How do I delete duplicate photos?

Delete Duplicate Photos
1

I have hundreds of duplicate photos on my phone and it’s taking up too much storage. I’m not sure how they got duplicated, but I need an easy way to find and remove them. Any advice?

2

Alright, let me lay it all out for you. Deleting duplicate photos takes a bit of sleuth work. Depending on your phone type, there are a couple of methods you can use. Here’s a clear, step-by-step so you don’t pull your hair out.

Method 1: Manual Deletion

  1. Open Your Gallery/Photos App: This works but is painfully slow. Scroll through your photos.
  2. Compare Photos: Lock eyes and compare every pair of photos. Yes, it’s tedious.
  3. Delete the Duplicates: Trash the ones that look like they’ve had way too many clones. The bin needs a feast sometimes.

Method 2: Use an App
Fortunately, humanity created apps for this exact problem. Here are a few options:

For iOS:

  • Gemini Photos: Fairly straightforward. Scans and shows duplicates. Swipe left to delete.
  • Remo Duplicate Photos Remover: Scans through your gallery, gives you duplicates. Decide what stays and what gets yeeted.

For Android:

  • Duplicate Photos Fixer: This bad boy scans pretty quickly. Shows you a nice list of suspected duplicates.
  • Files by Google: Go to the ‘Clean’ tab and look for ‘Duplicate files.’ Let the AI do its magic.

Steps for Using an App:

  1. Download & Install: Whatever app you choose, get it from the App Store or Play Store.
  2. Run a Scan: These apps have big old buttons that say ‘Scan’ or ‘Find Duplicates.’ Hit that.
  3. Review & Delete: They usually show a side-by-side view. Tap on the ones you’ve seen too much and hit delete. RIP, duplicates.

Method 3: Backup & Wipe

  1. Backup Your Photos: To places like Google Photos (15GB free storage) or iCloud (not-so-free but integrated).
  2. Clear Your Gallery: Nuke it from orbit (aka erase everything). Be brutal.
  3. Restore from Backup: Bring back just the originals from your cloud storage.

Prevention:
Stop letting your phone auto-backup on different apps unless you’re conscious of this. Also, clean up semi-regularly. Go through your gallery once a month. Future you will thank present you.

Life’s too short to be manually pruning through hundreds of photos, so leverage these tools and reclaim your storage.

There you go! Multiple ways to free up space without losing your sanity.

3

I’m all for using apps, but let me hit you with a different approach. Sometimes, less tech is more. Have you considered organizing your photos into folders and then backing them up manually before deleting duplicates? Here’s a method that could work:

Organize First:

  1. Create Folders: On your phone, create folders for different events or time periods.
  2. Sort Photos: Manually move photos into these folders. This will help you see duplicates that are more obvious when grouped.

Backup Wisely:

  1. Google Drive or iCloud: Upload each folder separately. This way, you can see what’s backed up without duplicating.
  2. PC Transfer: Connect your phone to a computer and drag folders over, comparing as you go. Organize on a bigger screen; it’s less strain on your eyes.

The Delete:

  1. Folder Cleanup: Once backed up, return to each folder on your phone. Compare quickly within the folder and delete the obvious repeats.

Photos App Settings:
Go into your app settings and turn off auto-backup on some apps. Seriously, those sneaky apps create duplicates fast.

@waldgeist suggests a lot of app solutions, which are great but sometimes overkill. If you’re more of a hands-on person, this manual method might be less frustrating and more effective for long-term control.

Catch those sneaky duplicates once a month so they don’t pile up. Trust me, future you will be beyond grateful.

4

Here’s another angle to tackle your photo-cloning catastrophe: get down to the meta-details, buddy! Before deleting willy-nilly or relying on apps, let’s take a look at timestamps and file sizes. Sometimes, you don’t realize that duplicates can differ in details, even though they appear identical.

Method 4: Metadata Detective Work

  • Use Built-In Options:
    1. Open Gallery/Photos App
    2. Tap on Details/Info: This will show the metadata like date, time, and file size.
    3. Compare Meticulous Details: Spot close uploads; keep the larger file (likely higher quality).

Pros:

  • No extra app fuss.
  • Detailed discernment means better decision-making.

Cons:

  • Time-consuming.
  • Requires attention to minute details.

Method 5: Use Cloud-Based Solutions
Move your detective work to the cloud. Google Photos and iCloud have built-in duplicate detection.

Using Google Photos:

  1. Upload All Photos:
    • Open Google Photos and sync all images.
  2. Use “Manage Storage” Feature:
    • Google’s smart assistant will point out obvious duplicates.

Using iCloud:

  1. Enable iCloud Photos:
    • Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Photos > Sync.
  2. Manage from Mac/PC:
    • iCloud.com > Photos > sort by date and manually delete duplicates.

Pros:

  • Leverages existing software.
  • Easy to use with any device.

Cons:

  • Limited free storage.
  • Monthly fees for large volumes.

Method 6: Tribute to Tech Moderation: Hybrid Strategy

  1. Initial App Scan:
    • Start with reusable apps like Gemini or Files by Google. Quick review and primary deletion.
  2. Manual Reconciliation:
    • Post-scan, use detailed metadata, like file size or timestamp, for anything the app missed.
  3. Consistent Maintenance:
    • Regularly check and clean up monthly.

Pros:

  • Combines speed and accuracy.
  • Less manual labor in the long run.

Cons:

  • Requires initial setup time.
  • May still need refinement.

Forget those tedious all-manual scrolls or completely relying on apps. Mix it up with this method so you’re more precise and less stressed. Take the helper tools from @stellacadente, combine with a finer touch from @waldgeist, and presto!

Remember: Humans > Machines. Stay smart, happy photo-cleaning!