This article talks about the best way to find similar images (and duplicate images) in folders on Windows PC and Mac and provides step-by-step instructions.
When one searches “find similar images” on a search engine, one may be looking for a way to find online images similar to a certain image that one has, or a way to find the similar images that exist on one’s device. This article is about the latter situation.
Whether you are a professional photographer or just someone who shoots a lot with a phone, if you have the habit of storing your photos on your computer, then chances are high that there are similar photos on your computer. You may want to find them, pick the best ones, and delete the ones that you don’t like that much.
Cisdem Duplicate Finder
Like duplicate photos (photos that are exactly identical, regardless of name), similar photos are also common. Generally, similar photos are photos that have a relatively high degree of visual similarity.
There can be two types of similar images.
It’s very likely that you don’t need multiple similar photos of the same scene or both the high quality version and low quality version of the same photo.
Similar images can be scattered around your computer. This part shows you how to find and group them in 2 different methods.
☺ Using method 1, you can quickly and easily find all similar images on your PC, whether they exist in one folder or across multiple folders.
☺ Using method 2, you can manually find similar images in a folder on your PC. But this will be more time-consuming.
Cisdem Duplicate Finder is an excellent and user-friendly similar image finder app. It supports almost all image formats (such as JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF, WebP and SVG) and raw image formats (such as Canon CR2 and Nikon NEF). Using advanced algorithms, this app can quickly compare images and detect the similarity.
This app can be installed on Windows PC and Mac. Below are the steps for Windows. If you are a Mac user, you can see Part 2 of this article.
Step 1. On your Windows PC, download and install the similar photo finder app. Open it.
Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
Step 2. To find similar images in a folder, click the Add button 
to add this folder.
To find similar photos across multiple folders, add these folders.
Alternatively, you can use drag and drop.
Go to Settings 
. Under the Similar Images tab, make sure that the Enable similar images function checkbox is selected.
Once the checkbox is selected, you can set the similarity level under it. This allows you to decide how strict Cisdem Duplicate Finder will be when it identifies similar photos. Being strict means that only pictures that are very similar will be detected. Being looser means more results, with a higher degree of difference being allowed in the found photos.
Step 4. Click the Scan button to start the finding process.
Step 5. When the finding process is finished, the results window will appear. It has several tabs. The Image tab displays all the exact duplicate images and similar images that have been found in the folder(s). You can conveniently preview images side by side.
If you are not satisfied with the results, you can click the Back button 
in the top left corner, go to Settings to adjust the strictness, and start a new scan.
Step 6. In each group of similar photos, select the photos that you want to delete. The best ones that you want to keep are left unselected.
You can also use the selection rules to help you select. On the left, highlight the groups to which you want to apply a rule, click the list icon and then choose a desired rule, such as Select low-resolution.
When it comes to duplicate photos, in each group, the app will automatically select all but one photo for deletion, saving you from selecting manually.
Step 7. Click the Delete button in the bottom right corner to delete all the selected images.
The deleted files will go to Recycle Bin.
File Explorer is a built-in file manager in Windows. With it, you can easily filter files by type. For example, let it display only pictures within a specific folder. Then sort the files by file size or file name. After doing these two steps, you can browse the list and identify similar pictures in the folder.
This method can be especially helpful for users who wish to clean up similar images without relying on third-party tools. However, this can be time-consuming, especially if you’re dealing with a large number of photos.
Step 1. Open your Windows PC. In File Explorer, open the folder in which you want to find similar images.
Step 2. In the upper-right corner, type Kind:=picture to filter out all pictures in this folder.
Step 3. Click Sort > Group by. Select Size or Name.
Step 4. Click the View tab. Select Large icons or Extra large icons to view the photos more clearly. But File Explorer does not support previewing RAW images.
Step 5. Identify similar images in folder by comparing their visual content and details.
Step 6. Right-click on the pictures you wish to remove. Click the Trash icon.
I also provides 2 methods for Mac users to find similar photos.
