Guide
Find HEIC and JPG duplicates of the same photo on a Mac
When an iPhone photo is exported or shared, it often becomes a JPG copy of the original HEIC, so one picture sits on your Mac twice in two formats. Dup compares what photos look like rather than their format, and groups HEIC and JPG copies of one picture together.
Pay with your Apple ID
Reaches folders App Store apps can't
The facts
- HEIC is the format iPhones shoot in by default, and a JPG export of the same photo has a different size and checksum.
- Dup scans the Photos library, including photos kept in iCloud, as well as folders and external drives.
- Photos removed from the Photos library go to Recently Deleted, which keeps them for 30 days.
Dup scanning the Photos library, including photos kept in iCloud, and grouping the duplicates it finds there.
Scanning the Photos library and iCloud Photos
Step by step
| Step | What you do | What Dup does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose the Photos library, or folders of exported photos | Reads HEIC, JPG, PNG and RAW files |
| 2 | Start the scan | Compares each photo by what it shows, on your Mac |
| 3 | Open a group | Shows the HEIC original and its JPG copies side by side |
| 4 | Keep one | Moves the rest to the Trash, or to Recently Deleted in Photos |
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have HEIC and JPG copies of the same photo?
Because exporting, emailing or sharing an iPhone photo often converts it to JPG, and the copy is saved beside the original. The two files look the same but differ in format and size, so a byte comparison misses them.
Does it work with iCloud Photos?
Yes. Dup can scan your Photos Library, iCloud Drive, and the cloud folders you choose (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive). Add them from the cloud buttons on the home screen.
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+