{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-stop-photos-importing-duplicates","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-photos-importing-duplicates","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"photos-music-video","title":"Photos, music and video"},"question":"How do I stop Photos importing the same pictures twice?","alt_questions":["photos import duplicates mac","don't import duplicates photos","photos already imported","avoid duplicate photo imports","importing from camera twice mac","photos import skip duplicates"],"short_answer":"Use Import All New Items when importing, and decline duplicates when Photos asks. For ones already in the library, use Photos' Duplicates album under Utilities.","answer_markdown":"When you import from a camera, card or iPhone, Photos shows which items are already in your library. Use **Import All New Items** (rather than importing everything), and if Photos asks about duplicates during an import, choose not to import them.\n\nFor files dragged in from Finder, Photos warns when it spots an exact duplicate. Existing duplicates in the library can be found in the **Duplicates** album that Photos shows under **Utilities** in recent macOS versions; Storage Studio's own duplicate finder is covered in [Duplicate files](/faq/duplicates/).","answer_html":"

When you import from a camera, card or iPhone, Photos shows which items are already in your library. Use Import All New Items (rather than importing everything), and if Photos asks about duplicates during an import, choose not to import them.

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For files dragged in from Finder, Photos warns when it spots an exact duplicate. Existing duplicates in the library can be found in the Duplicates album that Photos shows under Utilities in recent macOS versions; Storage Studio's own duplicate finder is covered in Duplicate files.

","answer_text":"When you import from a camera, card or iPhone, Photos shows which items are already in your library. Use Import All New Items (rather than importing everything), and if Photos asks about duplicates during an import, choose not to import them.\n\nFor files dragged in from Finder, Photos warns when it spots an exact duplicate. Existing duplicates in the library can be found in the Duplicates album that Photos shows under Utilities in recent macOS versions; Storage Studio's own duplicate finder is covered in Duplicate files.","tags":["photos","import","duplicates"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-import-iphone-photos-straight-to-an-external-drive","question":"How do I import photos from my iPhone straight to an external drive?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-import-iphone-photos-straight-to-an-external-drive"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos","question":"Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I stop Photos importing the same pictures twice? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Use Import All New Items when importing, and decline duplicates when Photos asks. For ones already in the library, use Photos' Duplicates album under Utilities.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I stop Photos importing the same pictures twice?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-photos-importing-duplicates"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-photos-importing-duplicates","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I stop Photos importing the same pictures twice?","alternateName":["photos import duplicates mac","don't import duplicates photos","photos already imported","avoid duplicate photo imports","importing from camera twice mac","photos import skip duplicates"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When you import from a camera, card or iPhone, Photos shows which items are already in your library. Use Import All New Items (rather than importing everything), and if Photos asks about duplicates during an import, choose not to import them.\n\nFor files dragged in from Finder, Photos warns when it spots an exact duplicate. Existing duplicates in the library can be found in the Duplicates album that Photos shows under Utilities in recent macOS versions; Storage Studio's own duplicate finder is covered in Duplicate files.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-stop-photos-importing-duplicates"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Photos, music and video

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How do I stop Photos importing the same pictures twice?

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Short answer: Use Import All New Items when importing, and decline duplicates when Photos asks. For ones already in the library, use Photos' Duplicates album under Utilities.

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When you import from a camera, card or iPhone, Photos shows which items are already in your library. Use Import All New Items (rather than importing everything), and if Photos asks about duplicates during an import, choose not to import them.

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For files dragged in from Finder, Photos warns when it spots an exact duplicate. Existing duplicates in the library can be found in the Duplicates album that Photos shows under Utilities in recent macOS versions; Storage Studio's own duplicate finder is covered in Duplicate files.

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