Apple Photos - any way to batch delete RAW photos when there is an associated jpeg?

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Apple Photos - any way to batch delete RAW photos when there is an associated jpeg?

My son accidentally turned on JPG and RAW for a recent big photo trip. Is there a way to batch delete the RAW files in Apple Photos?

Mac Studio

Posted on Aug 16, 2024 12:46 AM

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Answer 1

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léonie

Level 10

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Aug 16, 2024 1:04 AM in response to John C Lin

There is still no quick and easy way to remove the RAW components of a RAW&JPEG pair in Photos for Mac. You will have to export the pairs, delete them completely from Photos, including Recently Deleted and all synced devices using iCloud Photos, and then reimport only the JPEG files. When you reimport the JPEGS, the RAW files must not be in the same folder, or Photos will import them again paired with the JPEGs.

I described the procedure in this user tip in more detail: Deleting RAW files from RAW&JPEG Pairs - Apple Community

See also: Photos for Mac: Importing Raw and JPEG pa… - Apple Community

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,915 points

Aug 16, 2024 5:06 AM in response to John C Lin

That is correct. The RAW files and the JPEGs are independent of each other and can be used alternately as the original image files.

it is up to you, which of them you want to use. The RAW files are the better choice, if you want to develop the photos you took on your own the images need heavy editing, but if you are happy with the way your camera has developed the images, when it created the JPEGs, keep the JPEGs. I am only taking RAW files for landscape photos with strong contrast and difficult lighting.

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Answer 3

John C Lin Author

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Aug 16, 2024 4:02 AM in response to léonie

This is extremely helpful, thanks! Can I assume that if I hadn’t made any adjustments or edits, that when I delete the RAW file and keep the JPEG file only, there won’t be any issues? In other words, I’m assuming that the raw and JPEG files are independent of one another and don’t require one another for any reason.

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Answer 4

John C Lin Author

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41 points

Aug 16, 2024 8:53 AM in response to léonie

So, here's what I did.

Exported files from Photos (both JPG and RAW). There haven't been any edits, so no sidecar files or anything.
Deleted files from Photos library, including the Recently Deleted files in Photos
Dragged and dropped JPGs only from among the files that I exported

The weird thing is that it somehow reverted so that I still see "JPG and RAW" on the file in Photo Library and when I tested it by exporting those files, I did indeed find a JPG and RAW file, as if nothing had happened at all.

Do you have any idea what is going on? Did I miss something? Somehow even after exporting, deleting and then not re-importing the RAW file, the RAW file came back.

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Answer 5

John C Lin Author

Level 1

41 points

Aug 16, 2024 10:26 AM in response to léonie

The Apple forum may have a glitch in displaying posts, so I thought I'd re-post my previous respond. Sorry if you get this twice!

So, here's what I did.

Exported files from Photos (both JPG and RAW). There haven't been any edits, so no sidecar files or anything.
Deleted files from Photos library, including the Recently Deleted files in Photos
Dragged and dropped JPGs only from among the files that I exported

The weird thing is that it somehow reverted so that I still see "JPG and RAW" on the file in Photo Library and when I tested it by exporting those files, I did indeed find a JPG and RAW file, as if nothing had happened at all.

Do you have any idea what is going on? Did I miss something? Somehow even after exporting, deleting and then not re-importing the RAW file, the RAW file came back.

Reply

Apple Photos - any way to batch delete RAW photos when there is an associated jpeg?

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