How to Delete Duplicate Files on Mac

Are you tired of cluttered storage space on your Mac? One common cause of this problem is having duplicate files.

These duplicates not only take up valuable storage, but they also make it harder to find the files you need. Thankfully, there are several methods available to delete duplicate files on your Mac and reclaim that precious space. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process step by step.

Method 1: Using Finder

If you prefer a manual approach, using Finder is a simple and effective way to locate and delete duplicate files on your Mac.

1. Open Finder – Click on the Finder icon in your dock or press Command + Space and type “Finder” in the Spotlight search bar.
2. Select a folder to search – Choose the folder where you suspect duplicate files are located. For example, if you want to search your entire Mac, select “Macintosh HD”.
3. Search for duplicates – Press Command + F or click on “File” in the menu bar and select “Find”. In the search window, click on the “+” button to add search criteria. Choose “Kind” from the first dropdown menu, then select “Document” from the second dropdown menu.

   This will narrow down the search to documents only.

4. Sort by Kind – Once the search results appear, click on “Kind” at the top of the window to sort them by file type.
5. Select duplicates – Look for files with identical names or similar content. To select multiple files at once, hold down Command and click on each file.
6. Delete duplicates – Right-click on the selected files and choose “Move to Trash” from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can press Command + Delete.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Apps

If you have a large number of duplicates or prefer a more automated approach, using third-party apps can save you time and effort.

Gemini 2

Gemini 2 is a popular duplicate file finder and remover for Mac. It uses advanced algorithms to detect duplicates across your entire system.

• Download and install Gemini 2 – Visit the Gemini 2 website and download the app. Follow the installation instructions to install it on your Mac.
• Launch Gemini 2 – Open Gemini 2 from your Applications folder or click on its icon in the dock.
• Select scan location – Choose where you want Gemini 2 to scan for duplicate files. You can select specific folders or let it scan your entire system.
• Start scanning – Click on the “Scan for Duplicates” button to start the scanning process.

  This may take some time depending on the size of your storage.

• Review and remove duplicates – Once the scan is complete, Gemini 2 will display a list of duplicate files found. Review them carefully and select which ones you want to delete.
• Delete duplicates – Click on the “Remove Selected Duplicates” button to delete the selected files. You can also choose to move them to Trash or permanently delete them.

Duplicate Cleaner For iPhoto

If you have a large photo library, Duplicate Cleaner for iPhoto is a specialized tool that can help you find and remove duplicate photos.

• Download and install Duplicate Cleaner for iPhoto – Visit the Duplicate Cleaner for iPhoto website and download the app.
• Launch Duplicate Cleaner for iPhoto – Open the app from your Applications folder or click on its icon in the dock.
• Select iPhoto Library – Choose your iPhoto Library from the list of available libraries.
• Scan for duplicates – Click on the “Scan for Duplicates” button to start scanning your iPhoto Library for duplicate photos.
• Review and remove duplicates – Once the scan is complete, Duplicate Cleaner for iPhoto will display a list of duplicate photos found.

  Review them carefully and select which ones you want to delete.

• Delete duplicates – Click on the “Delete Marked Duplicates” button to remove the selected duplicate photos from your library.

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to delete duplicate files on your Mac using both manual methods and third-party apps.

By regularly cleaning up duplicate files, you can keep your Mac organized and free up valuable storage space. Enjoy a clutter-free computing experience!

Note: Before deleting any files, make sure you have a backup of important data to avoid accidental loss.