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A survey found over half of Americans have never deleted any files off their devices. And it is not just unnecessary files you have to worry about. It is likely you also have duplicate files on your MacBook.
There comes a day when you cannot ignore digital hoarding any longer. When your MacBook begins to slow in performance, it could be to do with storage space. However, sometimes deleting unwanted MacBook files and applications is not enough; you have to dig deeper and find duplicate files.
Read on to learn the easiest ways you can find duplicate files on your MacBook.
Why You Have Duplicate Files
You can have duplicate files on your MacBook for different reasons. Common reasons include people accidentally downloading a file twice, copying files, or redownloading mail attachments.
It is also easy to transfer the same photos or documents to your computer from a mobile device multiple times. It is also common for people to save a file with different names numerous times.
Manual Folder Scanning
You can use a smart folder to find duplicate files. Open the Finder application and go to File>New Smart Folder. Start a new folder by clicking on the plus (+) button.
You can then search for files and order them by name. You can then identify duplicates of files, but be sure to check the creation date. Otherwise, you could delete different versions of files.
Photo Library Search
MacBook files are not the only duplicates. It is also common to have a lot of duplicate photos. You can open the photos application and sort your pictures by date.
Then follow the same process of opening a Smart Folder in Finder and filtering for photos. Compare the pictures listed in the Smart Folder and Photos to find duplicates.
Duplicate File Finders
A quicker way to find duplicate files is to use dedicated duplicate file finders. These are usually third-party applications, so it is essential to find a reputable option. One option is the Gemini duplicate file finder.
Gemini 2 is one of the best apps for Mac that specializes in folder scanning for duplicate files. You can search your entire hard drive or individual folders. It also allows you to find similar photos to delete multiple images, such as hundreds of the same sunset.
It is also easy to recover files from the trash if you accidentally delete something. If you are interested in learning more about Gemini, you can read more here.
Find Duplicate Files on MacBook
There are several ways you can find duplicate files on your MacBook. Although you can carry out manual folder scanning, it is more efficient to use duplicate file finders. Pick one of the best apps for Mac, such as Gemini 2.
Once you find and delete duplicate files, you will likely see an improvement in your MacBook’s performance. Duplicate file finders are the quickest way to a quicker MacBook.
Did you like this article? Read on for more technical advice to make the most out of your devices!