How to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Mac

TL;DR

Spotless compares file contents, so renamed copies are still caught. Identical files are grouped, you keep one, and similar photos from bursts are grouped separately so you can keep the best shot.

Two different problems

Duplicates are the same file saved twice: a download you grabbed again, a folder you copied “just in case”. Identical content, so any copy will do.

Similar photos are six takes of the same shot. They aren’t identical, and the “best” one is a judgement call.

Spotless treats these separately for that reason.

Clean up exact duplicates

  1. Run a scan.
  2. Open Duplicates. Identical files are grouped.
  3. In each group, keep one and mark the rest.
  4. Clean.

Pick the copy in the folder you actually use. If a project points at a file path, keep that one.

Clean up similar photos

  1. Open Similar Photos.
  2. For each group, compare and keep the sharpest or best-framed shot.
  3. Mark the others and clean.

Things to watch

  • Check the folder before deleting from a group. A copy inside an app’s data folder may be needed by that app.
  • Pictures stored inside the Photos app’s own library are managed by Photos, so delete those from the Photos app itself.
  • The App Store version works within the folders you’ve granted it.

FAQ

Does it match by filename? No. It compares content, so “IMG_0042 copy.jpg” is found even if it was renamed, and two different files with the same name are not confused.

What is the difference between duplicates and similar photos? Duplicates are byte-for-byte identical files. Similar photos are different files that show nearly the same thing, like a burst, and you pick which to keep.

Can it pick the wrong copy? It never deletes without your review. You choose which copy stays in each group.

The app Spotless →