performance mode offered by the Halo Capsule X when used on carpet, make it a fantastic all-rounder for cleaning up not only pet hair, but also all the dirt and mud that can often come with owning a pet too. The use of bags means pet dander and allergens stay completely sealed and can be disposed of without a fuss. However, Lauren did remark that it can be difficult to gauge when this is full and of course, there’s the extra cost of bags to consider. But, with how great the Halo Capsule X performed in our pet-specific tests, it’s a slight adjustment to be made if you’re used to bagless vacuums, but one we reckon you won’t regret making.
Read our in-depth Halo Capsule X review for more details.
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Best easy to use vacuum cleaner for pet hair
The Gtech AirRAM Platinum was instantly a hit for us, excelling in debris and pet hair pick-up right from the get go. Something that sets the AirRAM Platinum from any other vacuum on the market right now is its unique ‘AirLOC technology’, which ensures that the vacuum is not only picking up dirt and debris on the forward stroke, but also on the backstroke; ensuring that nothing gets left behind.
While we tested it on all floor types and it performed superbly on them all, we did notice that carpet was the flooring in which the vacuum’s innovative technology and features shone. Creating satisfying vacuum lines across seemingly clean carpet, the dustbin quickly filled up with pet hair with just a couple of passes, solidifying it as a smart choice for anyone looking for a reliable solution for cleaning up pet hair in a pinch.
Better yet, its mess-free emptying system is genius and makes for easy maintenance – especially if the dustbin is filled with pet hair. However, even with the ease of emptying, it’s not completely sealed and could still result in some dust clouds, which is something to consider if you’re particularly sensitive to that.
Features we loved during testing
While the Gtech AirRAM Platinum doesn’t come with additional hand tools, we think this is exactly what makes it such a great buy. It knows what it’s good at and it exceeds expectations. Its simple plug and play design with extremely convenient foot controls make it very enjoyable to use and the added carrying handle for portability is a clever touch. The fact that it stands up on its own makes it so easy to just pop in a corner for easy storage and take out when you need to quickly clean up after a pet, as you simply bend the wand and press start with your foot.
It also comes with scented cartridges you can put in the vacuum’s filter, perfect for eliminating unpleasant odours that can sometimes linger in dustbins even well after emptying.
However, seeing as pets shed in all areas of your home such as carpeted stairs, furniture, and upholstery, we understand that the lack of hand tools can be a deal breaker for many, especially if you don’t already own a separate handheld vacuum. You can buy the AirRAM in a bundle which includes the Gtech Multi Platinum, our top rated best handheld vacuum cleaner, but this again comes at an additional cost. However, for ease and not needing to faff around with changing anything out, the AirRAM is a star.
Read our in-depth Gtech AirRAM Platinum Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum review for more details.
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Most reliable vacuum cleaner for pet hair
The Henry XL Plus is proof that bigger is sometimes undeniably better, and fares extremely well in a bustling household where you’re not only cleaning up after yourself, but pets and kids too. It’s the biggest capacity model in Henry’s long lineage of vacuum cleaners, fully equipped with an extremely generous 15L capacity and a super long 12.5m cable. This heavy-duty model is robustly build and pretty much ready to take on any job, big or small, so it’s no surprise that it fits the bill and more for tackling pet hair.
As it’s a bagged model, you can expect excellent suction power and pet hair pick-up, picking up even the most stubborn pet hair with ease on all surfaces, as it comes with specialist floorheads for both carpet and hard flooring. Plus, it comes with a huge variety of tools and an on-board tool tidy, allowing you to keep everything to hand and all in one place when you’re vacuuming any area of your home.
Features we loved during testing
Aside from being robustly built and sporting a large capacity, the AiroBrush 140 tool was a standout tool that certainly has it perks when being used for pet-specific jobs. It’s a smaller, motorised attachment that is the perfect size for cleaning carpeted stairs, mattresses, dog beds, and upholstery like sofas and any accompanying cushions, delivering fantastic suction power.
Of course, the only big caveat with such a huge model like the XL Plus is that it’s very heavy to push around and even more of a pain to carry up the stairs. Not to mention, unless you can really justify having a 15L capacity model, you’ll likely find that this is very much overkill. In that case, opting for the smaller Henry Pet200 can be a better alternative as you get similar pet-specific tools, bagged system, and corded power, but in a more compact build.
