Are you drowning in a sea of redundant photos? Perhaps you’ve been a tad overzealous in capturing the same subject or accidentally downloading duplicates – suddenly, your iPhone’s photo library is an overwhelming jumble of repeats. Fret not! The solution to this photographic quagmire is simpler than it appears. Within a mere five steps, you can learn the art to swiftly delete duplicate photos on your iPhone, making your digital life a lot more organized and streamlined.

Delete Duplicate Photos
No more wasted hours sorting and deleting photos one by one! Apple’s latest update empowers you with a neat hack to delete duplicate photos, freeing up valuable storage space while also tidying up your photo gallery. Notably, this is achievable in five simple steps. Duplicate photos may sneak into your library for various reasons. It could be due to an error while syncing with your Mac or iCloud, resulting in different versions or formats of the same image being downloaded. Alternatively, multiple shots of the same object or scene can also generate duplicates. Similarly, saving edited photos using various filters or third-party apps like Instagram can result in duplicates.
Detect and Delete Duplicate Photos
Duplicate photos might be bothersome to delete manually. But Apple’s ‘delete duplicate photos’ feature streamlines the task for you. It eliminates both repeat photos and videos swiftly, provided your phone runs on iOS 16. Start by opening the Photos app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Albums” icon at the bottom of your screen. Scroll down to the “Utilities” section, then select “Duplicates.” This is where all the duplicate photos are housed. If the Duplicates album is missing, you’re in the clear — no duplicate photos!
How to Delete Duplicate Photos on IOS
Once you locate the duplicates, deleting them is a breeze. Follow these steps to clean up your gallery:
- Launching the Photos
To initiate the process, first, access the Photos app on your iPhone. This native application is where all your captured and downloaded images reside. Find it on your home screen and tap on the icon to open.
- Navigating to the “Albums”
After opening the Photos app, look for the “Albums” icon. This icon is conveniently located at the bottom of your screen for easy access. Tap on it to proceed further into managing your albums.
- Locating the “Duplicates”
Once in the “Albums” section, your next task is to scroll down. Continue scrolling until you find the “Utilities” section. Within this category, you will find an option labeled “Duplicates.” Go ahead and select it.
- Activating the “Merge”
Upon accessing the “Duplicates” folder, you will find the “Merge” option. This function is designed to help you manage duplicate photos. Tap “Merge” to commence the process of eliminating redundancies from your photo library.
- Confirming the Merge
The last step involves confirming the merge. You will see a prompt labeled “Merge [#] Items.” By tapping this, you effectively command your iPhone to merge and delete all duplicate photos. The device retains the best-quality image while removing the rest.

Delete Duplicate Photos in Bulk
If you want to expedite the deletion process further, mass deletion is an option. Here’s how:
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Tap the “Albums” icon at the bottom of your screen.
- Scroll down to “Utilities,” then select “Duplicates.”
- Tap “Select” in the top-right corner.
- Tap “Select All” to merge all the duplicate photos your iPhone detects and delete them simultaneously.
Using Third-Party Apps
n case you’re using an older iOS version, say, something prior to iOS 16, or you’re simply on the lookout for an alternative method to delete duplicate photos, the aid of third-party applications, like Gemini Photos, can be invaluable. Download it straight from the App Store and permit it access to your photos. Once operational, Gemini Photos ingeniously segregates duplicate photos into discrete folders within the primary ‘Duplicates’ folder, making your photo sorting task significantly easier.
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Conclusion
The procedure to purge duplicate photos from your iPhone is not just straightforward, but also astoundingly efficient. All it requires is a few taps: start by opening your Photos app, move along to the well-organized Albums section, then scroll diligently till you reach Utilities. Here, you will find the option labeled ‘Duplicates’. Upon choosing it, the nifty ‘Merge’ option comes to your rescue, and with a confirmation, you can bid goodbye to those bothersome duplicate photos. This simple, yet effective, clean-up routine serves as a pivotal step in enhancing not only your photo library management, but also the overall usability and enjoyment of your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, once the merge process is confirmed, the duplicate photos are moved to the Recently Deleted album, where they stay for 30 days before being permanently deleted.
If the ‘Duplicates’ option is missing, it indicates that your iPhone has no duplicate photos.
No, the iPhone automatically retains the highest-quality version of the photo during the merge process.
Yes, but you may need to use third-party apps like Gemini Photos to help detect and delete duplicate photos.
Yes, the ‘delete duplicate photos’ feature in iOS 16 can also identify and delete duplicate videos in your library.