Podcast Summary: Hands-On Apple 198 - Deduplicate Pics in the Photos App!

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Episode: Hands-On Apple 198: Deduplicate Pics in the Photos App!
Host: Micah Sargent
Air Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Hands-On Apple" is dedicated to a deep dive on deduplicating your photos in the built-in Photos app on macOS. Host Micah Sargent demonstrates how to use Apple's native utility for clearing out duplicate images, compares it with third-party alternatives, and details how the tool works in practice. This concise, hands-on tutorial is designed to help users keep their photo libraries tidy without extra costs or outside software.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Built-In Photos Deduplication Tool ([01:34]–[05:12])

• Purpose:
  Micah focuses on using the Photos app's integrated deduplication feature, explaining that while many third-party apps exist, macOS now offers a solution right out of the box.

  • "We're not talking about third party tools today. We're talking about something that your Mac has built right in." — Micah Sargent [01:41]

• Navigating the Tool:
  Step-by-step, Micah explains how users can access the deduplication tool within the Photos app:

  • Open Photos on macOS.
  • In the left sidebar, look for Collections.
  • Under Collections, select Utilities.
  • Within Utilities, find and select Duplicates.

• Scanning and Categorization:
  The Photos app scans your library for duplicate images—this process takes some time, and more duplicates may appear as the app continues to analyze your collection.

  • "The duplication tool does take some time to scan your Mac and get a picture of what you've got in your library." — Micah Sargent [01:52]

• Other Utilities:
  In addition to duplicates, the Utilities section offers:

  • Receipt detection (for quickly finding or deleting receipt images).
  • Categorization of handwriting, illustrations, imports, documents, and more.
  • Recently viewed, recently edited, and recently shared sections for easy access to recent activity.

How Deduplication Works ([05:12]–[08:30])

• Understanding Duplicates:
  The Photos app identifies both exact and near duplicates. It considers not just identical images, but also those with slight differences (such as file format, size, or metadata).

  • "Duplicates are classified both as exact copies that may have different metadata...as well as photos that appear to be the same but may have unique resolutions, file formats or other slight differences." — Micah Sargent [05:39]

• Merging Process:
  When reviewing duplicates, Photos displays their attributes (such as size, location, and device).

  • Example: Comparing two versions of a photo that differ only in file size but are otherwise identical.
  • Clicking the "Merge 2 items" button combines the highest-quality image and all relevant metadata, moving duplicates to Recently Deleted.
  • "Merging will keep one version of the duplicates that combines the highest quality and relevant data and move the rest to recently deleted." — Micah Sargent [06:32]

• What the Tool Can and Can't Do:

  • Best suited for exact or near-exact duplicates.
  • Not as powerful as third-party tools for "fuzzy" matching, such as detecting multiple similar images taken in quick succession (e.g., burst shots).

Alternatives and Recommendations ([08:30]–[09:01])

• Third-Party Options:
  For more comprehensive deduplication, Micah suggests third-party apps like Gemini by MacPaw (the makers of CleanMyMac).

  • Gemini is better at "fuzzy deduplication" — identifying similar but not identical images, such as a series of rapid-fire shots.
  • "If you're looking for an incredibly robust deduplication tool, then the built-in duplicates option is not going to be that for you. You will need to use a third-party tool to do that." — Micah Sargent [07:38]

• Conclusion & Recommendation:
  If you want a quick, no-cost solution for obvious duplicates, Apple Photos’ built-in tool under Utilities is sufficient and user-friendly.

  • "For a basic, no extra cost deduplication tool, you've got it right there in the photos app for macOS underneath your utilities." — Micah Sargent [08:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Micah Sargent on waiting for results:
  "So with that in mind, you may see over time more and more photos appear in this area as more duplicate photos are detected." [01:54]

• Micah Sargent on the Merge feature:
  "Choosing merge two items leaves just one behind and now we can see what we have left." [07:08]

• Micah Sargent on third-party tools:
  "I have in the past suggested Gemini from the wonderful folks who make CleanMyMac and other tools...it can look at photos that are very similar but different enough that a standard deduplication tool can't tell that they're the same." [07:44]

Summary Timeline (Key Segments)

• [01:34] Introduction to Mac Photos deduplication tool
• [01:52]–[04:16] Explains scanning, Collections, and other utilities within Photos
• [05:12]–[08:30] Demonstrates duplicates review, merge function, and clarifies the difference between built-in and third-party dedupe capabilities
• [08:30]–[09:01] Final thoughts, third-party recommendation, and closing remarks

Final Takeaway

This episode provides a straightforward, practical walkthrough of the deduplication feature in the Photos app on macOS, highlighting its simplicity and limitations, while also guiding users who may need more advanced solutions toward third-party apps. Micah’s approach is approachable, encouraging listeners to make the most of built-in tools but not shying away from recommending more robust paid options when appropriate.