How can I find duplicate photos on my iPhone?

Best Iphone Cleaner Apps
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I noticed my iPhone storage is filling up quickly, and I suspect I have several duplicate photos taking up space. I’m not sure how to identify or remove these duplicates efficiently. Can someone guide me through the best way to check for duplicate photos on an iPhone?

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Simple and Practical Way to Remove Duplicate Photos on Your iPhone

Ever spent what felt like an eternity scrolling through endless photos, only to realize half of them are dupes or near-identical shots? Yeah, we’ve all been there. While iOS gives you a way to clean up duplicates for free, most of us are dealing with galleries packed with similar photos too—usually the ones that clog up around 95% of our storage. Reddit users have been raving about a solution: the Clever Cleaner app for iPhones. And guess what? It’s completely free. I tried it out myself, and it has been an absolute game changer.

:rocket: Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Duplicate Photos on Your iPhone

Here’s a foolproof, no-nonsense walkthrough for getting rid of duplicate and similar photos with Clever Cleaner:

Step 1: Install Clever Cleaner

First things first, download the app. You can find it on the App Store by searching for it or jumping directly to it via this link:
:point_right: Free Clever Cleaner App

Step 2: Allow Full Photo Access

Yes, the app needs permission to scan your photo library. I know, it feels a little scary handing over access, but rest assured, I gave it a go, and nothing shady happened. The app uses AI to deeply analyze your images without compromising security.

Step 3: Let the Magic Happen

Depending on how large your camera roll is, the scan could take between 2 and 6 minutes. Seriously, grab a snack or browse memes while it works. The app groups similar-looking photos together and even picks the best-looking one for you, marking the less impressive duplicates for deletion.

Step 4: Smart Cleanup Button = Bam!

Once the app has done its thing, review the recommendations, then hit ‘Smart Cleanup’. Now, all you need to do is open your Photos app and empty the trash. Done. Just like that. :tada:

Smart Cleanup Example
Smart Cleanup Example1536×1657 378 KB

My Results? Insane.

After running this process, I cleared out 11 GB of useless junk from my phone. No more “Storage Almost Full” warnings interrupting my vibe. :raised_hands:

Extra Stuff You Might Find Useful

Feeling like a cleanup master yet? If you want more tips or alternatives, the internet is full of handy resources. Check these out:

So there you have it! Give this method a shot, and say goodbye to endless duplicate images eating up your phone’s precious space. Time to focus on taking epic photos without worrying about storage space chaos. :star2:

3 Likes
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Alright, let’s cut to the chase. If you’re looking to clear up duplicates on your iPhone without spending hours manually clicking through your photo library, you’ve got options beyond scrolling aimlessly or letting random apps dig into your photo stash.

First, Know Your Built-In Options

Yes, iOS actually does a decent job of finding duplicate photos… kinda. The newer versions of iOS (16 and later) have a ‘Duplicates’ album available under the Photos app, in the “Albums” section. This automates the process a bit, grouping matching photos that iOS thinks are duplicates/spam. Cool, right? Sort of. It’s limited to exact duplicates. Meaning if you took 20 burst shots of your dog mid-yawn, those don’t count. You’ll still have to comb through those yourself. Thanks, Apple.

The Not-Free-But-Makes-Life-Easy Solution

Apps like Clever Cleaner (shoutout to @mikeappsreviewer for that breakdown) do offer a more comprehensive approach. But hold up—I’ve got some mixed views here. They’re awesome if you don’t want any manual effort since an app like Clever Cleaner can go beyond exact dupes and even tackle visually similar images. It’ll scan, compare, and sort them at lightning speed. I’d recommend giving it a whirl—what do you lose? A free download? Just, you know, keep an eye on what permissions you’re handing over. Photos are personal!

Old-School Manual Solution (For the Brave of Heart :sweat_smile:)

If you’re not into third-party apps or don’t trust AI meddling with your masterpieces, here’s what you do:

  1. Open your Photos app and manually search for duplicates or burst photos (the clusters will be marked at the bottom right corner).
  2. Carefully swipe left to delete duplicate shots—but patience is absolutely necessary for this.
  3. Pro tip? Do it in reverse chronological order. Newer pics tend to stack up duplicates faster.

Proactive Prevention Tips (Yep, It’s a Thing)

It might not help with existing duplicates, but seriously, moving forward:

  • Stop Trigger Happy Clicking: Limit burst photos. (We get it. Your cat is adorable.)
  • Back up your files routinely—Google Photos or iCloud—then safely delete older photos.
  • Select photos thoughtfully while sharing. Duplicate downloads eat space unnecessarily!

And please, please turn off iCloud syncing if you suspect duplicates are making it into your cloud storage. Otherwise, every time you delete something, it reappears. Your storage hell becomes eternal.

Whether iOS’s built-in features, apps like Clever Cleaner destroy your duplicates, or good ol’ finger endurance wins the day, the goal is simple—win back your storage sanity. You’ve got this!