Since the Henry XL Plus is a bagged model, it offers fuss-free emptying and seals allergens away; however, again, it shares a similar flaw to the Halo Capsule X where you can never completely gauge just how full it actually is and when it needs emptying. But, considering it’s got a 15L capacity, I wouldn’t worry too much about checking every single week, as it has lasted my family of six and three dogs weeks and weeks without needing to be replaced.
I will say though, I think the kicker for knowing when the bag needs replacing is the fact that it’ll no longer effectively seal away odour, something that’ll be especially noticeable if you have pets. When it’s full, simply turning it on will emit an unpleasant pet smell, but rest assured that replacing the bag and cleaning the vacuum will leave it feeling and smelling new again.
Read our in-depth Henry XL Plus review for more details.
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Best lightweight vacuum cleaner for pet hair
The Dyson V8 Absolute is an oldie, but believe us when we say it’s still a goldie, even 8 years down the line since its release. It’s one of Dyson’s oldest and cheapest cordless vacuums still in circulation today, but despite many new iterations gracing the market, there’s a big reason why the V8 Absolute has remained a gem even until now.
While it may not offer all the advanced cleaning technology and smart features present in the likes of the high-tech Dyson Gen5detect and Dyson V15 Detect Absolute, it still boasts excellent suction power that is absolutely nothing to scoff at and Anti-Hair Wrap technology that helps to keep the floorheads’ blades free from tangled hair, whether that be pet or human hair. Plus, the inclusion of the hair screw attachment, Dyson’s motorised pet tool, is super handy as it offers powerful and precise cleans for carpeted stairs, dog beds, and upholstery in handheld mode.
Features we loved during testing
Its lightweight build is definitely one of this model’s main talking points and one of its standout features, suction power aside. Vacuuming and cleaning up pet hair is no joke, especially if you’ve got furry friends that shed a lot, and we know there’s no greater frustration than having to be up on your foot, lugging around a heavy vacuum behind you when there is so much cleaning to be done. Weighing only 2.54kg, the V8 Absolute is extremely lightweight and makes vacuuming an easy and almost enjoyable task, allowing you to manoeuvre around awkward corners and bends easily.
In fact, our reviewer, Lauren, loved the Dyson V8 Absolute so much for general everyday cleaning that it has since become her go-to vacuum well outside of the initial testing period. She even swapped out a newer released model from another leading brand for this 2016 model, and that certainly speaks volumes to attest for its powerful suction, easy use, and pet hair pick up.
However, be aware that because this vacuum is so lightweight and compact, its dustbin capacity has also taken a hit as a result. At only 0.54 litres, this can fill up fast, especially if you’re tackling a lot of pet hair or a larger household. But, if you only live one other human and a dog, just like Lauren, the V8 Absolute is a fantastic choice for a convenient cleaning solution.
Read our in-depth Dyson V8 Absolute review for more details.
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Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair with anti-odour technology
The Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty System is the brand’s newest addition to their reliable roster of floorcare appliances, claiming to be their most powerful cordless model to date. I tried it for a few weeks, including some time outside of my initial testing period to bring it to my family home where my three enthusiastic dogs reside to give it a spin, and I can confidently assure you that it delivers on its high claims.
One of its newest features was the all-new Direction Detect, which has been designed to allow the vacuum to pick up dirt, hair, and debris in both forward and reverse – similar to technology we’ve already seen present in the Gtech AirRAM Platinum. This new feature, combined with the four-detection technology that automatically adjusts the delivered suction power, something we’ve seen in the Shark Detect Pro, plus the addition of the anti-odour capsules that the brand introduced with the much-loved Shark Stratos, is what makes the Shark PowerDetect an excellent all-rounder, and now, the best Shark vacuum overall thanks to these notable upgrades. When I tested it in my family home with my dogs, it was unbelievable how much dog hair it picked up after just a few passes on my carpet, and I found the motorised pet tool an absolute dream to use at easily cleaning our carpeted stairs, living room sofa, and velvet sofa bed.
This vacuum has become my everyday vacuum for general cleaning needs, and it’s all thanks to the game-changing auto-empty dock that has since made maintenance and cleaning a thing of the past. I never have to worry about making sure it’s charged or emptying the dustbin because it does all for me itself.
