{"id":"duplicates.what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip","url":"/faq/duplicates/what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip","category":{"id":"duplicates","title":"Duplicate files"},"subcategory":{"id":"where-it-looks","title":"Where it looks and what it skips"},"question":"What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac?","alt_questions":["Which files are excluded from the duplicate scan?","Does the duplicate finder look at hidden files?","Why are some files not included in the duplicate check?","Does it scan node_modules or Git folders?","What is left out of a duplicate scan?","Are caches checked for duplicates?"],"short_answer":"The scan skips hidden files, shortcuts, packages such as photo libraries and app bundles, developer folders like Git repositories and node_modules, caches, the Trash, folders Storage Studio has moved for you, and files under 1 MB unless Include small files is on.","answer_markdown":"To keep suggestions safe and meaningful, the scan leaves out:\n\n- **Hidden files** and **shortcuts** (aliases and links) — only real files are compared.\n- **Packages** such as photo libraries and app bundles — Storage Studio doesn't reach inside them.\n- **Developer folders** such as Git repositories, node_modules and build output, where identical files are expected and needed.\n- **Caches and the Trash**.\n- **Folders Storage Studio has moved for you**, which it manages itself.\n- **Files under 1 MB**, unless you turn on **Include small files**.\n\nEverything else in your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders is compared.","answer_html":"

To keep suggestions safe and meaningful, the scan leaves out:

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Everything else in your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders is compared.

","answer_text":"To keep suggestions safe and meaningful, the scan leaves out:\n\n- Hidden files and shortcuts (aliases and links) — only real files are compared.\n- Packages such as photo libraries and app bundles — Storage Studio doesn't reach inside them.\n- Developer folders such as Git repositories, node_modules and build output, where identical files are expected and needed.\n- Caches and the Trash.\n- Folders Storage Studio has moved for you, which it manages itself.\n- Files under 1 MB, unless you turn on Include small files.\n\nEverything else in your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders is compared.","tags":["duplicates","exclusions","scan"],"related":[{"id":"duplicates.which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac","question":"Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac?","url":"/faq/duplicates/which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac"},{"id":"duplicates.why-werent-my-small-files-checked-for-duplicates","question":"Why weren't my small files checked for duplicates?","url":"/faq/duplicates/why-werent-my-small-files-checked-for-duplicates"},{"id":"duplicates.does-it-find-duplicates-inside-my-photos-library","question":"Does Storage Studio find duplicates inside my Photos library?","url":"/faq/duplicates/does-it-find-duplicates-inside-my-photos-library"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"The scan skips hidden files, shortcuts, packages such as photo libraries and app bundles, developer folders like Git repositories and node_modules, caches, the Trash, folders Storage Studio has moved for you, and files under 1 MB unless Include small files is on.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Duplicate files","path":"/faq/duplicates/"},{"name":"What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac?","path":"/faq/duplicates/what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac?","alternateName":["Which files are excluded from the duplicate scan?","Does the duplicate finder look at hidden files?","Why are some files not included in the duplicate check?","Does it scan node_modules or Git folders?","What is left out of a duplicate scan?","Are caches checked for duplicates?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"To keep suggestions safe and meaningful, the scan leaves out:\n\n- Hidden files and shortcuts (aliases and links) — only real files are compared.\n- Packages such as photo libraries and app bundles — Storage Studio doesn't reach inside them.\n- Developer folders such as Git repositories, node_modules and build output, where identical files are expected and needed.\n- Caches and the Trash.\n- Folders Storage Studio has moved for you, which it manages itself.\n- Files under 1 MB, unless you turn on Include small files.\n\nEverything else in your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders is compared.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip"}}]},"fragment":"
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Duplicate files · Where it looks and what it skips

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What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac?

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Short answer: The scan skips hidden files, shortcuts, packages such as photo libraries and app bundles, developer folders like Git repositories and node_modules, caches, the Trash, folders Storage Studio has moved for you, and files under 1 MB unless Include small files is on.

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To keep suggestions safe and meaningful, the scan leaves out:

\n
  • Hidden files and shortcuts (aliases and links) — only real files are compared.
  • Packages such as photo libraries and app bundles — Storage Studio doesn't reach inside them.
  • Developer folders such as Git repositories, node_modules and build output, where identical files are expected and needed.
  • Caches and the Trash.
  • Folders Storage Studio has moved for you, which it manages itself.
  • Files under 1 MB, unless you turn on Include small files.
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Everything else in your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders is compared.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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