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  "path": "/article/673151/how-to-find-delete-duplicate-files-on-mac.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-07T11:26:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.macworld.com",
  "tags": [
    "Cleaning and Data Recovery Software, Mac, MacOS, Personal Software, Professional Software",
    "Macworld",
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    "How to backup a Mac or MacBook",
    "Duplicate File Finder Remover",
    "App Store",
    "Parallels Toolbox",
    "Gemini 2",
    "reviews of Parallels Toolbox",
    "Free at  Nektony",
    "Duplicate File Finder",
    "$19.95 at  MacPaw (1 year, 1 Mac)",
    "$44.95 at  MacPaw (one time purchase, 1 Mac)",
    "cloud storage services",
    "CleanMyMac X",
    "MacPaw’s website",
    "Gemini 2 review",
    "MacPaw Gemini review",
    "Free at  Parallels Toolbox Free 14-day Trial",
    "$24.99 at  Parallels (1 year, 1 Mac)",
    "review of Parallels Toolbox",
    "Parallels Toolbox review",
    "How to clear cache on a Mac",
    "How to free up space on a Mac",
    "how to empty the Trash on your Mac",
    "how to remove duplicated music in the Music app.",
    "ways to speed up a slow Mac",
    "How to delete Other storage on the Mac",
    "How to delete System on the Mac",
    "How to delete cache on a Mac."
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  "textContent": "Macworld\n\nIf you are running out of space on your Mac, deleting duplicate files can be a quick and easy way to recover valuable storage. Duplicate files often build up over time through repeated downloads, copied folders, email attachments, photo imports, and multiple versions of the same document, potentially consuming gigabytes of disk space.\n\nFinding and removing duplicate files doesn’t necessarily require specialist software. While macOS doesn’t include a dedicated duplicate-file finder, recent versions of the operating system can identify duplicate photos and videos, while Finder and Terminal offer ways to track down duplicate files elsewhere on your system.\n\nIf you’d prefer a faster, more automated approach, dedicated duplicate-finder apps can scan your Mac and identify identical files wherever they are stored. These tools are often more effective at finding duplicates spread across multiple folders and drives. We’ve included the best options we’ve tested below.\n\nIf your Mac is slowing down or running out of storage, you can reclaim space by targeting these redundant files. In this guide, we’ll show you how to find and delete duplicate files using both built-in macOS tools and the best third-party apps for the job.\n\n## Which methods can you use to find and delete duplicate files on your Mac?\n\nIn this guide we’ll look at two main ways to look through the drive on your Mac and remove any duplicate files.\n\n**Fastest:** Using dedicated software is definitely the easiest and fastest way to accomplish this task, as long as you don’t mind paying.\n\n**Free:** Smart Folders and Terminal commands are more time-consuming, but they are free and available to anyone with a Mac.\n\nMethod| Cost| Difficulty| Finds Exact Duplicates| Best For\n---|---|---|---|---\nPhotos| Free| Easy| Yes| Photos and videos\nFinder Smart Folders| Free| Medium| No| Manual searching\nTerminal| Free| Advanced| Partial| Power users\nDuplicate Finder Apps| Paid/Freemium| Easy| Yes| Whole-system cleanup\n\n## Which methods can you use to find and delete duplicate files on your Mac?\n\nIn this guide we’ll look at two main ways to look through the drive on your Mac and remove any duplicate files.\n\n**Fastest:** Using dedicated software is definitely the easiest and fastest way to accomplish this task, as long as you don’t mind paying.\n\n**Free:** Smart Folders and Terminal commands are more time-consuming, but they are free and available to anyone with a Mac.\n\n## WARNINGS\n\nBefore you start, a couple of warnings:\n\n## Before you delete anything back up your data!\n\nAs you will be deleting files from your Mac, it is essential that you backup your data before beginning this task. While the instructions given below will help you avoid accidentally removing important files, you don’t want to realise that you’ve suddenly wiped away your tax return spreadsheet or family photos just because they had similar names to some unwanted junk.\n\nWith this in mind, be sure to make a full backup of your files first. It’s easier to restore backed up files than to try to rescue deleted ones.\n\nTo secure your data, take a look at our guide on How to backup a Mac or MacBook.