How to free up space on your Mac

Are you tired of scrolling through your Mac's photo library only to find multiple copies of the same photo? 

We'll walk you through how to use the built-in Duplicates finder, as well as some alternative methods for those who need more advanced features. Plus, we'll also offer some other tips to help you easily free up space on your Mac.

If your Mac syncs with iCloud Photos, any duplicates removed from the Mac will also be deleted from iCloud. However, if you keep a lot of photos outside the Photos app, running a strong antivirus software on your Mac storage can help clear space efficiently.

When you delete something on your Mac, it remains in the Trash folder and continues to occupy storage space until you empty the Trash. The Trash does not automatically hold files for a specific number of days unless you have enabled the "Empty Trash Automatically" feature, which can be set to remove items after 30 days. If you need to free up space immediately, emptying the Trash is a good first step.

After clearing the Trash, the next step is to delete unnecessary apps. Unused applications take up valuable storage space and can slow down your system. Removing them will free up space and improve performance.

Take some time to go through your files and delete anything you no longer need. Old documents, large video files, duplicate photos, and outdated downloads can take up a surprising amount of space. If you are unsure about deleting certain files, move them to an external drive or cloud storage before permanently removing them.

Always exercise caution when deleting files and ensure you have a backup before making significant changes to your data.

Use services like Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive to store large files and free up local storage. These services offer automatic syncing and backup features.

Managing duplicate photos on your Mac is easier than you think, especially with the built-in features in the Photos app. By clearing out duplicates and organizing your storage, you'll not only free up space but also make it easier to find your favorite memories. Plus, combining this with other simple tips like emptying the Trash and transferring files to external storage can really help keep your Mac running smoothly.

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