How to Delete Copies of Photos on Mac

As a blogger, I am always on the hunt for content ideas. One issue that I came across that affects many Mac users is the problem of having multiple copies of the same photo. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as importing photos from multiple devices or accidentally saving a photo twice. Having duplicate photos can take up valuable storage space and make it difficult to organize your photos. That’s why I wanted to create a blog post detailing how to delete copies of photos on Mac.

What’s Needed:

Before we get started, there are a few things you’ll need:
– A Mac computer
– Photos app installed
– A backup of your photos (just in case something goes wrong)

What requires your attention is…?

Please note that deleting photos can be a risky business, so make sure to backup your photos before you start. Additionally, make sure you are deleting the right photos. Check to make sure there are no important photos saved in the duplicates before deleting them.

Method 1: Using the Photos App

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Click on "All Photos" in the sidebar.
3. Click on "View" at the top of the screen.
4. Click on "Show Duplicate Items."
5. A list of all the duplicate photos will be shown. Click on the photo you want to delete.
6. Press "Command" and "Delete" on your keyboard to move the photo to the trash.
7. Empty the trash to permanently delete the duplicate photo.

Pros: Easy to use, built-in feature
Cons: May not find all duplicates, time-consuming if you have a lot of duplicates

Method 2: Using Third-Party Apps

1. Download and install a third-party app such as Gemini or Duplicate Photos Fixer.
2. Open the app and select the folder you want to scan for duplicates.
3. Wait for the app to finish scanning for duplicates.
4. Review the list of duplicates and select the ones you want to delete.
5. Press "Delete" or "Move to Trash" to get rid of the duplicates.

Pros: Can find more duplicates, faster than manually sorting through duplicates
Cons: The app may not be free, may not be as accurate as sorting through manually

Method 3: Sorting Manually

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Click on "All Photos" in the sidebar.
3. Scroll through your photos manually and look for duplicates.
4. Decide which duplicate you want to delete.
5. Right-click on the photo and select "Remove from Album" to remove it from the album it’s in.
6. Click on "Recently Deleted" in the sidebar.
7. Click on the photo you just removed and click "Delete" to permanently delete it.

Pros: No need to download anything, free
Cons: Takes a long time for big photo collections, may not find all duplicates

Method 4: Create a Smart Album

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
2. Click on "File" in the menu bar and select "New Smart Album."
3. Name your new album "Duplicates" or another relevant name.
4. Set your criteria to "Photo" and "is duplicated."
5. Click "OK" to create the album.
6. Review the duplicates in the album and delete them as desired.

Pros: Easy to use, filters duplicates automatically
Cons: May miss duplicates that don’t completely match

Why Can’t I Delete Copies Of Photos On Mac?

1. You don’t have enough storage space on your Mac.
Fix: Free up some space on your computer by deleting non-essential files.

2. You don’t have permission to modify the photos.
Fix: Make sure you have admin privileges and are signed in as the administrator.

3. The photos are stored on an external drive.
Fix: Make sure the external drive is connected to your Mac before trying to delete the photos.

Implications and Recommendations:

Having duplicates of photos can take up a significant amount of storage space on your computer. By deleting duplicates, you can free up space and make it easier to organize your photos. It’s important to regularly go through your photo collection and delete any unwanted duplicates. Remember to backup your photos before you start deleting to prevent any accidental loss of important photos.

5 FAQs

Q: Will deleting duplicates delete the original photo too?
A: No, deleting duplicates will only delete the duplicate copies. The original photo will remain untouched.

Q: Can I recover deleted photos?
A: If you accidentally delete a photo, it will go into the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Photos app. You have up to 30 days to recover the photo before it is permanently deleted.

Q: How often should I delete duplicates?
A: It’s a good idea to check for duplicates every few months, especially if you import a lot of photos on a regular basis.

Q: Can I delete duplicates from iCloud?
A: Yes, you can delete duplicates from iCloud using the Photos app on your Mac.

Q: Will deleting duplicates speed up my computer?
A: Deleting duplicates may free up space on your computer, which can improve performance. However, the impact on performance may be minimal.

Conclusion:

Deleting duplicates of photos on your Mac can seem like a daunting task, but it’s important to stay on top of it to prevent storage space from running out. By using the built-in features of the Photos app, third-party apps, or sorting manually, you can easily delete duplicates and free up space on your computer. Just remember to backup your photos before you start and be careful not to delete any important photos.