\n\n## Beware: Not all duplicate are the same\n\nIn many cases, duplicate files are created by repeated downloads, Mail and Messages attachments, copied folders, near-identical photos, or multiple versions of the same document. Unless you’re exceptionally organised, it’s perfectly normal for duplicates to accumulate over time.\n\nBefore you start deleting files, it’s important to understand the difference between duplicate files and similar files. A duplicate file is an exact copy of another file, while a similar file may only differ slightly.\n\nPhotos are a good example. You might have a burst of ten nearly identical shots of the same group of people. While they look similar, each image is unique. One photo might have everyone smiling, while another could be slightly sharper or better exposed. The Photos app and third-party duplicate-finding tools can suggest which image to keep, but it’s worth reviewing those recommendations yourself before removing the alternatives.\n\nThe same principle applies to documents. While the latest version is often the one you’ll want to keep, an older draft may contain information, edits, or ideas that were removed later. Automated tools can make sensible recommendations, but they can’t know which version matters most to you. Whenever possible, review important files manually before deleting them.\n\n## How to remove duplicate photos on Mac\n\nMartyn Casserly\n\nThe first place to look for duplicates is your Photo library, especially if you are syncing your whole Photos library to your Mac.\n\nSome of the largest culprits when it comes to stealing space on your Mac are videos and photographs. Thankfully, Apple’s Photos app can easily help you find duplicates and deal with them. To do this follow these steps:\n\n  1. In the Photos app select the **Collections** option from the left-hand column.\n  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the main pane until you find the **Utilities** section.\n  3. In here you’ll see an option for **Duplicates** (it should also be an option in the left-hand pane).\n  4. Select this and you’ll be presented with a list of all the images and videos that Photos thinks are the same.\n  5. Now, you can either use the **Merge** option to whittle them down to a single file or manually select and delete the ones you don’t want.\n  6. After doing so you will find the discarded photos in the Recently Deleted album, so you will want to delete them from there if you want the space immediately.\n\n\n\n## How to find duplicate files on Mac\n\nMartyn Casserly\n\nIt is possible to locate duplicate files on your system by using the Smart Folders feature in the Finder.\n\n  1. Start by opening the Finder.\n  2. Navigate to File > New Smart Folder in the menu.\n  3. Click on the ‘+’ button in the upper-right corner.\n  4. Now choose what you want to search by to locate the duplicate files, e.g. Kind = Image or Kind = Document.\n\n\n\nNow you can search for documents, photos, music, or several other files types. The key is how you sort the results. Ordering them by name should bring up any duplicate file names that are easy to spot. (If it’s not displayed in name order click on the drop-down menu to switch to List view).\n\nMartyn Casserly\n\nJust remember to check the date to see if it is a true duplicate – you don’t want to delete the wrong version of an important document, for example. (If you can’t see the date right-click and choose Date Added, you can even add Date Last Opened to make sure you pick the right one to delete.\n\nMartyn Casserly\n\nAnother way to check is to click on the document or image and press the space bar to get a preview.\n\nYou can also check the location of the file you are thinking of deleting if you click to select the file and look at the bottom of the window. That might tell you if it’s the version you saved in the proper folder.\n\nWhile this method will work, it’s far from ideal. One issue could be that you have given the same file different names and this method will not show that up. Also, there’s the risk that although something might have the same name as another file, they are in fact different.\n\nIt’s also a time-consuming process and the time spent working through the long list of files could be better spent by visiting the App Store and buying software that will find and safely delete the duplicates for you instead. More on that below.\n\n## Best duplicate file finders for Mac\n\nIf you’re looking for an easier and faster way to track down and eliminate duplicate files, then there are a number of dedicated apps on the Mac App Store which will automatically search your system and recommend file doubles that can be removed.