Find and Remove Duplicate Files: Reclaim Wasted Storage

The Duplicate File Problem

Over time, duplicate files accumulate on your Mac from:

• Photo imports - Same photos imported multiple times
• Downloads - Downloading the same file repeatedly
• Backups - Copying files to multiple locations
• Email attachments - Saving the same attachment multiple times
• File organization - Forgetting you already have a file

How Much Space Do Duplicates Waste?

Typical findings from our users:

• Photos - 2-20 GB of duplicate images
• Music - 1-10 GB of duplicate songs
• Documents - 500 MB - 5 GB
• Downloads - 1-10 GB
• Videos - Can be massive (10+ GB)

DiskCleanKit's Duplicate Finder

Our intelligent duplicate detection finds identical files across your entire system.

How Detection Works

We identify duplicates by:

• File content comparison - Byte-by-byte accuracy
• Smart grouping - Groups identical files together
• Size analysis - Shows space wasted by each duplicate set

What We Find

• Exact duplicate files (identical content)
• Same files in different locations
• Multiple copies with different names
• Duplicates across different drives

Using the Duplicate Finder

Running a Scan

1. Open DiskCleanKit

2. Go to Duplicate Finder

3. Select folders to scan (or scan all)

4. Click Find Duplicates

5. Wait for analysis to complete

Reviewing Results

Results are organized by:

• File type - Photos, Music, Documents, Videos, Other
• Size - Largest duplicates first
• Groups - Each set of identical files

Selecting Files to Remove

For each duplicate group:

• Keep one - Select which copy to keep
• Auto-select - Let DiskCleanKit suggest which to remove
• Preview - View files before deciding

Scanning Specific Locations

Focus Areas

Target the most common duplicate sources:

Photos Library

• Duplicate imports
• Screenshots copied multiple times
• Downloaded images saved repeatedly

Downloads Folder

• Same file downloaded multiple times
• Email attachments saved repeatedly
• Updated versions of same documents

Documents

• Files copied for "backup"
• Multiple versions saved separately
• Work files in multiple project folders

External Drives

Scan external drives to find:

• Backup duplicates
• Files existing on both internal and external
• Redundant copies across drives

Preview Before Deleting

Always Preview

Before removing duplicates:

• View the file - Make sure it's what you expect
• Check location - Understand where each copy is
• Verify you're keeping the right one

File Types to Be Careful With

• Work documents - May have subtle differences
• Photos - Check for edited vs original versions
• Code files - Different versions may matter

After Cleaning

Verify Important Files

After removing duplicates:

1. Check that files you need are still accessible

2. Verify the kept copies open correctly

3. Run another scan to confirm no duplicates remain

Prevent Future Duplicates

Photos

• Import to one location only
• Use Photos app's duplicate detection
• Delete from camera after importing

Downloads

• Clean Downloads folder regularly
• Don't re-download files
• Move important files to proper folders

Documents

• Organize files properly
• Use version control for important docs
• Avoid "Copy of" file syndrome

Tips for Best Results

Start with Largest

Focus on large duplicates first for maximum space recovery.

Scan Regularly

Monthly duplicate scans prevent massive buildup.

Include External Drives

Don't forget to check backup drives and external storage.

Use Preview

When in doubt, preview before deleting.

Duplicate files are hidden space wasters. Regular scanning keeps your storage efficient and organized!