How Do I Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Mac? Get the Best Solution

Ways to Remove Duplicate Files on Mac

There are many ways to search for and eliminate duplicate files on your Mac. However, most of these solutions might lead to data loss and consume a lot of time. To save you time, our IT team has identified the 4 best solutions that are reliable for deleting duplicate files on Mac. The methods to remove duplicate files on Mac are as follows:

1. Automated Tool
2. Using Smart Folder in Finder
3. Utilizing Terminal
4. Remove duplicate photos

Now, let’s explore a table that will give a brief insight into all the methods that will be discussed in the later sections.

Method	Cost	Time Required	File Support	Ease of Use	Additional Features
Use Duplicate File Finder	Varies (Free or Paid Options)	Quick	Supports all file types (documents, photos, music, etc.)	Very Easy	Automatic duplicate detection, preview before deletion
Use Smart Folder in Finder	Free	Moderate (Manual Review Needed)	Supports most file types in Finder	Easy to Moderate	Customizable search criteria, no installation needed
Use Terminal	Free	Time-Consuming (Manual Commands)	Supports all file types	Advanced (Requires command-line knowledge)	Full control over search and deletion process
Use Built-in Option in Photos	Free	Quick	Photos only	Very Easy	Automatic detection and removal of duplicate photos

Solution 1: Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Mac using the Duplicate File Finder & Remover

This solution is among the most efficient and quickest ways to remove duplicate files from your Mac. This automated tool leverages advanced algorithms to search for and eliminate unwanted files from your system. Additionally, it can identify identical files across all formats. Use this free tool to get rid of unnecessary copies of your photos, audio files, music, and more. The steps to use the File Finder and Remover are as follows:

1. Install and launch the File Finder & Remover on your Mac.
2. Click on the option Add Files/Add Folder to add the files to the wizard.
3. Next, select the duplication criteria and choose the file format for which you want to find similar files.
4. Finally, select the duplicate files and delete them permanently or move them to the trash bin.

Solution 2: Remove Similar Files Using Smart Folder in Finder

The Smart Folder option lets users manually search for and delete duplicate files on a Mac. However, it’s important to note that this method can be very time-consuming and may not yield the most accurate results. The Smart Folder displays all files that might be duplicated, requiring you to manually select and remove them. The steps are as follows:

1. Open Finder.
2. Go to File → New Smart Folder.
3. Click the Plus button to select search parameters like Kind, Date, and File type.
4. Click on Other to add additional filters. For example, set Kind to Image and Extension to .png, .jpg, .tiff. Adjust filters as needed.
5. Sort the files by size.
6. Open files with the same name or size to check for duplicates.

Solution 3: Eliminate Duplicate Files Using Terminal

Apple allows users to find duplicate files using the Terminal. By executing specific commands, you can identify identical files on your system. If you’re wondering how this solution works, don’t worry—we’re here to explain it in detail. When using Terminal, it compares the sizes and MD5 signatures of the files and also performs a byte-by-byte comparison for verification. Here are the steps to find duplicates on a Mac using Terminal:

1. Open the Terminal app.
2. Type the path to the folder you want to check for duplicates. For example, to find duplicates in Documents/Folder, type:
   cd Documents/Folder
3. Enter the following command and press Enter:
   find ./ -type f -exec md5 {} \; | awk -F ‘=’ ‘{print $2 “\t” $1}’ | sort | tee duplicates.txt

This command will start checking all files in the specified folder for duplicates and generate a list of identical files. Review the generated list and manually delete any unnecessary duplicate files.

Solution 4: Search Similar Images in the Photo Library

Photos have become an essential part of our daily lives. Whenever we see something breathtaking, we tend to pull out our smartphones and capture the moment. However, this often leads to taking multiple repetitive images. These duplicate photos can consume unnecessary space on your device. To free up space, follow the steps below to delete identical photos from your Mac Photo Library.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Click on Duplicates in the sidebar. The app may take some time to scan your library for duplicate photos.
3. Once the scan is complete, you’ll see a list of duplicate images.
4. Select and remove the unwanted items.

Note that by default, the system moves these items to the Recently Deleted folder rather than the Trash. Be sure to empty this folder for complete removal.

Conclusion

If you want to efficiently find and delete duplicate files on a Mac, we recommend using Aryson File Finder & Remover. This tool works with both internal and external drives on your Mac. Additionally, maintaining a clutter-free Mac can enhance your work efficiency and productivity.

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