\n\nOptions include Nekony’s Duplicate File Finder Remover, which offers a free version on the App Store, as well as paid upgrades. You could also try the Find Duplicates feature of Parallels Toolbox, which offers a functioning free trial for 14 days, and we like Gemini 2 from MacPaw which has a functioning trial, albeit one that is limited to only 500MB of files before you need to upgrade to the paid version. Read our reviews of Parallels Toolbox and Gemini 2.\n\nMost apps offer similar features, in that you ask the app to scan your hard drive, then are presented with a list of duplicates, accompanied by the original file so you know which ones are safe to delete.\n\nUsually you’ll have to move to a paid version for advanced features such as deleting duplicate folders, hidden files and similar functions.\n\n##  1. Nektony Duplicate File Finder\n\n### Pros\n\n  * Perpetual license available\n  * Free version available\n\n\n\n### Cons\n\n  * Slightly complex to use\n\n\n\nPrice When Reviewed:  Free version, Pro version from $34.99\n\nBest Prices Today:  Free at  Nektony\n\nNektony’s Duplicate File Finder can scan your Home folder, or you can choose a particular folder or drag files in. There are two versions of the software – a free and a Pro version. The latter adds a few extra features, such as the ability to merge folders, and restore removed duplicates. It costs $14.99/£12.99 a year for one Mac or there’s the option of a $34.99/£34.99 lifetime purchase.\n\nYou’ll need to grant it permission to scan various folders and sections of your Mac. The software will then scan for duplicates with some fancy graphs representing the kind of files it has found.\n\nYou can then click on the Cleanup Hints section to find some files to delete. At every step there is a detailed overlay showing you what to do. Just click on the x to remove it.\n\nIn each case, you can review the duplicate before deleting it. As with Gemini, you can remove the duplicates or you can remove all versions of the file or photo. The Review and Remove option does let you see a visual of where the duplicated file was located, which might be useful.\n\nYou can also choose Auto Select to pick the duplicates for you – you can even refine the selection. You get to review these before they are removed.\n\nDuplicate File Finder creates a Duplicates album in Photos, which you will need to delete within the Photo app. You will also have to remove these from Recently Deleted.\n\n##  2. Gemini 2\n\n### Pros\n\n  * Polished, intuitive user interface\n  * Accurate detection of exact matches\n  * One-time purchase option\n\n\n\n### Cons\n\n  * Game-style achievements are an unnecessary distraction\n\n\n\nPrice When Reviewed:  From $19.95 for 1 Mac, annually\n\nBest Prices Today:  $19.95 at  MacPaw (1 year, 1 Mac)$44.95 at  MacPaw (one time purchase, 1 Mac)\n\nOne of our favourite duplicate removal apps, and one with a good level of positive feedback from customers, is Gemini 2, which starts at $19.95/£17.88 a year for one Mac, or a one-time purchase of $44.95/£39.95. While the name might be more in keeping with a dystopian sci-fi novel, the app is a powerful tool for your Mac.\n\nOnce you have granted permission to scan your folders, Gemini 2 will go ahead and look for Duplicates. When these are found you can either automatically delete them all by clicking on Smart Cleanup, or you can sort through the duplicates manually and choose which version to keep. It’s a bit of a drag that you have to do this one-by-one, but it’s still easier, and more visual, than using the Finder.\n\nYou can review anything trashed and ‘Put back’ any files you have second thoughts about (but this step needs to be taken before you delete the contents of your Recently Deleted folder.)\n\nNot only can Gemini find doubles of any files on your hard drive, but it also searches external drives and cloud storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. All this is accompanied by the ability to immediately replace any accidentally deleted files.\n\nFind out more about Gemini – and the firm’s other related apps, such as CleanMyMac X – on MacPaw’s website.\n\nRead our Gemini 2 review.\n\nRead our full \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMacPaw Gemini review \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n##  3. Parallels Toolbox\n\n### Pros\n\n  * Offers lots of tools\n  * Really easy to use\n\n\n\n### Cons\n\n  * You can’t buy it outright\n\n\n\nPrice When Reviewed:  $24.99 per year\n\nBest Prices Today:  Free at  Parallels Toolbox Free 14-day Trial $24.99 at  Parallels (1 year, 1 Mac)\n\nParallels ToolBox has more than 50 useful tools that you can use to clear space and speed up your Mac and among these is an option that can search for and delete duplicate files.