I’m running out of storage on my iPhone and noticed I have a lot of duplicate photos. How can I quickly find and erase these duplicates without doing it one by one?
Clear Up Duplicates on Your iPhone Fast – Here’s How!
Have you ever scrolled through your photo library only to realize it’s brimming with duplicates or overly similar shots? Sure, iOS provides a built-in way to clear duplicates for free, but let’s face it – a huge chunk of the clutter likely falls under ‘similar photos.’ That’s where things get tricky, right? Luckily, there’s a solution Reddit swears by: the Free Clever Cleaner app. It costs zilch and worked like a charm for me. Let me walk you through it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Duplicate Photos on iPhone
1. Download Clever Cleaner
Head over to the App Store and install Clever Cleaner, a powerful AI-driven cleaning tool. Not sure where to find it? Here’s a direct link for you:
Free Clever Cleaner App.
2. Grant Photo Permissions
When prompted after installation, you’ll need to grant the app full access to your photo library. Don’t sweat it—I tested it personally, and everything stayed completely safe.
3. Let the Magic Happen
Now, patience is key here. Depending on the size of your gallery, it might take anywhere between 2 and 6 minutes for the AI to analyze all your photos.
4. Review AI Suggestions
Once the scan is complete, Clever Cleaner will categorize your images. Duplicates? Grouped neatly. Similar shots? It selects the best one while preparing the rest for deletion.
5. Finalize the Cleanup
Simply hit ‘Smart Cleanup’ to let the app take care of the unnecessary clutter. Pro tip: Don’t forget to empty your trash folder in the Photos app to reclaim that precious storage space fully.
And Voilà! I freed up 11 GB—that’s an enormous amount—of storage in a single sweep. 
Whether it’s those blurry concert snaps, misaligned selfies, or 17 identical shots of your cat, say goodbye to gallery clutter once and for all.
Additional Resources You Might Find Helpful
If you’re keen to explore more ways to declutter your iPhone, here are some handy links:
- 4 Ways to Delete Duplicate Photos: MacGasm
- Reddit’s Take: Removing Duplicate iPhone Photos
- Apple Discussions: Duplicates & Similar Photos Issues
- Redditor Reviews of Clever Cleaner App
- Insanelymac: More Tips on Handling Duplicates
- Watch: Removing Duplicate Photos in Action
- Fix “Storage Full” Without Paying for More Space
No more endless scrolling through duplicates or debating which snapped photo of brunch looks better—Clever Cleaner’s got your back. Save that storage space for what truly matters: new memories. 
1 Like
Honestly, deleting duplicate photos from your iPhone is a pain—it’s like herding cats. Sure, @mikeappsreviewer made a good point about the Clever Cleaner app, but let’s be real: not everyone wants to rely solely on a third-party app. Apple’s iOS already includes a built-in feature for duplicates in the Photos app if you’re running iOS 16 or later. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Open the Photos app.
- Go to Albums > scroll down to Utilities, and tap Duplicates (if it shows up).
- Boom! It lists all duplicates. You can merge them easily by tapping Merge for each pair.
Now, yeah, this only works for exact duplicates. If you want to get into ‘similar photos’ (why do we all have 25 shots of the same latte?), that’s trickier. Apple doesn’t handle those well, and that’s where a dedicated app like Clever Cleaner shines. Let’s be honest, though—it’s doing the heavy lifting because iOS won’t.
Quick warning: COPYCHECK your stuff before deleting anything! These tools aren’t perfect, and you don’t want to accidentally lose something important. Also, consider transferring your photos to a cloud service like iCloud, Google Photos, or even your computer’s storage before diving into a purge.
Sometimes I just use Finder on my Mac to organize the chaos because less automation = fewer mistakes. Reviewing duplicates manually may feel like soul-crushing labor, but at least you’re sure nothing valuable gets trashed. If storage is THAT tight, take 30 minutes to skim through and clean up.
Bottom line: Clever Cleaner + iOS’s duplicate finder = dream team (when used carefully). Combine both approaches, and you’ll transform your photo library from ‘trash heap’ to ‘Marie Kondo-approved’ in no time.
Deleting duplicates on your iPhone doesn’t have to feel like sifting through a digital landfill. First off, @mikeappsreviewer’s suggestion about Clever Cleaner is solid if you’re okay with using third-party apps. And hey, @waldgeist is right too—iOS 16’s built-in duplicate finder is a free, trustworthy option for basic cleanup. However, let me throw another option into the mix for those who aren’t ready to commit to just apps or are feeling antsy about giving full photo permissions.
