How to Find Duplicate Files on External Hard Drive on Mac (2 Easy Ways)

This article has come to your rescue if you're wondering how to find duplicate files on an external hard drive Mac. You'll learn to use Finder's built-in feature to find duplicate files. You'll also learn about efficient software for easily detecting duplicate files on an external hard drive.

It's common to encounter duplicate files on your Mac with continued use. There exist many ways to remove duplicate files on a Mac. One way to do this is using the Duplicates feature in the Photos app. This allows you to detect and delete any duplicate Photos on your computer. It also allows you to merge any similar photos. Another option for deleting duplicate files on Mac is using the Finder app. Additionally, tons of third-party software provides a convenient way to find and delete these duplicate files.

This article will discuss how to find duplicate files on external hard drive Mac via Finder and with the best Mac duplicate file cleaner, EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner. If you have an external hard drive with suspected duplicate files, look no further since we have the right solutions.

An Overview of Mac Finder and How to Use It to Clean Duplicate Files

Finder is the default tool for managing folders and files on Mac. It allows you to access files on your external hard drive, cloud storage, or local drive. Using Finder is among the available options if you have duplicates on your external drive and want to delete them.

It has a built-in "Smart Folders" feature allows you to search for duplicate files. You'll need to input specific folder or file attributes to find the duplicate files. This method is still effective despite being time-consuming. Follow these steps to find duplicated files on Mac via Finder's Smart Folder feature:

Step 1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer.

Step 2. Launch the Finder app and then click File>New Smart Folder.

Step 3. Click the plus (+) icon to enter the parameters of the duplicate files you want to search. You can enter parameters such as Kind, Date, Name, and File type.  

Step 4. Click the Other option to add more search filters. For instance, select Kind as Image to find duplicated photos and then enter extensions such as .png, .jpg, or .tiff. Once you enter all parameters, the results will display. You can then sort them based on file size to find duplicates.

Step 5. Once you find files the same size, open and check each to identify duplicates. You can then delete the duplicates. The system will transfer the removed duplicates to the trash folder.

Note: Since this process entails opening each file in the search results to find duplicates, it could be time-consuming and tedious. We have an alternative option for you. The next section will outline an easier method to find and delete duplicate files on your external drives.

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Easier Way to Find Duplicate Files on External Hard Drive on Mac

The most convenient method to find duplicate files on an external hard drive on Mac is via EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner. This Windows duplicate file finder software uses advanced search algorithms to quickly and accurately detect duplicate files. You can use it to detect and delete duplicate photos, documents, audio, videos, archives, etc.

The tool is quite flexible and allows you to delete duplicates individually or select multiple duplicates simultaneously. Once you've connected the external hard drive to your Mac, EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac allows you to easily open it via its friendly user interface and initiate the duplicate finding process.

The tool also allows you to check and remove duplicate files on Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. If you have similar images that aren't duplicates, EaseUS will detect them and allow you to remain with only high-quality ones.

The main features of EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac include the following.

• ✅Detecting duplicate music and audio.
• ✅Find and delete duplicate documents from folders.
• ✅Erase unwanted system files.
• ✅Tidy up your photo gallery by searching for duplicates.
• ✅Sort out movies and videos to detect duplicates.
• ✅Detects similar images that aren't duplicates.

Ensure you download EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac today to wipe out all duplicate files on your external hard drive. This tool helps to free up more space on your external hard drive.

Here are the steps to find and delete duplicate files on an external hard drive on a Mac. Please ensure you connect your hard drive to your Mac properly.

Step 1. Launch EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner and select Files to find duplicate and similar files.

Step 2. You can customize the specific file or folder by clicking Here, or let the software Scan whole computer automatically.

Step 3. Click Options button to customize your filter criteria, including minimum file size, comparison method, file protection, and file date. When set down, click Yes.

Step 4. Tap Scan button to start finding duplicate files. It may take some time if you have multiple unnecessay duplicate files and folders.

Step 5. When it finishes scanning, you can see the duplicated files are displayed in a list. Choose Auto Rmove(remove these duplicate files intelligently, just keep one original copy) or View Details to delete file selectively. 

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Conclusion

Duplicate files are stubborn because they occupy unnecessary disk space. This tutorial has shown you how to find duplicate files on external hard drive Mac using Finder. This app has a built-in Smart Folders feature that allows you to filter duplicate files in your external hard drive.

If you have problems using Finder, an easier alternative is EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac. This software comes with more advanced search algorithms than other duplicate file finders, making it easier to locate duplicate files. It's very easy to get started with EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac. Ensure you download this tool today and check out how it works. 

FAQs About Finding Duplicate Files on External Hard Drive Mac

1. What Is the Easiest Way to Find Duplicates on a Mac?

You can use third-party software like EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner for Mac. This software uses advanced algorithms to search for duplicate files on your Mac. It can find and remove duplicates on your local and external hard drives, Google Drive, and Dropbox. You just need to download a free version of this EaseUS DupFiles Cleaner and start using it on your Mac.

2. Does macOS Have a Duplicate File Finder?

Devices working on macOS Ventura or later have a built-in duplicate finder tool within the Photos app. The Duplicates feature of the Photos app lets you easily detect duplicate photos on your Mac. It automatically scans for duplicate photos on your computer and displays the results. It then allows you to decide which photos to keep and which to delete.