The average phone contains over 2,000 photos, and studies suggest that 10-20% of them are duplicates. That is hundreds of wasted photos taking up gigabytes of storage. Here is how to find and delete them, from built-in methods to dedicated tools.
Method 1: The Built-In Duplicates Album
Since iOS 16, the Photos app includes a Duplicates album under Albums > Utilities. Here is how to use it:
- 1 Open the Photos app and tap Albums at the bottom.
- 2 Scroll down to the Utilities section and tap Duplicates.
- 3 Review the detected pairs. Tap Merge next to each one to keep the highest quality version.
- 4 For bulk removal, tap Select, then Select All, then Merge.
Limitations of the Built-In Tool
- - Only detects exact or near-exact copies of the same image
- - Misses similar photos (5 shots of the same scene taken seconds apart)
- - Does not detect duplicate screenshots or screen recordings
- - Cannot find duplicate contacts or calendar events
- - No way to identify large files consuming disproportionate storage
- - The album sometimes takes days to populate after system analysis
Method 2: Manual Review
You can manually scroll through your photo library and delete duplicates one by one. This is the most thorough method for similar (but not identical) photos, but it has obvious drawbacks:
- × Extremely time-consuming (hours for large libraries)
- × Easy to miss duplicates scattered across different dates
- × Tedious and error-prone for similar-looking shots
- × No way to compare file sizes or quality between copies
For libraries under 200 photos, manual review is feasible. For anything larger, you need a smarter approach.
Method 3: Use a Dedicated Duplicate Cleaner
Dedicated cleaner apps go far beyond what the built-in tools can do. They scan your entire photo library using advanced comparison algorithms that detect not just exact duplicates, but also similar photos, redundant screenshots, and other storage-wasting files.
The key advantages of a dedicated cleaner:
- ✓ Detects similar photos, not just exact copies
- ✓ Finds duplicate screenshots and screen recordings
- ✓ Identifies large files eating your storage
- ✓ Scans in seconds, not hours
- ✓ Lets you review before deleting anything
Our Recommendation: CleanDupes Pro
CleanDupes Pro is a comprehensive storage cleaner that goes well beyond basic duplicate detection. It scans your entire device for redundant data across multiple categories:
Duplicate Photos
Finds exact duplicates and similar photos that the built-in tool misses. Compares visual content, not just metadata.
Screenshots & Recordings
Identifies old screenshots and screen recordings you no longer need. These are often the biggest hidden storage consumers.
Contacts & Calendar
Detects duplicate contacts and calendar events that accumulate from syncing across multiple accounts and devices.
Large Files
Shows your biggest files by size so you can decide which large videos or downloads to keep or remove.
Everything is processed locally on your device. Your photos are never uploaded anywhere. CleanDupes Pro always shows you what it found and lets you review before deleting a single file.
Free Up Storage in Minutes
CleanDupes Pro scans your entire photo library and shows you exactly what is wasting space. Review everything before deleting.
Get CleanDupes ProDo Not Forget: Empty Recently Deleted
After removing duplicates, deleted photos sit in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before they are permanently removed. During that time, they still consume storage. To reclaim space immediately:
- 1 Open Photos and go to Albums.
- 2 Scroll to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted.
- 3 Tap Select, then Delete All to permanently remove everything.