How to Delete Duplicate Photos on Mac (macOS Big Sur)

Hi

There are no facilities in photos to automate finding and deleting duplicates, so either

* manually,

* or using an app designed to work with the photos library (Ie one that marks the photos or puts them in an album, and lets you review and then delete them, rather than doing the delete itself.

Do NOT use a general file duplicate finder not designed to work with the photos library. They will damage your photos library and likely cause loss of your photos.

I personally use PowerPhotos (I also use this for copying images and data between libraries)
https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/powerphotos/


Another suitable app recommended by experts here is PhotoSweeper (I have no personal experience of this one)

https://overmacs.com/

Both are paid apps. PhotoSweeper is the lowest cost and can recognise duplicates based on content, but PowerPhotos provides a lot of functionality in addition to the duplicate detection.

..kinoav8r:

Perhaps to try an 'actual search engine' instead of a support community

~ may yield different caliber of results; at least those can be customized.

An example; would seem, may be not far from where you were headed:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=how+to+delete+or+remove+duplicate+photos+on+Mac+(big+sur11)&ia=web

re: • How To Find & Delete Duplicate Files On Mac: Decluttering | Macworld UK

https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/find-delete-duplicate-files-mac-3679414/

• How do I remove duplicate photos in Photo - Apple Community (2018)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8279600

Older links in above have 'software answers' within certain named products

Duplicate Annihilator for Photos

PhotoSweeper

PowerPhotos

Photos Duplicate Cleaner

(However cannot attest at all to their validity or safety.)

Good luck & happy trails!🌞🌤

PS: (above thread timed-out)

• Photos User Guide for Mac [Table of Contents] - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/guide/photos/toc

Improvements were said to be made with Big Sur and Photos.

Maybe this version of User Guide could shed some light there?

• Photos - Official Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/photos

A cautionary -from 2016- Apple Support's suggestion, is generally, sorta helpful! (Gemini, CleanMyMac, Etc are bad!)

• Using third-party apps to remove duplicate photos might damage your Photos for macOS library - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204968

Some of those duplicate removal necessitates being very careful; with iCloud

since that can make duplicates. ~ A re-consolidation across devices into one

library; may equal Duplicates like Echos, there. (Victim: iCloud moments.)

My recent experiences with iCloud Photo Library and My Photo Stream,

plus four devices, all sharing stuff.. Is like a major 'weed-pulling' event.

• How to Find & Delete Duplicate Files on Mac with Smart Folders | osxdaily

https://osxdaily.com/2020/09/17/how-find-duplicate-files-mac/

To make Backups, off the Cloud, to local storage; and relocating Photos Library

to offline repositories; concepts others used; also helpful to Delete All, at times.

iUsed to be happier with film cameras; processing my own 35mm. Then, was OK

with digital SLRs; & offline software. iLearned how to do B&W using Zone System.

..However I will not be as happy -with iPhone results- scattered across iCloud..

Sorry.! this got away from me.

Dust barely settled from my own 'duplicate iCloud images factory' run amok.😳❄️🙀❄

I can only vouch for the first three on your list. They are not aggressively cleaning by manipulating the library directly. Quite a few duplicate cleaners are doing more harm than they are helping. Or, if they are free, they will make us pay by installing malware and collecting data.

+1 on both apps mentioned by Tony. I use both and both are safe, easy and efficient to use.

No problem - that is an easy mistake to make with the way search works here.