Features we loved during testing
The auto-empty dock and its Odour Neutraliser technology is what, in my opinion, makes the Shark PowerDetect a notable addition to our edit of the best vacuums for pet hair. Some vacuums can often leave a lingering smell of pet-related odours if you use them to vacuum hair and the like, and if you’re not diligent in consistently emptying the dustbin, this gives odours an opportunity to cling to the dustbin and stick around even well after emptying. Plus, bagless vacuums can also be notorious for producing dust clouds when emptying, no matter how easy and hands-free they make the process.
However, the auto-empty dock included in the Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty System answers to these issues precisely, equipped with Odour Neutraliser technology to keep unpleasant smells at bay and an Anti-Allergen seal on the base of the dock, which ensures that no pet dander, dust, or hair will escape until it’s ready to be emptied. Shark advertise that the base can hold dirt 45 days or more before needing maintenance, and I can attest that even after weeks of using the PowerDetect consistently, I haven’t needed to empty it yet.
Read our in-depth Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty cordless vacuum cleaner review for more details.
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Best upright vacuum for pet hair
If you’re keen on saying goodbye to your corded vacuum without sacrificing suction and cleaning power, the Shark ICZ300UKT offers just that; and its versatility and impressive power levels are precisely what has earned it one of the top spots as the best vacuum for pet hair. During testing, it left a positive lasting impression on our reviewer, Millie, who is mother to a black Labrador. With just one pass, the PowerFins design quickly and effectively lifted all the deep-rooted hair on her carpets, revealing the once cream colour beneath.
For areas around your home with more stubborn hair, the additional TruePet attachment that comes with the vacuum is a great touch to ensure you really get into those hard-to-reach places. And, on the note of easy and convenient cleaning, the Powered Lift-Away feature allows you to lift the central unit away from the vacuum stick to assist in cleaning stairs seamlessly and even for use in the car.
Features we loved during testing
One of our favourite things about the Shark ICZ300UKT is seamlessly it toggles between power levels for hard floors and carpet respectively, achieved by just a touch of a button. It does a fantastic job at everyday cleaning as well as deep cleaning needs with its robust build and smart features. The Eco power mode was also pretty impressive, especially for light vacuuming on tiled flooring to help extend the battery life further. However, it is worth noting that although its dustbin capacity is quite small and if your furry friend tends to shed a lot, you may find yourself needing to empty it continuously.
Read our in-depth Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap cordless upright vacuum cleaner review for more details.
Honourable mentions
Each month, new vacuum cleaners are put through the Ideal Home review process – whether it be popular bestsellers that we haven’t had a chance to get hands-on experience with yet or new launches from leading brands we love – to see how they fare to the best-in-class vacuum cleaners included in this round-up.
Unfortunately, not all vacuum cleaners we review make the cut to get included in our edit. This can be due to a number of reasons, including other options offering better value, being outshone by another in one category of our review process, or getting replaced by a newer model that ticks all the boxes and more. However, it’s not to say that they aren’t suitable at all.
Below are some of our honourable mentions for the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, where I’ve outlined some of their pros and cons and linked out to their respective in-depth reviews so you can compare for yourself. Who knows, perhaps you might even prefer the look of one of the below models.
Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Shark Stratos is by far one of the best cordless vacs we’ve tried, sporting a sleek, foldable design with fantastic suction. This isn’t to say this no longer holds true, but after testing the new Shark PowerDetect on pet hair, the Stratos is just shy of meeting those demands – namely because we haven’t got a chance to test it on pet hair ourselves. Maybe after revisiting the testing process, we’ll reconsider.
If you’re after great value for money vacuum cleaner for pet hair, the Henry Pet200 is a brilliant choice at its sub-£200 price tag, employing great suction power that works excellently at picking up pet hair with good reach. It previously stood in as our most reliable vacuum for pet hair, but has since been outshone by the Henry XL Plus in versatility and capacity. It could still be a great buy if you’ve got a smaller house, though.
Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog Vacuum Cleaner
Among the many vacuums we’ve tested, the Miele Complete C3 still stands as one of the most reliable if tackling pet hair truly is your biggest concern, thanks to its robust cylinder design. Specially designed for pet hair removal, it boasts excellent suction power and is great on all floor types with varying floor heads. However, similar to the Henry Pet200, we found that the Henry XL Plus just simply outperformed it on other fronts.
How we tested these vacuum cleaners for pet hair
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At Ideal Home, we believe that to give our verdict on the best vacuums and to rank them, we need to have tested them ourselves, which we delve into in our how we test guide.
