This piece of information going to educate you on “How to delete duplicate MP3 files on Mac?”
Ever wondered why your MacBook slows down or your computer lags? Duplicate files, especially in music, contribute significantly. Duplicate music files, specifically .mp3, create a challenge in selecting desired tracks. However, besides the music files, if you want to find and remove any other file types such as PDF, MP4, or any other. Follow this guide on “how to find and remove duplicate files on Mac?”
Duplicates are mere replicas of the original file. In this guide, we exclusively address music file duplicates. We’ve compiled simple yet professional solutions to easily locate and eliminate bothersome similar audio files. Let’s swiftly explore these methods.
Why Delete Duplicate Audio Files on macOS?
Free Up Space: Remove identical audio to maximize macOS storage.
Enhance Organization: Boost music library clarity by eliminating duplicates.
Ensure Seamless Playback: Enjoy uninterrupted listening without repeated songs.
Prevent Playlist Confusion: Remove unintentional song repetition for clarity.
Maintain macOS Efficiency: Optimize performance with a clutter-free music collection.
Quickly Find Songs: Streamline access and playback by eliminating duplicates.
Efficient Backups: Save space in backups by excluding redundant audio files.
How to Find and Delete Duplicate MP3 Files on Mac in iTunes?
iTunes effortlessly identifies and removes duplicate songs by the same artist. However, ensure you back up your audio library before deleting to prevent unintended data loss. Moreover, this tool seamlessly works with prior macOS versions like Mojave, Sierra, or High Sierra. Follow the provided methods below to effectively eliminate duplicate songs from your iTunes library.
Remove Similar MP3 Files Using the Music Option
- Open the iTunes app and go to the Music section.
- Opt for “Songs” to view your entire library.
- Access the “View” tab and choose “All Music.”
- Proceed to “File” and select “Library.”
- Click on “Show Duplicate Items.”
- Organize items by title, artist, genre, or date added for efficient deletion.
Find and Erase Similar Audio Files with the Tool Bar Option
- Choose the Song tab on the Tool Bar.
- Identify duplicate files and click Remove From Library.
- Press Move to Trash to delete the music files permanently.
Cleanup Duplicate Copies of MP3 Files via Smart Playlists
- Navigate to “File,” then choose “New,” and finally select “Smart Playlist.”
- Establish criteria, like “Same Artist” and “Same Album.”
- Inspect the playlist for any duplicate entries.
- Remove duplicate original songs manually.
Detect and Delete Exact Similar Copies of Music Files
- Action: Find exact duplicates
- Method: Press the Option button on Mac
- Navigation: Go to File → Library → Show Exact Duplicates.
How to Delete Duplicate MP3 Files on Mac in Music App?
In recent Mac updates, such as Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura, the Music App now exclusively manages your song library. In contrast, older macOS versions like Catalina had iTunes, succeeded by the Apple Music App. Despite this transition, the process to remove duplicate audio files closely resembles that of iTunes.
- Launch the Music App and select Songs from the left sidebar.
- Then, proceed to File → Library → Show Duplicate Items.
- Identify and delete duplicate MP3s in Apple Music.
For precise duplicates, Apple Music has a hidden feature similar to iTunes.
- Hold down the Option key to reveal exact duplicate files.
- After that, navigate to “File” → “Library” → “Show Exact Duplicate Items”.
How to Delete Duplicate Music on macOS through Terminal?
Identifying and deleting identical audio files becomes simple with Terminal Commands. It’s crucial to back up your music files before proceeding. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
To start, open Spotlight using Command + Space. Type “Terminal” and press Enter. Once it launches, go to your music folder using cd ~/Music/.
Next, use the fdupes tool to spot duplicates. Enter fdupes -r . to identify them. Review the duplicates grouped together.
Now, take a moment to delete duplicate files manually. Use caution with the rm command. Remove files like rm duplicate_file.mp3. But be specific and careful with each deletion.
Drawbacks to Identify and Remove Duplicate Music Files
Here are some of the main challenges a user faces while scanning and removing duplicate MP3 files:
- Managing time and labor is a significant challenge.
- The risk of human error is high when duplicates are overlooked.
- Visually tracing similar files poses a challenging task.
- Inconsistent metadata adds complexity to identification.
- Different file formats with similar appearances further complicate matters.
- Large music libraries face compatibility issues.
- Efficient duplicate scanning lacks automation.
How to Delete Duplicate MP3 Files on Mac All Versions? – Absolute Guide
However, the hands-on method, though free and easily accessible, has significant drawbacks. Therefore, Best SysTools Duplicates File Finder stands out as a reliable solution for precisely identifying and removing duplicate music files.
Furthermore, the application ensures robust and 100% accurate operations. Its scanning algorithm, primarily leveraging the MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm, swiftly pinpoints and erases duplicate audio, video, photo, and document files. Key features include:
- Carefully scan folders, compatible with both Mac and Win OS.
- Scan recursively, move or delete files.
- Detect 70+ file formats, including music files (MID/MIDI, OGG, AAC, RealAudio, VQF, etc.).
- Use various scanning methods (MD5 hash, metadata, content hash).
- Provide previews for duplicate files.
- Identify duplicates across different storage devices (USBs, SD cards, internal and external hard drives).
Crucial Steps to Find and Eliminate Similar Music on macOS
Given below are the steps to perform the deletion using the above application:
Step 1. To start, download, install, and open the macOS Duplicate MP3 Remover.
Step 2. Easily include a song folder by selecting “Add Folder.”
Step 3. In the Scan Configuration box, pick the music file type under File Extensions and click Continue.
Step 4. Head to the Delete tab.
Step 5. Confirm the deletion by checking the outcomes in the Action section.
How to Prevent the Creation of Identical MP3 Files on Mac?
When handling audio files in macOS Ventura and similar versions, here are key considerations:
- Firstly, choose a single method for syncing music files.
- Next, employ an external storage device for efficient data transfer.
- Additionally, disable automatic downloads from third-party applications.
- If you’re using iCloud Music Library, avoid AirDrop to prevent duplicating music files.
For iTunes versions predating 12:
- Launch iTunes, then access Preferences.
- Opt for Advanced settings.
- Activate “Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized.”
- Activate “Copy Files to iTunes Media Folder When Adding to Library.”
- Opt for “Reset All Dialog Warnings” and confirm by clicking OK.
Final Takeaway
In this blog, we’ve provided a fitting solution to the query “How to delete duplicate MP3 files on macOS?” Moreover, we have focused especially on the manual and automated solutions to effortlessly delete duplicate Audio files. Conclusively, the manual method, although free and accessible, comes with limitations. Hence, the optimal choice is employing a duplicate finder and remover application.
