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I thought there was a way in Photos to find duplicate photos. I don't want to get some app that will do it. I know I saw something somewhere on my Mac but can't find it now! I just told Photos to import new items from my phone and it imported over and over and over - more than 2000 "new" photos that weren't really new. Don't know why that happened either.
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.4
Hi
This problem normally comes when the files are changed in some way as they are transferred to the Mac. Often the result of using different methods of transferring the files (EG texting / direct connection / photostream / iCloud). Pick one method of transfer from phone to Mac, and stick with it. Don't mix them.
Different versions of IOS can also impact this EG when photos are converted from HEIC to JPG. Iphone setting photos>transfer to mac or pc - set to automatic might convert the files. Try setting this to "keep originals". The phone will then send the files in the original HEIC format instead of JPG. (This is the most likely cause, and the easiest one to check for). However you'll still have duplicates on your mac in jpg format which you could choose to delete from the imports folder (if you are sure you still have the originals on your phone)
Another cause can be when iCloud photos is enabled on the phone with “Optimise phone storage” set. If iCloud re-downloads an image that has been optimised, that can result in it being seen as a new image. Even worse, any photo uploaded from your mac to iCloud, then downloaded to the phone with iCloud can be seen as a new image when synced via USB. Best solution; DON’T mix iCloud sync with USB sync.
Photostream is also being phased out, and hasn't been improved for some time resulting in an inability to work with some file types.
Images will only be recognised as the same image if the file being compared on your mac is exactly the same as the one on your phone. Same file name and type, same size, same metadata etc.
By far the easiest way to manage photos is by using iCloud sync, but that does have a monthly cost.
Hi
This problem normally comes when the files are changed in some way as they are transferred to the Mac. Often the result of using different methods of transferring the files (EG texting / direct connection / photostream / iCloud). Pick one method of transfer from phone to Mac, and stick with it. Don't mix them.
Different versions of IOS can also impact this EG when photos are converted from HEIC to JPG. Iphone setting photos>transfer to mac or pc - set to automatic might convert the files. Try setting this to "keep originals". The phone will then send the files in the original HEIC format instead of JPG. (This is the most likely cause, and the easiest one to check for). However you'll still have duplicates on your mac in jpg format which you could choose to delete from the imports folder (if you are sure you still have the originals on your phone)
Another cause can be when iCloud photos is enabled on the phone with “Optimise phone storage” set. If iCloud re-downloads an image that has been optimised, that can result in it being seen as a new image. Even worse, any photo uploaded from your mac to iCloud, then downloaded to the phone with iCloud can be seen as a new image when synced via USB. Best solution; DON’T mix iCloud sync with USB sync.
Photostream is also being phased out, and hasn't been improved for some time resulting in an inability to work with some file types.
Images will only be recognised as the same image if the file being compared on your mac is exactly the same as the one on your phone. Same file name and type, same size, same metadata etc.
By far the easiest way to manage photos is by using iCloud sync, but that does have a monthly cost.
Thank you so much for the long and detailed answer, TonyCollinet! This is a great help for this aging Mac/iPhone user! I like it when someone can give me specific answers and directions. I still am not horrible at tech things but worry that new advances are going to leave me in the dust! Thanks again!
Did you remember to select them in the iPhone?
Deleting duplicate photos
