How do I delete duplicate photos on iPhone?

shycat67 · March 21, 2025, 4:35pm

I’ve noticed my iPhone has a lot of duplicate photos taking up storage. Can someone guide me on how to identify and delete these duplicates effectively? I need to free up some space but I’m not sure the best way to handle this issue.

MikeAppsReviewer · March 21, 2025, 6:35pm

Hey, if you’ve found yourself drowning in a sea of similar or duplicate photos on your iPhone, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Sure, iOS has a built-in way to delete duplicate photos, and that’s great when the duplicates are spot-on identical. But what about the almost identical shots? You probably have tons of those (think 95% of your photo library). That’s where this gem comes in: Clever Cleaner—a free app that Reddit users absolutely swear by for organizing and clearing up your photo gallery. Tried it myself, and spoiler: it works wonders without costing a penny.

Quick & Simple Guide To Deleting Duplicate Photos On iPhone

Here’s how you can declutter those gigabytes of visual “meh” moments in just a few steps:

1. Get Clever Cleaner

Start by downloading the app from the App Store. Here’s the link for easy access:
Free Clever Cleaner App

2. Let The App Do Its Thing

Once installed, grant the app full access to your photos. No need to worry—it’s AI-driven and secure (I tested it out, and my private shots didn’t suddenly show up in Times Square).

3. Wait (But Not Too Long)

Depending on how many selfies, food pics, and blurry concert shots you’ve got, the scan will take about 2–6 minutes. Go grab a coffee, or just marvel at how much AI can do while you chill.

Scanning Duplicate Photos1536×1655 432 KB

4. Check The Results

Here’s the cool part: the app works smartly to group similar photos together. It automatically flags lower-quality duplicates for deletion, leaving you with the clearest, best version.

5. Smart Cleanup & Done

Hit the ‘Smart Cleanup’ button, then head over to your Photos app and empty the trash to complete the purge.

Outcome?

In minutes, I freed up 11 GB of space (no applause necessary). Say hello to a clutter-free photo gallery!

Other Handy Resources for Managing Duplicate Photos

If Clever Cleaner doesn’t quite cover your needs—or you’re curious about more methods—check these out:

In Conclusion…

Deleting duplicate or similar photos doesn’t have to be a drag. With tools like Clever Cleaner, you can refresh your iPhone space and finally make room for new memories—without the guilt of hoarding a million versions of the same sunset. Go ahead and give it a try!

SuenoDelBosque · March 21, 2025, 8:40pm

Deleting duplicates on your iPhone? Oh boy, this is the bane of every iPhone user once that dreaded ‘Storage Almost Full’ notification pops up. Honestly, it feels like every time you try to capture a perfect sunset, you end up with five versions of the same blurry, overexposed mess.

While @mikeappsreviewer totally raves about the Clever Cleaner app (and yeah, it’s definitely a solid pick for a quick fix), let me add some perspective here. You don’t need a third-party app if you’re just dealing with a handful of duplicates. iOS 16 (and beyond) actually includes a simple and surprisingly decent method to identify duplicates right in the Photos app! No downloads, no data going off to mysterious servers, nada.

Here’s The Deal: Use iOS’s Built-in Duplicate Finder

Update Your iPhone: First things first, make sure you’re on iOS 16 or later. If you’re rocking an older version, sorry—this won’t work for you (in which case, Clever Cleaner sounds perfect).
Go to the Photos Album: Open Photos, scroll down to Albums, and under the Utilities section, look for the “Duplicates” option.
Merge Away: iOS will automatically identify duplicates by matching metadata like time, date, and image quality. You can review them manually and hit Merge to delete the extras.

Why This Isn’t Always Enough…

Okay, here’s where my gripe with Apple kicks in: this method is pretty limited. If your duplicates aren’t exact matches (like two frames from the same burst photo or slightly different angles), iOS will miss them completely. So, while this works in a pinch, it’s not the ultimate space-saver.

For The Hardcore Space Hoarders

If you, like me, have an iPhone bloated with ten thousand photos of food, sunsets, and your dog from…every angle imaginable, maybe it’s time to embrace the third-party solution. The Clever Cleaner app stands out because it finds similar photos, not just exact matches. Plus, its AI does most of the work for you (no offense, Apple, but your automation game needs work).

One small caution though: apps like this can be overly aggressive, so triple-check the deletion suggestions before you let the app sweep through your library. Nobody wants to be the person who lost their cousin’s wedding pics because AI deemed them redundant.

You’ve got options, whether you want to keep your privacy intact with Apple’s built-in tool or go all-in with Clever Cleaner. My two cents? Knock out the easy duplicates with iOS first, then use Clever Cleaner for nitty-gritty cleanup. And hey, maybe stop taking 23 photos of the same latte? Just sayin’.

Anonymous · March 21, 2025, 10:45pm

Ugh, dealing with duplicate photos on an iPhone is like trying to clean out your fridge—you know it needs to be done, but you just keep putting it off. While both @mikeappsreviewer and @suenodelbosque have solid options (Clever Cleaner app and the built-in iOS tool), I feel like there’s still room for some alternative perspective.

Manual Review – The Painful Approach
If you’re feeling brave and want total control, you can just scroll through your photos manually and delete duplicates. Yeah, I know, it sounds horrifying if you have thousands of pics. But hey, it’s free, and some people like to suffer for their clean storage, right? Swipe-delete-repeat until your storage screams thank you.
Backup & Sync Hack
Another sneaky way is to back everything up to iCloud, Google Photos, or a similar service like Amazon Photos. These platforms often identify duplicates automatically during backup (shoutout to Google Photos’ robust AI here). Once synced, you can manually clear your iPhone photos with confidence that your duplicates are safe elsewhere.
Why Not Use Clever Cleaner?
Alright, I know, some folks side-eye third-party apps due to security concerns, but Clever Cleaner is legit if you’re dealing with similar photos in addition to exact duplicates. Who has time to choose between 15 shots of the same sunset? Their AI is surprisingly accurate and doesn’t chuck out important stuff unless you let it. Just double-check flagged files, as @suenodelbosque rightly pointed out, so you don’t accidentally erase those “almost perfect but slightly blurry” sentimental pics.
Alternative Apps
Since this thread feels like an app-a-thon, another option you might consider is Gemini Photos. It’s similar to Clever Cleaner but with subscription costs. If you’re allergic to paying, Clever Cleaner wins here. That being said, Apple’s built-in tool works if exact duplicates are your only problem (though don’t expect miracles if your photos aren’t twins separated at birth).
Prevention is Key
Here’s the thing—app or no app, you’re probably going to end up here again next year if you don’t change your photo habits. Limit those 20-photo bursts for one selfie. Honestly, no one needs 47 versions of their dog looking exactly the same. Snap once, maybe twice, and move on—it’s a liberating life hack.

TL;DR: iOS’s duplicate finder is great for exact matches, but apps like Clever Cleaner are essential for “almost identical” photos. Try Google Photos backup too. And maybe take fewer pics next time, lol.