If you’re concerned about automation messing up (I get it, we’ve all deleted something important accidentally), here’s an alternative combo method that balances safety and efficiency:
1. Use iOS’s Duplicates Tool First
This will handle the obvious exact matches. It’s under Photos > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates like @waldgeist mentioned. Skip this step if you’re running pre-iOS 16.
2. Upload Photos to Google Photos Temporarily
Hear me out: Google Photos has a free tier (15GB) and it’s an excellent clutter manager. Once uploaded, it suggests duplicates and clusters similar shots for review. You can manually review and delete duplicates there with less risk of losing something important—then re-download your cleaned-up library back to your iPhone. Bonus: This gives you an extra backup in case things go sideways.
3. Manual Mass Delete on Your Mac (Optional)
Connect your iPhone to your Mac via Finder and manually compare photo timestamps. It’s old-school painful, but unbeatable for those with trust issues against AI! Transfer and sort folder-by-folder on your computer, delete duplicates, and re-sync.
4. Last Resort: Use Third-Party Apps (Carefully)
If your photo clutter is extensive (like, thousands of images), then bite the bullet and try apps like Clever Cleaner. The AI filter for similar photos (not just duplicates) can save hours. That said, giving an app access to your photo library can feel invasive. If you’re good with it, @mikeappsreviewer’s advice works great, but always review suggestions before letting an app nuke your photos. AI isn’t perfect—imagine losing a cherished memory ‘cause it flagged it as similar!
If storage is really that tight and you’re desperate, consider moving some older photos to external drives. iPhones hate to run low on free space, and trust me, getting rid of those duplicates and similar photos will feel like a digital detox for your brain. Just don’t forget to check your Recently Deleted album at the end—it’s where deleted photos linger like squatters.
Step-by-Step Guide Style
If your iPhone storage is gasping for air, let’s tackle those duplicate and similar photos efficiently. While @waldgeist champions iOS 16’s native Duplicates feature and @mikeappsreviewer swears by the Clever Cleaner app, I’ll outline a slightly mixed approach that bridges both and adds more flexibility to your cleanup process.
Option 1: Start with iOS’s Built-In Duplicate Finder
- For iOS 16 and up, Apple has your back with the Photos > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates feature. It’s free, easy, and targets exact replicas.
- Pro Tip: This system won’t touch those ‘similar photos,’ though. So it’s a decent start, but not a complete solution.
Option 2: Clever Cleaner App – Worth It?
Let’s break this app down:
- Pros:
- The AI sorting feature is legit cool—duplicates AND similar photos grouped conveniently—and fast too!
- It’s free (big plus), intuitive, and saves massive manual labor.
- Cons:
- Obvious anxiety around granting photo access. Sure, @mikeappsreviewer vouched for its safety, but not everyone’s convinced about a third-party app skimming their entire gallery.
- Occasional hiccups with detecting photos accurately. I’d highly suggest reviewing before hitting ‘Smart Cleanup.’
Still, if you’re comfortable with AI decisions, this app can clear YEARS of clutter in minutes. If not, we’ve got alternatives below.
Option 3: Manual Cleanup with Google Photos
- Upload to Google Photos (you get 15GB free—use it wisely).
- Google’s AI doesn’t just look at duplicates but groups pictures by content similarity (imagine detecting all your Eiffel Tower shots).
- It’s slower than Clever Cleaner but gives you control without putting your entire photo library at risk.
- Once cleaned, download the tidy files back to your iPhone.
Option 4: Deep Dive on Desktop
For the ultra-cautious who trust no app and avoid cloud solutions, going old-school might work:
- Export your photo library to a computer (Finder, iPhoto, or even external storage).
- Using tools like Adobe Bridge or Duplicate Finder utilities on Mac/PC, clear clutter systematically.
- Re-upload to your iPhone.
This method takes longer but offers unmatched precision.
Final Verdict: The Best Pick for Your Style
- Quick, low-effort users: Clever Cleaner app is your answer. It’s fast and efficient for those in a pinch. You might deal with an occasional false positive, but overall, it’s impressive.
- Paranoid about apps/users of pre-iOS 16: Stick to iOS Duplicates + Google Photos for safe yet slightly tedious action.
- Detail-oriented perfectionists: Manual cleanup on desktop wins hands down. Way safer, but, oh boy, you’ll need patience.
In the end, whether you go full AI or DIY completely depends on your comfort with automation. Just make sure to always double-check the deletions and empty that digital trash bin!