FramePilotPHOTO LIBRARY GUIDES
How to review duplicate photos without losing the copy you want
An orderly review of exact copies, similar pictures and the files you intend to keep.
Start with a small, backed-up folder
Before a large cleanup, keep a separate backup and try one small folder. Open the folder in FramePilot’s duplicate-review workflow. A scan identifies candidates; it does not tell you which version matters most to you.
For Apple Photos, use the app’s Apple Photos workflow rather than changing files inside the Photos Library package. A library is more than a folder of pictures: its database also tracks albums and edits.
Exact copies and similar pictures need different decisions
An exact file match means the file contents match. Similar-image results can include different crops, edits, burst shots or photographs of the same scene. Open both pictures at full size before treating a similar match as a duplicate. Look at faces, text, sharpness and the edges of the frame.
A filename ending in “(1)” often comes from copying a file, but it is only a clue. A shorter name alone does not establish which file is the original. For identical contents, prefer the location and filename you want to keep; for different files, inspect resolution and metadata too.
Use the action list as your final checklist
Add the copies you intend to act on to the action list. Review the list itself, including full paths, before applying an action. Be clear whether the action keeps selected files or removes selected files: those choices have opposite results.
Automatic selection can save time with exact duplicates, but review its choices before applying them. Keep at least one wanted copy of each picture. Mark false matches as different photos so they no longer distract from the remaining review.
Check the result before emptying the bin
After a small batch, refresh the results and open the pictures you kept. Folder deletions in FramePilot use Recycle Bin or Trash; Apple Photos removals use Photos and Recently Deleted. Recovery depends on the items still being available there. Keep your separate backup until you have checked the result.
If an action reports an error, stop that batch and read which files succeeded. Close other programs holding the affected files and retry only the unresolved items. Re-running a whole destructive action without reviewing its partial result makes mistakes harder to spot.