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How to Remove Duplicates in Mac Photos Easily and Safely

By Jenefey Aaron

2026-01-08 / Mac Cleanup

If you're searching for how to remove duplicates in Mac Photos, you're definitely not alone. Duplicate photos can quietly pile up over time—burst shots, edited copies, repeated imports from iPhone, or synced images from iCloud—all eating up valuable storage space.

The Photos app on macOS does offer basic tools to detect duplicates, but they don't always catch everything. Some similar photos slip through, and manual cleanup can quickly become time-consuming and frustrating.

In this guide, we'll show you how to remove duplicate photos in Mac Photos using both Apple's built-in features and smarter alternatives. We'll also introduce Cleamio, a powerful Mac cleanup tool that goes beyond the Photos app—helping you detect exact and similar duplicates, preview results, and remove unnecessary copies safely.

Whether you want a quick cleanup or full control over what gets deleted, this step-by-step guide will help you reclaim space without risking your memories.

Part 1: Why Duplicate Photos Appear in Mac Photos

Before learning how to remove duplicates in Mac Photos, it helps to understand why they appear in the first place. Most duplicates are created unintentionally during everyday use.

iPhone Sync, iCloud, and Multiple Imports

When your iPhone syncs photos through iCloud, AirDrop, or manual imports, the same images may be saved more than once. This often happens when switching Macs or restoring photo libraries.

Burst Photos, Edits, and Similar Images

Burst mode, edited copies, screenshots, and exported versions can look almost identical. Over time, these similar images clutter your Photos library and take up gigabytes of space.

Part 2: How to Remove Duplicates in Photos App on Mac (Built-in)

Apple added a native way to remove duplicates in Photos on Mac, making basic cleanup easier than before.

Use the Duplicates Album in macOS Photos

Open the Photos app and select Duplicates from the sidebar. macOS automatically groups exact duplicates and suggests which version to keep. You can review each group and click Merge to remove extra copies.

Limitations of Apple's Built-in Duplicate Removal

While useful, this feature only detects obvious duplicates. Similar photos, edited versions, and images stored outside the Photos library are often missed—leaving clutter behind.

Part 3: How to Remove Duplicate Photos in Mac Photos with Cleamio

If you want a deeper and more accurate cleanup, Cleamio offers a smarter solution.

How Cleamio Finds Exact and Similar Duplicates

Cleamio scans your Mac using content-based analysis, not just filenames. It detects:

• Exact photo duplicates
• Visually similar images
• Copies stored inside and outside the Photos app

This makes it ideal for users who want full control over photo cleanup.

Step-by-Step: Remove Duplicate Photos Using Cleamio

• Download and launch Cleamio on your Mac, then go to "Similar Photos" from the left sidebar.
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• Click the Folder box or the large "+" icon to add folders to Cleamio for finding similar images. Then click "Scan".

• After clicking the Plus icon, if you want to add more folders to detect identical photos, hit the large "+" icon or drag those folders directly to this software. Then hit "Scan".

• Before clicking "Scan", go to "Cleamio" > "Preferences" in the top-left menu to adjust your scanning options, including General settings, White List, Duplicate Files, and Similar Photos similarity percentage.

• Wait for the scanning process to complete. After the scan, review your similar photos and their details, select the ones you don't need, and click "Remove".

• Similar photos removed successfully! Click "Completed" to finish.

Cleamio ensures original photos stay intact while removing unnecessary duplicates in seconds.

Part 4: How to Prevent Duplicate Photos on Mac in the Future

After cleaning up duplicates, prevention is key.

Optimize iCloud and Photo Import Settings

Avoid importing photos manually if iCloud Photos is enabled. Also, review sync settings to prevent repeated uploads from multiple devices.

Schedule Regular Photo Cleanup with Cleamio

Running Cleamio periodically helps catch duplicates early before they pile up again—keeping your Mac Photos library clean and organized.

Conclusion

Knowing how to remove duplicates in Mac Photos can free up storage, improve performance, and make browsing your photo library enjoyable again. While Apple's built-in tools help with basic duplicates, they don't catch everything.

For a more complete and safer cleanup, Cleamio stands out as an effective solution for removing duplicate photos on Mac—especially when dealing with similar images and large libraries. By combining smart detection with full preview control, Cleamio helps you clean up without risking your memories.

If you're ready to reclaim space and keep your Photos library organized, Cleamio is a reliable tool worth adding to your Mac maintenance routine.