Duplicate files · Removing and restoring duplicates
Do I need an external drive to remove duplicates?
Short answer: No. Without a drive set up, removed copies go to your Mac's Trash. With a drive connected, they rest in the Recycle Vault on the drive, recoverable for about 6 months, and the space leaves your Mac immediately.
No. Finding and removing duplicates works without one. What a drive changes is where removed copies wait:
- No drive set up — removed copies go to your Mac's Trash, which still uses space until you empty it.
- Drive set up and connected — they rest in the Recycle Vault on the drive, recoverable for about 6 months, and the space leaves your Mac straight away.
- Drive set up but unplugged — they're held safely on your Mac and moved to the drive when you reconnect it.
That's why the full safety net works best with an external drive.