There are many different reasons why you may want to find and delete duplicate files on Mac. Perhaps you are trying to clean up your hard drive from unnecessary files. The most common reason people want to delete duplicate files is that they are trying to clean up their hard drives from unnecessary files. These files can not only slow down your Mac but can also consume massive amounts of hard drive space. Most duplicate files are often created when you install different versions of the same software on your machine.
Why is My Mac Duplicating Files?
When you download a file from the internet, your computer will always create a redundant copy of that file on your hard drive. This is actually a good thing because it allows you to quickly recover any data you may lose in case something goes awry. Unfortunately, these copies can quickly add up and consume large amounts of disk space if left unchecked. Over time, these files will often pile up and begin to clutter your hard drive.
Also Read: How To Safely Upgrade Your Laptop’s Memory and Storage
Why Are Duplicate Files Harmful?
As you can imagine, duplicate files can take up quite a bit of your hard drive space. If you do not delete these files regularly, they will begin to pile up and expand. Gradually, you will find that your hard drive is almost out of the room or that it runs very slowly. You may even start to get errors whenever you try to open programs on your computer because duplicate files can cause conflicts with various applications.
What Are the Best Ways to Find and Delete Duplicate Files on Mac?
In order to find and delete duplicate files on your Mac, you need an application that can quickly scan the contents of your hard drive. Typically, these applications will scan your hard drive for any duplicate files and provide you with a list of all the duplicate files it finds. You can then go through the list and choose which files to delete and which ones to keep.
If you are looking for a simple and effective method to find and delete duplicate files on your Mac, you have reached the right place. You can try manual steps or make use of the Best Duplicate File Finders for Mac.
1. Find Duplicate Files to Delete with Mac Terminal
If you would like to find and delete duplicate files on Mac with the help of Terminal, then you will be happy to know that the tool is available on Mac OS X. The application will scan your hard drive for duplicate files and provide you with a list of all the duplicates it finds. Terminal app is relatively an easy to use app.
All you do is drag the file that you want to delete into the application and press enter. Upon doing this, the program will check your hard drive for any duplicate files and provide you with a list of all the found files. After selecting the removable files, the application will automatically remove the selected files from your Mac hard drive.
Mac Terminal Features & Benefits:
- Easy to use
- Automatic backup of deleted files
- Remove duplicate files in under 30 seconds
- Tools to remove duplicate music, photos, and videos
- Search engine friendly with real-time mode
- The program works with any deleted file
- Customizable options
Pros:
- When compared to Finder searches, it speeds up the duplicate-finding procedure.
- You may identify many duplicates in standard directories with only one command.
- It would help if you did not have to scan the entire disc.
Cons:
- Understanding the command line to remove files may take up some serious technical skills.
- Several duplicates may be missed with the method.
2. Use Smart Folders:
The smart folder feature is a built-in Mac OS X feature. This means that you can use smart folders on your Mac if they are not already enabled on your machine. Smart folders work on search criteria that allow you to create a folder that will automatically keep track of files that meet the requirements.
This can be useful for finding and deleting duplicate files on your Mac. To find and delete duplicate files, you need to open up Finder, click on the magnifying glass in the top right-hand corner, and type in duplicate. The search engine will then display a list of duplicate files. You can then choose which files to delete and which ones to keep.
Smart Folders Features & Benefits:
- It is simple to operate
- The program is automatically updated
- Smart Folders search for duplicate documents, photos, music, and more
- Customized settings to meet two or more of your needs on one search engine
- Smart Folders can be set up as a simple duplicate finder or an advanced search function
- The program allows you to view your search results in real-time
- Run searches by name, date, file format file extension, etc.
Pros:
- As time goes on, the algorithm learns your preferences, making it easier to spot duplication.
- You can create a local version of this content with only a few clicks.
Cons:
- It needs more manual attention than other duplicate finding techniques.
- Instead of using a Finder-style procedure, you are employing an information collector.
3. Use Duplicate Files Fixer
The Best Duplicate Files Fixer can quickly find and remove duplicate files, documents, photos, music, movies, etc. on your Mac. It can scan and list out all the duplicate files in groups. You can preview and select what to delete or keep and quickly delete duplicate files on Mac. it is compatible with all internal or external storage devices and can scan Google Drive as well. You can also get it from the App Store for just $8.99.
Final Words:
As you can see, finding and deleting duplicate files is a candid task on the Mac. The manual process can help you find and remove duplicate files if they are fewer. If there are a lot of duplicate files, you can make use of the best duplicate files fixer to automatically find and delete duplicate files. There are various methods of analyzing your duplicates, including byte size, file type, etc. If you want to keep these files in order and ensure that they will not cause any problems, you should use Mac’s best duplicate files finder.