\n\nThe Clean Drive tool can locate unnecessary files that are taking up space on your Mac and find duplicate files that you may no longer need. There are many other tools that you may find useful, take a look at our full review of Parallels Toolbox to see what else you get.\n\nThere is no perpetual license option, so Toolbox requires an annual subscription of $24.99/£20.99 (unless you get it as part of Parallels Desktop) but you can take advantage of the 14-day trial.\n\nRead our full \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tParallels Toolbox review \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n## How to find duplicate files with Terminal\n\nIf you are feeling confident you could delete duplicate files using Terminal. You will still need to remove them manually, but it might simplify the hunt. Just beware that if you aren’t familiar with the Mac operating system you could accidentally delete files you need. So tread cautiously.\n\n  1. Open Terminal (the quickest way to do this is to press Space + Command and start typing Terminal).\n  2. Enter cd ~/[name of the folder you want to investigate]. e.g. cd ~/Documents\n  3. Paste in the following command:\n\n\n\n> > find ./ -type f -exec md5 {} \\; | awk -F ‘=’ ‘{print $2 “\\t” $1}’ | sort | tee duplicates.txt\n\n  4. Press Return.\n  5. In the Documents folder you will find a new text document including duplicates, if it finds any.\n\n\n\nIt took some time for Terminal to locate the duplicates in our Desktop file, but eventually, we had a list of files that were duplicates along with the location they could be found in It was then required that we locate and delete each of those files.\n\nFoundry\n\n##  FAQ\n\n* * *\n\n1.\n\n### What is the safest way to delete duplicate files on a Mac?\n\nUsing dedicated removal software is the method we’d recommend. The interfaces are much simpler than the manual approach in macOS, plus you can usually check each file that’s being deleted before it gets sent to the trash.\n\n2.\n\n### Is it possible to find duplicate files on Mac without using third-party software?\n\nIt is possible to search for and delete duplicate files in macOS, but macOS itself doesn’t have a duplicate file finder. You can however use Smart Folders in the Finder to locate files that are the same (or similar) and use features like Quick Look to help you decide whether to delete them. There is also a command you can use in Terminal, although this is a lot more complicated and we had mixed results with that method. We’ll explain how both methods work below, as well as run through some of the easy to use third-party options.\n\n3.\n\n### Can Finder detect duplicate files automatically?\n\nNo, macOS doesn’t currently have a built-in tool for identifying duplicate files.\n\n4.\n\n### Are duplicate-file finder apps safe to use?\n\nYes, so long as you use one that comes from a reputable brand – you can check the App Store for reviews to see how they are regarded. Of course, you’re still deleting files, so be sure to make a backup of your data before beginning the process, just so you can avoid any accidental losses.\n\n5.\n\n### How accurate are duplicate file-finding tools on a Mac?\n\nWe found the tools we used to be accurate. One of the issues with finding duplicate files is that some files are named differently, but still duplicates. Using the Finder to locate these is a lot harder and can be time-consuming. We found that using a third party tool helped us identify these duplicates.\n\n6.\n\n### Should I empty the Trash immediately after deleting duplicates?\n\nYou won’t get the space back on your Mac until the Trash has been emptied. So you can either do it immediately, or wait and macOS will automatically empty the Trash after 30 days.\n\n7.\n\n### Will deleting duplicate files affect my Mac’s performance?\n\nIf your Mac is running slowly because you are running out of space deleting duplicates and making more space will speed things up. Read: How to clear cache on a Mac to find out why deleting files from cache can speed things up.\n\n## More advice…\n\nFor more decluttering tips, be sure to read our How to free up space on a Mac feature, and a separate article that explains how to empty the Trash on your Mac. We also have advice about how to remove duplicated music in the Music app.\n\nWe also have this guide to ways to speed up a slow Mac and How to delete Other storage on the Mac, How to delete System on the Mac, and an article that explains How to delete cache on a Mac.",
  "title": "How to find and delete duplicate files and photos on a Mac"
}