Step 2. View duplicates
Gemini 2 uses a sophisticated duplicate identification approach that compares both data lengths and multiple file parameters during the scan process. After detailed analysis is over, Gemini splits all found items into:
- ‘Exact Duplicates,’ or ‘duplicates,’ which are completely identical files, and
- ‘Similar Files,’ or ’similars’, which are nearly identical files with minor differences. Unlike duplicates, they are not 100% copies, but you might consider them redundant due to lack of uniqueness. For example, similars can be two alike photos made with a 2-second delay.
By default, Gemini suggests cleaning your Mac from exact duplicates only, while their originals are always kept untouched. Thus, you can remove duplicates directly from the summary screen without even previewing them. Similars, on the other hand, aren’t selected for removal by default because actually they are different files having minimum changes. So, if you need to clean up some disk space from similar files, you must switch to detailed results screen and make the choice.
Note: Don’t worry, Gemini always warns you when you try to select all available copies of a file (no matter, a duplicate or similar). Thus, at least one copy will be saved on Mac.
Further, Gemini gathers all found files into the following sub-groups:
Group | File types |
All Duplicates/Similars | All duplicates/similars found during a scan, disregarding their type. |
Applications | Application files from any location. |
Archives | Archives and containers of different origin in ZIP, RAR, and other archive formats. |
Audio | Your iTunes library music and files in MP3, AAC, AIFF, APE, and other audio formats. |
Documents | Usually, text files in DOC, PAGES, PDF, PPT, TXT, XLS, and other similar formats. |
Folders | Duplicates of entire folders found within scanned locations. |
Images | Your Photos library images and files in JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and other image formats. |
Movies | Video files, including movies and podcasts of all known video formats. |
Other | All items that cannot be referred to any of the groups listed above. Such as contacts, calendar data, cache data, application plugins, etc. |
Selected | All files added to the removal list, including duplicates and similars. |
Reviewing duplicates in the list view mode
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View a full list of duplicates of one file: Click on a disclosure triangle next to the file name (or press Left Arrow to disclose the highlighted item).
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Disclose a list of duplicates of every found item: Press Command-A-Left Arrow. To close all lists, press Command-A-Right Arrow.
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Preview a file: Click on a file name to preview it on the right side of the window.
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View a duplicate in Finder: Choose a desired file in the list and then click on a magnifier icon next to the file path in the preview area.
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Open a duplicate in its default application: Double-click on a particular file’s preview.
Reviewing duplicates in the grid view mode
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View a full list of duplicates of one file: Double-click on a desired thumbnail. Review all duplicates by scrolling down. Clicking right and left navigation arrows will switch you between the neighboring sets of duplicates.
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View a duplicate in Finder: Choose a desired file in the list and then click on a magnifier icon next to the file path in the preview area.
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Open a duplicate in its default application: Double-click on a particular file’s preview.
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Find a duplicate within a particular group: Start typing a file name or its path in the search field - results appear right as you type. If you cannot find a file within a particular group, check other groups or All Duplicates/Similars. Click the (x) button to go back to the duplicate groups grid.
See also: