How to free up space on your Mac
Duplicate photos can clutter your storage and make it harder to find the memories you want to cherish. Fortunately, if you're using macOS Ventura or later, Apple has made it easier than ever to find and merge these duplicates right within the Photos app.
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 you're using macOS Ventura or newer, Apple has added a Duplicates finder inside the Photos app. Here are the steps to find and merge duplicates in the Photos App on a Mac:
Just like that, you've cleared out all your duplicate photos. Now, you've just freed up some valuable space on your Mac, and your photo library is duplicate-free.
Third-party apps are a great option for more advanced duplicate detection (including photos stored outside the Photos app). If you have antivirus software, some offer a duplicate file finder that detects duplicate images, videos, and files stored on your Mac. Once installed, you can scan your folders, review the detected duplicate files, select the ones you want to delete and click "Remove" to free up space. (We always encourage you to back up your system before doing this if you ever need to restore any files.) Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
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 Old documents, large video files, duplicate photos, and outdated downloads can take up a surprising amount of space.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.
What features or tools do you wish were available in the Photos app or other storage management software? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Google Unveils Pixel 10 Lineup With AI Features, New Watch and Earbuds
Google unveiled the Pixel 10 lineup on Wednesday at its annual Made by Google event, rolling out four new phones alongside a smartwatch, earbuds, and a smart home assistant. Each device leans on on-device artificial intelligence to power features from messaging to photography. While the star-studded event included guests like Jimmy Fallon, Steph Curry, and the Jonas Brothers, the main star was the Pixel 10 family, which includes four models—the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and 10 Pro Fold—all running on Google's new Tensor G5 chip. The processor powers Gemini Nano, a lighter version of the company's AI model that runs directly on the device and enables more than 20 generative tools without relying on the cloud. New AI features The upgrades reflect Google's broader push to weave Gemini AI into every product, a strategy it ramped up last year with sweeping updates to Search, Images, and Google Meet. 'We've been building toward this universal AI assistant with Gemini,' Google Senior VP of Platforms and Devices Rick Osterloh said during the event. 'The assistant has to be personal and intelligent enough to understand you and your context. And it has to be agentic, meaning it can take action for you under your direction.' On the Pixel 10, that shows up in nine new AI-powered tools. Magic Cue pulls context from Gmail, Calendar, and other apps during calls and messages. Voice Translate handles real-time translations in 12 languages, replicating each speaker's voice. Call Screen expands with Take a Message, which generates transcripts for missed calls and suggests follow-ups. AI Agents Are Taking Over Game Development: Google Google is also embedding AI into everyday habits. Pixel Journal offers reflection prompts, Gboard can rewrite texts in different tones, Recorder turns hummed melodies into music, and NotebookLM links screenshots and transcripts into a searchable notebook. Gemini Live adds visual help by analyzing the camera or screen and is tied into Google apps, including Calendar, Keep, and Tasks, with Messages and Maps support on the way. Its updated voice model sounds more natural and lets users adjust speed, tone, and accents. The Google Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL will begin shipping on August 28th. Pre-orders for these models are open now. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold will be available for pre-order on August 20th, with shipping starting on October 9th. The timing matters: Apple has delayed its own 'Apple Intelligence' features into 2026, giving Google a chance to win consumers with AI functions that actually ship. Gemini for Home Google is also extending its AI push beyond phones—starting with the home, introducing Gemini for Home, a new voice assistant set to replace Google Assistant in Nest devices. Rolling out in October with free and paid tiers, it's designed to handle more complex commands and respond in natural conversation. Pixel 10 Phones The Pixel 10 lineup spans four price points: $799 for the Pixel 10, $999 for the 10 Pro, $1,199 for the Pro XL, and $1,799 for the Pro Fold. The Pixel 10 is the base model with a 6.3-inch display, standard triple-lens camera, and 12GB of RAM. The Pixel 10 Pro upgrades to a sharper LTPO screen, a more advanced camera system with 100x zoom, and 16GB of RAM. The Pro Fold adds a foldable 8-inch inner display, an extra selfie camera, and the highest price tag in the lineup. Google says its new hinge is twice as durable, though it hasn't released test data to back the claim. Preorders are open now. The Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL ship Aug. 28. The Pro Fold launches Oct. 9. Pixel Watch 4 and Buds 2a The Pixel Watch 4, powered by Tensor G5, uses Fitbit integration for AI-based workout and wellness coaching. The $129 Pixel Buds 2a and $229 Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer adaptive audio, Gemini integration, noise cancellation, and real-time translation. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
This is the one Pixel 10 feature that proves Google is light years ahead of Apple on AI