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Okay, so here’s my take: finding and deleting duplicates on your iPhone? It’s either a walk in the park—or a full-blown marathon, depending on how disorganized your photo collection is. Now, I see @mikeappsreviewer and @yozora both fangirling over this Clever Cleaner app, and I’ll admit, their free option sounds tempting. But, before blindly downloading an app (even if it’s free), let’s address this smartly.

Built-In Functionality: The Hidden Hero (Kinda)

Don’t sleep on iOS’s own duplicate finder. If you’re on iOS 16 or later, the Photos app has a “Duplicates” album under “Utilities.” It’s kinda dumbed-down though—it only catches exact duplicates. So yeah, similar photos where you pressed the shutter 15 times thinking you’re a NatGeo photographer? Not its forte. Still, it’s a decent, no-download-required option to test first.

How to find the Duplicates folder:

  1. Open Photos, scroll to “Utilities” at the bottom.
  2. Tap “Duplicates.”
  3. Review and merge/delete as needed.

Apps like Clever Cleaner: Worth the Hype?

Third-party apps are a godsend when you’ve packed your iPhone like an overstuffed suitcase—all thanks to thousands of memes and burst photos of your brunch. Specifically, apps like Clever Cleaner do more than just “duplicates”—they nail similar-looking pics. AI smarts and all that. But here’s my take: before granting full access to your photo stash, think long and hard if AI analyzing your beach selfies is worth it. For what it’s worth, I’ve seen Clever Cleaner pop up in reviews, and users seem pretty thrilled with its results.

DIY Manual Cleanup: Enter at Your Own Risk

If you’re feeling masochistic, crack open the Photos app and manually go through every folder, especially bursts and screenshots. Sounds awful? Yeah, it kinda is. You might last 10 minutes before wanting to yeet your phone out the window. But hey, no added apps, no permissions—you’re the boss.

Pro Tip: Start with the oldest photos. Those tend to become irrelevant quicker and are prime duplicate offenders.

Overlooked Duplication Traps

  • iCloud Sync Scenarios: When you’re syncing photos across devices, be sure that duplicate deletions on your iPhone aren’t undone when syncing back from your iPad or Mac. It happens. A lot.
  • Burst Mode Fury: Seriously, disable burst mode unless you’re 100% sure you need 30 variations of one shot.
  • WhatsApp/FB/Instagram Downloads: These apps are notorious for storing original AND saved shares. Double-check shared folders.

Closing Argument

Okay, I’ll admit apps like Clever Cleaner cut down HOURS of scrolling photo hell. But if you’re privacy-conscious or just too lazy to download apps, iPhone’s built-in features are a starting point, even if limited. Pick your poison—but whatever you do, reclaim that storage! Or, keep ignoring Apple’s “Storage Almost Full” warnings and just pretend it’s not happening. Options.

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If you’re looking to declutter your iPhone storage, first know that there are a few approaches besides what @yozora and @vrijheidsvogel have said. While the Clever Cleaner app seems to have won the popularity contest here, let’s mix it up with alternative methods and a fair take.

Pros and Cons of the Clever Cleaner App

PROS:

  • Free. A strong selling point for sure.
  • AI-powered. Handles not only exact duplicates but also similar photos, which is a big deal for most photo hoarders.
  • Quick scan times. Several users reported it takes just minutes versus the hours you’d spend manually sorting.

CONS:

  • Privacy worry: Granting full access to your photos isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. You need to trust the app’s security measures.
  • Too good to be free? Maybe not a direct issue, but sometimes “free” apps introduce in-app purchase models or ads—something to watch out for.

Alternative Tools and Built-in iPhone Options

  1. iOS ‘Duplicates’ Album (with limitations):
    Already on iOS 16? Head to the Photos app > Utilities > Duplicates. This built-in feature works well but only for exact matches. Forget burst mode chaos or slightly different angles—it won’t help here.

  2. Gemini Photos App (Competitor):
    Another well-praised app for duplicate deletion. It’s paid but comes with sleek UX and better sorting for categories like screenshots, selfies, etc. People often compare it with Clever Cleaner. Downsides? Premium-only features and no free option.

  3. Manual Cleanup:
    The old-fashioned way. Sort by “Moments” in Photos, enter burst photo folders, and take a machete to duplicates. Pro tip: Focus on screenshots and WhatsApp media folders first—they’re usually the real culprits.

Additional Tips for Storage Efficiency

  • Disable Burst Mode: Especially for casual photo takers.
  • Offload & Re-upload: Upload older pics to cloud services like Google Photos or even an external drive to free up significant storage. Just ensure no duplicates are re-synced later!
  • Tidy Social Media Folders: Check hidden areas for downloaded memes, story saves, and re-shared junk from Instagram, Facebook, and beyond.

Final Thoughts

Clever Cleaner clearly wins for convenience, but it might not be your best fit if privacy’s a dealbreaker or you don’t feel like downloading yet another app. For casual de-duplication, Apple’s built-in options will work for basic needs. If you’re deep in the photo chaos (thousands of near-identical pics from DIY photoshoots), though? Go Clever Cleaner or a paid competitor.

Would love to hear if anyone tried just toggling burst mode off and managed the issue after! Who knew a single camera setting could wreak such havoc?