Guide
Find and remove duplicate files on a Mac
Duplicate files on a Mac are mostly copies of photos and videos: exports, downloads, re-encodes and backups that ended up in more than one folder. Dup finds them across folders, external drives and the Photos library, shows each group side by side, and moves the copies you choose to the Trash.
Pay with your Apple ID
Reaches folders App Store apps can't
The facts
- Finder has no duplicate search; sorting a folder by name or size only reveals copies that share a name or a size.
- Dup matches photos and videos by what they show, so renamed, resized and re-encoded copies are found too.
- Dup also lists big files you have not opened in months, and developer caches that can be rebuilt.
Two copies of one clip side by side under a wipe, Dup's auto-keep choosing the higher-resolution copy, and the removal undone in one step.
Compare two copies, keep the best, undo
Step by step
| Step | What you do | What Dup does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose folders, drives or the Photos library | Reads the photos and videos in them |
| 2 | Start the scan | Groups exact and similar copies, on your Mac |
| 3 | Compare each group | Shows the copies side by side; auto-keep can mark the best one |
| 4 | Remove the copies | Moves them to the Trash, and the last cleanup can be undone |
Frequently asked questions
How do I find duplicate files on my Mac?
Finder cannot search for duplicates, so use a duplicate finder. Dup scans folders, external drives and the Photos library on your Mac, and groups exact and similar copies of photos and videos for you to review.
Is it safe to delete files?
Yes. By default, Dup moves files to Trash so you can recover them at any time from Finder. You can also choose permanent deletion if you prefer.
How much does Dup cost?
Dup is free to download and removes up to 250 MB of duplicates at no cost. Pro removes that limit for $29.99 a year, or $39.99 once for a lifetime license.
Try it on your own library
Free to try, with 250 MB of cleanup included. Nothing leaves your Mac, on any plan.
Pay with your Apple ID
Reaches folders App Store apps can't
macOS 13+