With all the apps on my phone, I still often wish the device would just 'get' me, you know? I'm talking about not just knowing I don't mean 'duck' or 'he'll' when I'm texting, but something that truly feels intelligent. Something that feels more like a true assistant. Enter Google's new Magic yesterday (August 20) at Made by Google, Magic Cue for the Pixel 10 phones is Google's boldest attempt to make the smartphone truly intelligent. It's already making Apple's AI efforts look behind the curve. Where Siri still feels like a digital assistant waiting for directions, Magic Cue is much more of a proactive sidekick. It sees what you're doing, anticipates what you might need next and then serves it up — contextually, intelligently and instantly without you ever needing to ask. In other words, Magic Cue gets it. Magic Cue is Google's latest on-device AI feature, powered by the new Gemini Nano model running on the Pixel 10's upgraded Tensor G5 chip. But it sets itself apart from other AI assistants and AI chatbots because it is a context-aware feature that watches your apps like Gmail, Calendar, Messages, Chrome and even your photo gallery. Magic Cue then surfaces relevant actions in real-time, across whatever app you're example, let's say you're texting a friend who asks for your flight details. Magic Cue will read the context of that conversation and automatically suggest sharing your itinerary pulled from Gmail. We're talking no digging around for the email in your inbox and no copy and pasting needed. If you're on hold with an airline, it might bring up your confirmation number on its own. It's just that smart. Unlike Apple's reactive approach to Siri or even iOS's suggested actions (such as Writing Tools), Magic Cue is built to predict your needs in the moment. You don't have to switch apps. You don't have to think of the right command. It simply shows up when it's helpful. If you're like me and are skeptical about how Magic Cue just knows or even wonder if it will be too intrusive for the sake of being 'helpful,' we can probably chill with our concerns. Google has accomplished this 'magic' with tight ecosystem integration, deep contextual understanding and fast on-device processing; so you're not waiting on cloud servers to do the thinking. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The feature is built on Gemini Nano, Google's most efficient AI model yet, and it runs entirely on-device for privacy and speed. Apple Intelligence similarly emphasizes on-device processing using the Neural Engine in its latest chips, but many of its more advanced tasks still rely on Private Cloud Compute. The difference with Magic Cue is that it already delivers seamless cross-app integration and real-time assistance, while Apple's system is still early in rollout and more limited in context. Magic Cue is positioned as a core part of the Pixel 10 experience. Like Smart Reply or Live Translate in the past, this feature is designed to be subtle, helpful and privacy-conscious while running on-device. Magic Cue may pop up when composing emails, coordinating plans in text threads and even during voice calls when making reservations or chatting with a doctor. Unlike Siri or Alexa, there's no 'Hey Google' also do not need to prompt Magic Cue: the awareness and assistance just exists, wherever and whenever it's useful. This is probably the closest thing we've seen yet to the holy grail of smartphone AI and Google's the closest one yet to deliver it. To be clear, Apple is investing heavily in AI, and features like Siri's planned upgrades and Apple Intelligence show promising groundwork. But the experience still feels fragmented and early-stage. For example, while Apple teased smarter email management in iOS 18, with features like priority summaries, auto replies and email rewriting, these tools are mostly confined to the Mail app itself and don't yet extend across multiple apps the way Google's Magic Cue does. They also require you to manually initiate actions (like asking for a summary), rather than offering timely, automatic suggestions in the flow of conversation. In contrast, Magic Cue works across apps, pulling in relevant info from Gmail, Calendar, Messages, Chrome and more to anticipate your needs in real-time. Whether you're replying to a text, composing an email or on a phone call, it's always watching in the background and surfacing the right prompt at the right time, without being asked. So while Apple's features are modular and app-specific, Google's approach is deeply integrated and contextual. The Pixel 10 sets a new bar with Magic Cue for what proactive, intelligent smartphone assistance should feel like. Until Apple can deliver something that matches this level of contextual fluency, Google's Pixel remains light years ahead. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
The iPhone 17 could be the last iPhone with this controversial feature
The iPhone 17 is expected to feature Apple's Camera Control key, but that could be the last we see of it as we're hearing that the iPhone 18 may not feature Apple's touch-sensitive button. The Camera Control was introduced on the iPhone 16 last year, and was a major part of the marketing for all four phones in the lineup. But according to leaker Baby Sauce OvO on Weibo, due to low usage and the cost of adding the control to iPhones, Apple has told suppliers it will be ceasing orders for Camera control parts. It's not clear how reliable this assertion is, as Baby Sauce OvO made several claims about the iPhone 16 prior to its release last year, some of which turned out to be inaccurate. We'll need to see other leakers with stronger track records to be confident in this claim. The Camera Control is more versatile than the name suggests, acting both as a shutter button and navigation method for moving through camera options, plus a shortcut to the Camera app or Visual Intelligence. It can be useful, but can also get in the way depending on how you're holding the iPhone. You don't have to search long to find Reddit threads filled with users both praising and criticizing the Camera Control. Apple does change its mind about features on its devices, but looking through its product history, these changes normally take longer to happen. For example, the widely disliked MacBook Touch Bar was around for five years before Apple began to switch it out for traditional function keys again. And in terms of iPhones, the Action button, which replaced the mute slider, shows no signs of disappearing, despite some users preferring the more traditional controller. We'll only get a firm answer about what the iPhone 18 will do to the Camera Control next year, although there will likely be lots of leaks before that. Next month we'll see the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max according to the rumors, which you can read more about in the above hubs. And we think we have a pretty good idea about the iPhone 17 release date. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
