{"id":"duplicates.which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac","url":"/faq/duplicates/which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac","category":{"id":"duplicates","title":"Duplicate files"},"subcategory":{"id":"where-it-looks","title":"Where it looks and what it skips"},"question":"Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac?","alt_questions":["Where does Storage Studio look for duplicates?","Does the duplicate scan cover my whole Mac?","What does This Mac include in Duplicates?","Which locations are scanned for duplicate files?","duplicates scan folders mac","Does it check Downloads and Documents for duplicates?"],"short_answer":"On this Mac, the duplicate finder checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders. iCloud Drive and each connected cloud account are checked separately; system folders, your Library folder and app data are never part of the scan.","answer_markdown":"The **This Mac** source checks your **Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures** folders — the places where copies of downloads, exports, photos and videos usually pile up.\n\niCloud Drive is checked separately under its own **iCloud Drive** row, and each connected cloud account has a row of its own under **Cloud & remote**.\n\nSystem folders, your Library folder and app data aren't part of the scan, so the finder only ever suggests removing copies of your own files. Choosing your own list of folders isn't available right now.","answer_html":"

The This Mac source checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders — the places where copies of downloads, exports, photos and videos usually pile up.

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iCloud Drive is checked separately under its own iCloud Drive row, and each connected cloud account has a row of its own under Cloud & remote.

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System folders, your Library folder and app data aren't part of the scan, so the finder only ever suggests removing copies of your own files. Choosing your own list of folders isn't available right now.

","answer_text":"The This Mac source checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders — the places where copies of downloads, exports, photos and videos usually pile up.\n\niCloud Drive is checked separately under its own iCloud Drive row, and each connected cloud account has a row of its own under Cloud & remote.\n\nSystem folders, your Library folder and app data aren't part of the scan, so the finder only ever suggests removing copies of your own files. Choosing your own list of folders isn't available right now.","tags":["duplicates","folders","scan"],"related":[{"id":"duplicates.what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip","question":"What does the duplicate finder skip on my Mac?","url":"/faq/duplicates/what-does-the-duplicate-finder-skip"},{"id":"duplicates.is-my-music-folder-checked-for-duplicates","question":"Is my Music folder checked for duplicate files?","url":"/faq/duplicates/is-my-music-folder-checked-for-duplicates"},{"id":"duplicates.can-i-choose-which-folders-are-scanned-for-duplicates","question":"Can I choose which folders are scanned for duplicates?","url":"/faq/duplicates/can-i-choose-which-folders-are-scanned-for-duplicates"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"On this Mac, the duplicate finder checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders. iCloud Drive and each connected cloud account are checked separately; system folders, your Library folder and app data are never part of the scan.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Duplicate files","path":"/faq/duplicates/"},{"name":"Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac?","path":"/faq/duplicates/which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac?","alternateName":["Where does Storage Studio look for duplicates?","Does the duplicate scan cover my whole Mac?","What does This Mac include in Duplicates?","Which locations are scanned for duplicate files?","duplicates scan folders mac","Does it check Downloads and Documents for duplicates?"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The This Mac source checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders — the places where copies of downloads, exports, photos and videos usually pile up.\n\niCloud Drive is checked separately under its own iCloud Drive row, and each connected cloud account has a row of its own under Cloud & remote.\n\nSystem folders, your Library folder and app data aren't part of the scan, so the finder only ever suggests removing copies of your own files. Choosing your own list of folders isn't available right now.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/duplicates/which-folders-does-the-duplicate-finder-check-on-my-mac"}}]},"fragment":"
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Duplicate files · Where it looks and what it skips

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Which folders does the duplicate finder check on my Mac?

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Short answer: On this Mac, the duplicate finder checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders. iCloud Drive and each connected cloud account are checked separately; system folders, your Library folder and app data are never part of the scan.

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The This Mac source checks your Downloads, Documents, Desktop, Movies and Pictures folders — the places where copies of downloads, exports, photos and videos usually pile up.

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iCloud Drive is checked separately under its own iCloud Drive row, and each connected cloud account has a row of its own under Cloud & remote.

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System folders, your Library folder and app data aren't part of the scan, so the finder only ever suggests removing copies of your own files. Choosing your own list of folders isn't available right now.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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Also available as Markdown and JSON.

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