☺ Method 1 uses the similar image finder that I have introduced above, which can help you find all similar images on your Mac automatically and quickly.
☺ Method 2 uses Mac Finder. It is free to use, but not efficient.
If you have enough patience, you may also be able to manually find many similar pictures on your Mac and delete them. But this similar picture finder can provide you with more accurate search results. It can also save you a lot of time.
Step 1. Download and install Cisdem Duplicate Finder on your Mac. Open it.
Free Download macOS 10.11 or later
Step 2. Click the plus icon. Add one or more folders.
Step 3. Click Scan to start searching similar images.
Step 4. This similar image finder displays all detected similar images under the Similar image tab. It provide 3 preview modes. You can switch to the Info mode to view the details.
Step 5. Select unwanted images manually or with the help of selection rules.
Step 6. Click Delete to move them to Trash.
Developed by Apple, the Photos app on your Mac is included with macOS. Many Mac users use Photos to manage and view pictures. If you are one of them, the steps above are still useful. Only step 2 is different.
In step 2, add the Photos library instead a folder. The Photos library is where the photos you see in Photos are stored. By default, the library is located in the Pictures folder. When it comes to Photos on Mac, the deleted photos will go to the Recently Deleted album instead of Trash.
There are also manual methods for Windows PC and Mac, but they can be cumbersome and tedious. It does not allow you to compare similar images side by side. Therefore, finding all similar images will be time-consuming.
Similar to Windows File Explorer, Finder is a built-in file manager for Mac. With it, you can manually find similar images in a folder on Mac. But it does not allow you to compare similar images side by side. You may need to open each picture repeatedly to choose which one to keep. Therefore, it will be time-consuming.
Step 1. On your Mac, open Finder.
Step 2. Open the folder that you want to search for similar images.
Step 3. From the top tool bar. Select Show items as icons. You can also click View > as icons from the Finder menu bar.
Step 4. Sort the image files by name, size or when they were taken.
Step 5. Identify similar pictures by comparing the visual content.
Step 6. Drag the unwanted similar photos to the Trash in the Dock or right-click on the photo then select Move to Trash.
Do Windows or Mac computers have a built-in similar image finder?
No, Windows PC and Mac computers do not come with a tool specifically designed to find similar images. You can only use the built-in file manager to sort and view image files. Then manually find and delete the similar images. To accurately and quickly find similar images on computer, it’s recommended to use third-party software such as Cisdem Duplicate Finder.
Can I find similar images in a specific folder based on one image?
Yes. If you want to find images similar to a specific one, just add this image into the folder you want to scan. Then, use the similar image finder to scan the entire folder. If there are similar images to it, they will be displayed in the same group in the results window.
How to look for similar images on iPhone or Android?
There are also many similar image finders for mobile phones. Cisdem Duplicate Finder is one of them, which can help you find similar images and exact duplicate images easily. To find similar images on iPhone or Android phone, just choose the one that suits you.
Similar photos and duplicate photos can take up space on computer often without you even noticing it. By using a similar image finder to find similar photos your Mac or Windows computer, you can quickly find and remove these unnecessary photos in a folder or Photos library. The removal helps free up space on your hard drive, making room for new photos.
With a passion for tech and writing, Sarah joined Cisdem, where she focuses on creating articles about using utility tools to enhance file management and simplify contact management.
Andreas Schmutterer
I didn’t realize I had so many similar images on my Mac until I tried this. Thanks for this detailed article!
Anik Ganguly
Simple but very effective utility. The last duplicate file finder I used could only find exact duplicate photos. This one helped me find nearly 3GB of similar images on my computer.
Marcel Lustenberger
Very handy, well designed app to find similar images. Saved me a lot of time. Love its nice clear interface!!
Hamilton
Many similar photos scattered on MY Mac, and they took up much hard drive space. When I felt depressed, my friend recommended me Similar Image Detector, and now all similar photos are gone.
Felicia
Finding and deleting similar images manually is really very annoying and tedious, thanks for sharing such powerful similar image finders