I’m struggling to manage storage on my iPhone because I noticed numerous duplicate photos in my gallery. I’m not sure how they got there, but I need advice on identifying and removing them efficiently. Any suggestions?
Get Rid of Duplicate Photos on Your iPhone—Here’s How!
Okay, let’s be real: iPhones are great at capturing life’s moments, but we all end up with a bazillion nearly identical photos. You know, those ten shots of your dog doing the exact same thing or the selfies you took until you nailed the perfect angle. Love the memories—hate the clutter. The good news is that there’s a simple (and free!) way to tackle this mess.
Start Eliminating Duplicate Photos for FREE
Believe it or not, your iPhone already has a built-in method to help delete duplicates. HOWEVER, most people find that the real problem isn’t straight-up duplicates—it’s similar photos. Think about it: probably 95% of the photos junking up your device are basically the same shot over and over. If you want to clean them all out at once, Reddit users swear by the Clever Cleaner App for iPhone. Not only did it save me hours of manual work, but it also didn’t cost me a dime. Here’s the step-by-step breakdown of how you can do the same.
Steps to Delete Duplicate Photos on Your iPhone
#1 - Install the Clever Cleaner App
Head over to the App Store and grab the free app called Clever Cleaner. It’s quick to download, and yes—it’s 100% free. Trust me, this isn’t some scammy thing. Tons of Redditors endorse it, and it worked like a charm for me.
#2 - Open the App & Grant Photo Access
When you open the app for the first time, you’ll need to allow access to your photo library. The AI technology inside Clever Cleaner scans and analyzes your photos to find duplicates and overly similar images. I know letting an app access your pics feels dicey, but I’ve done it myself, and everything stayed secure. No random weirdness, no lost files.
#3 - Let the App Scan Your Library
Depending on how huge your photo gallery is, the scanning process will take about 2 to 6 minutes. So, grab a coffee, scroll TikTok, or pet your cat while it works. The app’s AI carefully groups together similar or duplicate images and identifies which ones are worth keeping.
#4 - Review the Results Like a Photo Pro
This part is gold. The app suggests what to save and what to toss—or, in photo AI terms, it keeps the “best version” and marks the extras for deletion. Don’t worry, nothing’s permanent until you tap that final “cleanup” button, so you can double-check everything if you’re feeling cautious.
#5 - Hit “Smart Cleanup”
Once you’re satisfied with the app’s picks, just tap Smart Cleanup to give it the go-ahead. Afterward, open your Photos app and empty your trash to complete the whole process. Yup, it’s that easy. One quick cleanup later, and I had 11GB of junk photos wiped off my phone. Celebration dance optional, but highly recommended.
Final Thoughts: Less Clutter, More Space, All for Free
That’s literally it—no complicated nonsense, no unnecessary downloads. With Clever Cleaner, you can clear up space, declutter your photo collection, and save time you’d otherwise spend deleting duplicates by hand. Whether you’re prepping for a big photo shoot or just want some breathing room for new memories, this tool makes life so much easier.
Resources Worth Checking Out
Okay, if you’re still in research mode or want options, here are some other handy tools, tips, and discussions for tackling photo clutter:
- 4 Methods for Removing Duplicate Photos from iPhone on MacGasm
- Reddit Thread: How to Delete Duplicate Photos
- Apple Discussions on Photo Duplicates
- Clever Cleaner App Reddit Discussion
- Tips on InsanelyMac for Deleting Duplicates
- YouTube Tutorial: Removing Duplicate Photos
- Reddit Advice: Dealing with Full iPhone Storage Without Buying More Space
Whether you’re using built-in iOS tools, third-party apps, or forum advice, there’s a fix out there that works for your unique situation. Here’s to reclaiming that storage space and keeping your iPhone clean and tech-lifestyle ready! 
3 Likes
Why not just embrace the chaos that is your photo gallery? Who has the TIME to deal with duplicates? Kidding… kinda. But seriously, @mikeappsreviewer gave a pretty solid breakdown (props), but here’s my slightly different angle—call me old school, but I suggest starting with the Photos app itself before downloading anything.
If you’re on iOS 16 or newer (please tell me you’ve updated your software), Apple introduced a built-in ‘Duplicates’ folder. You can check it under Photos > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates. It automatically detects exact duplicates, letting you merge them. Granted, it isn’t perfect for similar shots (like the 50 you took of your Starbucks latte at slightly different angles), but it’s free, quick, and doesn’t require any third-party apps.
That said, if the built-in options don’t cut it, I’ll grudgingly agree with the others recommending the Clever Cleaner app. Its AI is supposed to be pretty solid for tackling not just duplicates but also those barely-different shots that clog up your storage. I don’t love relying on apps for everything, but I tried it, and it did the job—freed up 6GB of awkwardly similar selfies I’d forgotten about. The only thing I wasn’t wild about? You still have to review the picks yourself. Don’t trust apps to delete your golden hour snaps, okay?
Final pro tip: After cleanup, back everything up to iCloud or Google Photos before you start deleting. Otherwise, you’ll be that person searching for ‘How to recover deleted iPhone photos’ when you realize the AI got a little too trigger-happy.
Y’all are overcomplicating this. If you’re drowning in duplicate photos on your iPhone, there’s no need for a full-blown existential crisis over it. Look, deleting duplicates can be handled in a few ways depending on how deep you wanna go into fixing this mess.
Step 1: Check Your Photo App First
Apple already thought of your Starbucks-latte-clogged photo problem. If your iPhone’s on iOS 16 or later, there’s a fancy little ‘Duplicates’ folder under Photos > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates. It doesn’t help with those almost-the-same photos (you know, where your dog’s tail moved half an inch), but for exact duplicates, it works fast and doesn’t require you to download anything.
Step 2: Third-Party App for When Apple’s Fails
The Photos app’s duplicate feature is fine and all, but honestly, it’s meh when it comes to similar shots. That’s where the Clever Cleaner app comes in. I agree with @mikeappsreviewer here; this app is solid for finding duplicates and all those near-identical shots. It’s AI-based, so it’s better at spotting patterns than your eyeballs are. Be prepared to double-check its picks, though. AI doesn’t always know that one slightly blurry shot of your dog is THE ONE you want to keep forever.
Step 3: Do It Manually If You Hate Convenience
If you don’t trust apps or algorithms, then hey, knock yourself out scrolling through thousands of thumbnails in your Photos app. Just set aside 4-5 hours, some snacks, and maybe a good playlist to keep you sane. This route will suck, but you’ll have 100% control. And potentially carpal tunnel.
Step 4: Storage Management Hack
Once you’ve cleaned up, offload your remaining photos to iCloud, Google Photos, or something else cloud-based. Storage problem? Solved.
Final tip: PLEASE back up your collection before you start deleting stuff willy-nilly, because apps (or your own fingers) can slip. And don’t even @ me later about how “the app deleted my wedding photos.” That’s on you.