That’s why you’ll find star ratings on the vacuums in this list, which we’ve decided on after extensively testing them either in our own homes. In order to test pet-specific features, we have ensured that every vacuum included in this round-up has been tested in real homes with pets, so you can rest assured that our recommendations will fare well in the context of your own homes and the demands of day-to-day life.
The main criteria we have used to put together this list is as follows: suction power, whether it offers de-tangling technology, bag or dustbin capacity, anti-odour or scented cartridges, and the selection (and usefulness) of included pet-specific attachments – especially for cordless models that can be switched to handheld mode.
Every model in this list was tested for a minimum of two weeks, with some models undergoing months of testing before a review is fully written up, or they are considered for inclusion in our product round-up.
When testing these vacuums in our homes, we put these models through their paces and rank them according to the above criteria. While some vacuums will not tick the boxes for all the criteria, they might make up for some depending on other features they offer, which balances our star ratings overall. If there are major issues or notable missing features in a vacuum we have tested, we ensure to explicitly state them as such when outlining the respective model’s pros and cons.
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As well as paying close attention to how they performed at the job of vacuuming, we also make sure to evaluate practical features like how lightweight each vacuum is for convenience, whether they’re bagged or bagless, the model-specific standout features of each, and which appliances are the best value for money.
Where we can, we’ve also sought to keep hold of these vacuums for long-term testing, so that we can feedback on just how they deliver after years of use, and how easy they are to store. We ensure to routinely update our reviews as such, and vacuums that have been kept for long-term testing will include key details about how they perform in everyday life after the initial testing period and their longevity.
Below, you can find out more about exactly who has tested the vacuums in this round-up.
Who tested these vacuum cleaners for pet hair
FAQs
What should I look for when buying a vacuum for pet hair?
Some features to look for when buying a vacuum for pet hair can include, but are not limited to, powerful suction, de-tangling technology, anti-odour capsules or scent cartridges, sealed filters or bagged systems to keep pet dander at bay, and motorised pet tools for cleaning upholstery, furniture, and more.
These are examples of features that can greatly impact how suitable a vacuum cleaner is for tackling pet hair, as they address more than just pet hair pick up, but also the issues of dealing with neutralising pet odours and offering comfort to pet owners who may be sensitive to specific allergens.
What are the different types of pet vacuum cleaner?
Stick vacuum cleaners are generally upright plus handheld in one. Models designed to deal with pet hair frequently have a special attachment that can be used with the handheld, but the floorhead used with the stick may also have features that aid cleaning in homes with pets. As two vacuums in one, they can save space, but the top-heavy design can make them tiring to use. Often cordless, they’ll save the time taken plugging and unplugging, although these machines do need charging time.
Upright vacuum cleaners are larger than sticks, but despite this, it can be easy to move over different floor surfaces. Going up and down stairs with machine in hand does require lifting more weight, however. Special pet attachments can deal with fur on upholstery.
Robot vacuum cleaners will get on with the vacuuming for you, making them a good choice if you’re having trouble keeping up with the amount of hair a houseful of pets – or a single shedder – creates. Bin size is limited, but self-emptying versions can extend the time before you need to go to the dustbin.
Handheld vacuum cleaners are great for quick pick-ups, and with a special pet tool, can target fur as well as spills when you don’t want to get a larger machine out.
How much should I spend on a pet vacuum cleaner?
You can find a vacuum for pet hair starting from around £150, but bear in mind that you could pay more than four times as much for a top-end model, while a robot vacuum will cost even more.
The best pet vacuums in our tests cost from around £500 (which is a huge sum of money), and in this price bracket as well as those designed to deal with pet hair you’ll likely get additional features, greater suction power and more attachments.
If you’re looking to bag a bargain on a vacuum for pet hair, then our cordless vacuums deal page can help to bring the price down.
Should I get a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner?
You’re likely to have a strong personal preference for this one, as the bagged vs bagless vacuum debate is one that has been long-standing since the latter has become more of the industry-standard within the more recent years.
Bagless vacuums, of course, save the additional expense of buying the bags and making sure you have a constant supply. However, the ease of emptying the dust bin varies between bagless models, and how much dust puffs up as you do does too. The capacity of their bins also differs and can be relatively small. Vacuum bags can fit in more and seal tightly when you change them.
Now you’re better equipped with knowledge of the key features to look for when investing in the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair, you can go out there with the confidence that you’ll know how to purchase the right model to suit your needs and your household, acting as a solid investment that will last you years to come.
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