My photo Library is full of double and triple photos. I have not loaded them 2 or 3 times. I can not figure out why I have so many duplicates. Can you help me figure this out?

Question

Level 1

15 points

My photo Library is full of double and triple photos. I have not loaded them 2 or 3 times. I can not figure out why I have so many duplicates. Can you help me figure this out?

Why do I have so many double and triple photos in my Library? I have not downloaded these photos 2 or 3 times. I don't use iCloud. I use a LaCie external hard drive for safe keeping and have never opened it to look at my photos. Maybe dumb but I'm assuming the photos are "there" in case I need the file. It is unmanageable at this point. I understand 3rd parties are not the safest way to go to I.D. duplicates. First I need to understand why I'm getting dups and then (somehow) purge my Library of the doubles. Can anyone help me understand this? Thank you.

Posted on Feb 4, 2022 9:07 AM

Reply

Answer 1

randall18 Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 5, 2022 11:22 AM in response to Keith Barkley

Hi Keith,

It's Photos App. of the 70K photos in the Library, I bet about 1/3 are dups. Any idea why that happens. I'll try with your suggestion of Power Photos. Thank you. BTW, Apple Support could not help me with the dup problem. It is on-going so I checking all the things on my end since it is consistent over different cameras. I'm going crazy and causing myself a lot of work.

Thanks again for the recommended app fix.

Pam

Reply

Answer 2

J_J_B_B

Level 1

12 points

Mar 5, 2022 9:27 PM in response to randall18

Same issue, multiple duplications, but not consistently across all photos. Super random.

I deleted all duplicates from iCloud Photos a few days ago (advise from Support and total was perhaps 700 ~ 800 duplicated images).

Today, I plug in iPhone (iPhone 13 Mini, 15.3.1), and there are a number of photos that are "New" except they aren't, at all, and then if I import them, then unplug / plug iPhone back in, the same "New" photos re-appear on iPhone, some duplicated, as well as duplicated in Photos (Version 7.0 (431.0.140) and iCloud Photos also.

If I remove from iCloud, they then are also removed from Photos on MacBook Pro (MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)12.12.1). However, soon, it loops back to duplication again.

Tried this on iPad, and same problems. If I set up Test User, same problem of "New" photos, even though, they are far from new. And after having a longer slow look through Photos library, yes, the duplication of random images has begun.

And yes, regular maintenance and all other good things regularly done.

I am trying to reduce memory needs on iCloud and iCloud duplicating images (memory) is not helpful.

Thank you.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 5, 2022 12:46 PM in response to randall18

When this has happened to me with my Canon, I find I have to reformat the card in the camera. I have no idea how it happens, I guess image capture gets confused sometimes.

Reply

Answer 4

randall18 Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 4, 2022 10:55 AM in response to Keith Barkley

I see the duplicates in the Photos Library? I don't know what GUI means. I did not download these twice. I only place "NEW" photos in Library. .

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 4, 2022 10:45 AM in response to randall18

Where are you seeing these duplicates? Via the Photos GUI?

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 4, 2022 10:57 AM in response to randall18

I mean, are you seeing them in the Photos App or are you mucking around in the Library file on the disk?

If you see them in the App, PowerPhotos from FatCat is well thought of around here.

Reply

My photo Library is full of double and triple photos. I have not loaded them 2 or 3 times. I can not figure out why I have so many duplicates. Can you help me figure this out?

Similar questions