Duplicate files eat up a big amount of storage space. They pose a big problem for computer users, which must be fixed at the earliest. There is no definite reason behind duplication. Mistaken downloads are a big factor behind duplication. Clicking the same download link on a webpage or an email will download the same file twice.
When transferring office presentation files from external storage to your home Mac, you might have unintentionally copied the same file to two different locations. Third-party file backup utilities can also be blamed for duplicates. If your file backup program copies the files without verifying if they already exist in the target directory, it brings more harm than good. Free-up your SSD’s storage to make room for new files.
Using the Finder to Find Duplicate Presentations
Finder is a powerful tool that helps you launch and organize files on your SSD. You can use the Finder to sort files alphabetically, identify any duplicates and get rid of them. Here’s how:
- Launch the Finder application.
- Click on File, select New Smart Folder.
- Click the + (Add) icon on the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose one of the search parameters among Name, Kind, Date, File Type, etc. You can find additional parameters through the Other option.
- To find duplicate Mac presentations, select Kind, followed by a presentation file format (for example, key for Keynote, or pptx for Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac).
- The above search parameters will load up a list of all matching presentation files.
- You can review the search results to identify any duplicates using the filename prefix, for example, – Copy(1), – Copy(2), etc.
- You can also create a file backup before actually deleting any files to avoid potential data loss. Simply create a new folder and now move all the duplicates to that folder. Now compress the folder contents by selecting your files and then choosing the Compress option. Use the built-in compression tool in Mac to securely backup your files.
The Easiest & Safest Way to Tackle Duplicates
Moving aside from the manual method is a comprehensive method. You can use a program that uses smart algorithms to detect and delete duplicate Mac presentations. We’re talking about Clone Files Checker.
CFC provides a simplified user interface to examine and delete files. You can also opt to move the duplicates to a folder if you think you might need them in the future. The in-house backup functionality can be used to compress and backup files in a 1-click operation. This can save you from potential data loss.
The steps can be broadly divided into the following parts:
- Install Clone Files Checker on your Mac.
- Choose the folder(s) that you want to scan for duplicate presentations.
- Select All Files and now click Start Search to initiate the scan for duplicate Mac presentation files.
- The scan will be over pretty soon and show you a pop-up describing the duplicates detected and the space they have eaten up.
- Click the Review & Fix button and a list will appear on the screen.
- Use the Select Duplicates button and choose one file selection pattern to automatically select your files.
- Once you’ve selected duplicate files, use the Select Action button and choose one of the actions (Move Duplicate Files to Folder/ Permanently Delete Duplicate Files).
That’s it, you have just freed up a significant portion of your SSD. More than that, this action will also clean up the disorganization in the SSD.
Raza Ali Kazmi works as an editor and technology content writer at Sorcim Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. He loves to pen down articles on a wide array of technology related topics and has also been diligently testing software solutions on Windows & Mac platforms. If you have any question about the content, you can message me or the company's support team.