Outline: Have you ever faced a situation with numerous files on your system? Amid this vast collection, spotting duplicate files becomes a concern. Identifying these copies is challenging and often goes unnoticed, affecting system performance. In this article, we guide you on ‘How to Delete Duplicate Files on macOS for free?’.
These files are basically duplicates of existing ones in your folder. They come in various formats, like database, archive, or executable files. Now, let’s focus on removing these duplicate files. Precisely, if you want to eliminate only the music files, follow the guide on “how to remove duplicate music files from pc?”
Reasons to Identify and Remove Duplicate Files on All Versions of Mac for Free
Given below are some of the major things to know why to remove duplicate files on a PC:
- Free up disk space by deleting unnecessary files.
- Enhance system efficiency and responsiveness.
- Simplify file organization for easier management.
- Avoid confusion and errors with fewer files.
- Speed up backups by removing duplicates.
- Save time in file retrieval and management.
- Ensure data integrity by preventing overwrites.
- Expedite system backups with a streamlined file structure.
How to Delete Duplicate Files on Mac for Free Using Finder?
In this part, let’s discuss the manual approach to finding and removing similar files using Finder for free. This method is specialized in visually checking files based on names, sizes, and content.
Considerations:
- For large folders, it’s a bit slow.
- Always check files before deleting them.
- Finder sorting helps in identification.
- Empty the Trash for permanent deletion.
Perform the following steps to manage potential duplicates in your files:
- Start by opening Finder, either by clicking its icon or pressing cmd + N.
- Henceforth, go to the folder where you think there might be copies of files.
- Next, click on “View” in the top menu, then choose “Show View Options” (Command + J).
- In View Options, pick “Sort by” → “Name” and close that window.
- Now, search for files that seem similar in names or details.
- Hold the Command key and click on each of those identical files.
- After that, Right-click on the Dock, then select “Move to Trash.”
- Finally, right-click on the Trash icon and pick “Empty Trash.”
Remember: Always check the files before removing them to avoid losing important data. Additionally, having a backup is a good practice.
Read More: Absolute solution to “How to delete duplicate photos on macOS?”
How to Scan and Delete Identical Files on macOS with Terminal?
This free method involves using Terminal commands to find and remove duplicate files on your Mac. Transitioning to Terminal, you’ll employ specific codes to declutter identical data.
Keep in mind:
- Prior knowledge of Terminal commands is crucial.
- Be cautious when using ‘rm’ to prevent accidental deletions.
- Tailor commands to suit different file types.
Steps to Consider:
Begin by launching the Terminal; you can do this swiftly using Command + Space. Type “Terminal” and hit Enter.
Next, move to the folder containing duplicate files with the cd command:
cd /path/to/your/folder
Ensure to replace “/path/to/your/folder” with your actual folder path.
To identify duplicates based on MD5 checksums, execute the following command:
find . -type f -exec md5 -r {} + | sort | uniq -w 32 -dD
Examine the output to confirm duplicate files.
Proceed with caution when deleting duplicates using the rm command:
rm /path/to/duplicate/file
Replace “/path/to/duplicate/file” with the original duplicate file path.
If needed, locate and remove duplicates of a specific file extension using these commands:
find . -name “*.[file_extension]” -exec md5 -r {} + | sort | uniq -w 32 -dD | cut -d ‘ ‘ -f 3- | xargs rm
Substitute “[file_extension]” with the actual file extension.
How to Delete Duplicate Files on Mac for Free through Smart Folders?
Smart Folders in Finder serve to craft folders dynamically based on your search outcomes. This aids in easily spotting identical files for free.
Considerations:
- Specify search criteria for precise results.
- Employ sorting options for easy identification.
- Effortlessly drag and drop Smart Folder files into Trash.
Steps In One:
- Explore your Finder window and initiate a “New Smart Folder.”
- Within this window, employ the search bar and tap the “+” to add criteria.
- Opt for criteria like “Name,” “Date Modified,” or “Kind” to pinpoint duplicates.
- For instance, choose “Kind” to detect duplicate images.
- Organize files by clicking column headers (e.g., Name, Date Modified) for a neat layout. Examine files visually; use “Command” and click to select.
- Opt for “Move to Trash” via right-click or drag to the Trash icon in the Window.
How to Scan and Clean Identical Files Using Automator For Free?
Automator serves as an easy-to-use visual scripting tool for automating tasks. Locating and cleaning duplicate files manually can be challenging. In such instances, leverage this tool to simplify the process.
Key Considerations:
- Prerequisite: Basic understanding of Automator.
- Execute actions within the workflow: find and move files based on Name, Date Modified, etc.
- Run the workflow to initiate file deletions.
Steps at Ease:
- Access Automator in Applications. Opt for “Workflow.”
- From the sidebar, pick “Files & Folders.”
- After that, drag the “Get Specified Finder Items” tab to the right.
- Beneath, add “Find Finder Items.”
- Then, click “Options” in “Find Finder Items.”
- Select “Name” and “Contains.”
- Next, drag “Move Finder Items to Trash” below.
- Save as “Delete Duplicates.”
- Hit “Run” in Automator’s top-right.
How to Delete Duplicate Files on Mac For Free? – A Bonus Solution
The outlined methods work well for smaller files, but face challenges with larger ones. In such instances, the SysTools duplicates remover software proves optimal. It adeptly identifies and removes similar files through its feature-rich toolkit. Here are some of the common features of the compelling tool:
- An efficient scanning engine
- In-depth recursive scanning, and compatibility with various file extensions like EXE, MSI, MSIX, and more.
- Users benefit from straightforward duplicate photo removal, aided by visual similarity detection. Additionally, there’s a preview option for photo deletion.
- Seamless compatibility with external storage devices such as Pendrive, SSD, External disk, and Camcorder.
Salient Steps to Identify and Remove Duplicate Files on macOS
- Download and install the above application on your macOS system.
- To include the folder with suspected duplicate files, click “Add Folder.”
- Next, choose scanning parameters and select a file extension; then, click Continue.
- Then, remove the identified duplicate files by pressing “Delete.”
- Check the Action column; the message tag should now display “Deleted.”
Also Read: The Best Way to Migrate IBM Notes Contacts to Office 365
Final Takeaway
In this blog, we’ve tackled ‘how to delete duplicate files on Mac for free.’ We’ve detailed manual steps and an automated approach. We’ve outlined major methods to clear identical files on Mac. Yet, every manual way has limits, making expert solutions most favorable.