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How to Find and Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone in 2026 (iOS 18 & Later Full Guide)
If your iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or even the latest iPhone 17 is constantly running out of storage, duplicate photos are often a hidden culprit, especially on iOS 18 and earlier versions. Screenshots, burst photos, edited copies, and synced images can silently pile up.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to delete duplicate photos on iPhone, where to find them, and the safest ways to remove them efficiently without losing important memories.
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Part 1. Where and How to Find Duplicate Photos on iPhone?
Apple has significantly improved duplicate detection in recent iOS versions, but duplicates don’t always appear where users expect. Understanding where to look is the first step to effective cleanup.
Where to Find Duplicate Photos on iPhone?
On iOS 16 and later (including iOS 18), Apple introduced a built-in Duplicates album inside the Photos app. Here is how to see duplicate photos on iPhone:
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Open the “Photos” app and tap "Collections/Albums” at the bottom.
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Scroll down to the “Utilities” section and select “Duplicates.
Here, iOS automatically groups photos that appear visually identical or extremely similar, even if they have different file names or sizes.
What Counts as a Duplicate Photo?
A duplicate photo on an iPhone can include:
- Exact copies of the same image
- Burst photos saved individually
- Edited versions with minimal changes
- Photos saved multiple times from Messages, WhatsApp, or AirDrop
- Synced images from iCloud or Mac
Why Some Duplicate Photos Don’t Appear
Not all duplicates are detected automatically. Common reasons include:
- Photos with different resolutions or metadata
- Screenshots vs original images
- Photos taken seconds apart, but not visually identical enough
- Recently added images that haven’t finished background analysis
This is why the built-in tool is helpful, but not always complete.
Related topic:
Part 2. How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone (for iOS 18 and Earlier Models: Step-by-Step
Depending on your situation, there are several safe ways to delete duplicate photos on an iPhone.
Below are the most effective options, from built-in solutions to automated tools.
1. Merge Duplicate Photos in iPhone Photos App (Built-in, Fastest & Free)
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If you are wondering how to merge duplicate photos on an iPhone, there is a built-in feature for that which works fast and for free. It automatically keeps the best version of the images while deleting others, and is ideal for most users.
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Open the “Photos” app on your iPhone and go to the “Utilities” section in “Albums/Collections”.
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You will see groups of duplicate images. Tap the “Merge" button against a group, and the iPhone will automatically merge the duplicate photos. (See Part 1)
2. Manually Delete Duplicate Photos in Photos App (Built-in)
The built-in feature to merge duplicates may not work for every picture, and this feature is not available on older iOS versions. That’s where you can do it manually, especially for identical images and screenshots.
Here is how to merge duplicate photos on an iPhone manually:
Open “Photos” and go to “Library” or “Albums”.
Tap “Select” and choose duplicate images one by one.
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Tap the “Trash” icon and confirm deletion. These images will stay in the “Deleted Photos” album for 30 days and will be deleted automatically afterwards.
3. Best App to Bulk Remove Duplicate Photos on iPhone Automatically (Tool: Clever Cleaner)
When you have thousands of photos, and Apple's built-in detection isn’t enough, a third-party app can help. Clever Cleaner works automatically and allows bulk deletion in seconds with its user-friendly interface. It is a great tool when you are upgrading from an older iPhone, and you are a heavy Photos user.
Bulk delete photos from iPhone using Clever Cleaner with the following steps:
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Install Clever Cleaner from the App Store, then open it and allow photo access permissions.
Start a scan by tapping on the “Smart Cleanup” button.
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Review detected duplicates and tap the "Move to Trash" option to delete duplicates in bulk.
4. Mass Delete iPhone Duplicate Photos from Mac (Use Tenorshare Cleamio)
If your iPhone photos are synced to your Mac via iCloud, cleaning duplicates from the Mac side is often faster and more controlled. It provides a large-screen review experience, and an advanced duplicate detection system ensures safe cleanup without losing any data.
Cleamio on Mac works when your photo library is synced via iCloud, and you want to delete the duplicate files from all your synced devices with an easy experience. Managing duplicates on an iPhone's small screen can be hectic and time-consuming when you have thousands of images.
So, taking it on a Mac makes it feel effortless for you, and if you delete something accidentally, you can still recover from iCloud's Recently Deleted album, bringing a second layer of safety.
Here is how to mass delete duplicate photos on iPhone with Cleamio.
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Download and install Tenorshare Cleamio on your Mac and open it, then select the "Similar Photos" feature. Click the "+" button and add your "Photos Library" then click "Scan".
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(Optional) You can go to the Cleamio Preferences to adjust the image similarity you want before scanning.
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Cleamio will display all the similar images in your library. You can click to choose them and click the "Remove" button in the bottom right to delete them. Click "Completed" to finish the process, and you are done.
Since you have synced your iPhone Photos Library with your Mac using iCloud, these duplicate images will be deleted from your iPhone automatically.
Part 3. Why Do Duplicate Photos Appear? How to Clean Up & Organize iPhone Photos Without Duplicates?
Common Reasons
Duplicate photos don’t appear randomly. Common causes include:
- iCloud sync conflicts
- Saving the same photo from multiple apps
- Burst mode photography
- Editing photos and saving copies
- AirDrop transfers
- Restoring from backups
- Third-party camera apps
Over time, these behaviors quietly occupy your photo library.
Prevention Tips to Get Rid of Duplicate Photos on iPhone
To avoid dealing with duplicates again:
- Avoid saving the same image from multiple sources
- Review burst photos immediately after shooting
- Disable auto-download in messaging apps
- Use iCloud Photos consistently across devices
- Periodically check the Duplicates album
- Perform quarterly photo cleanups
Proactive habits reduce clutter and protect your storage long-term.
People Also Ask about iPhone Duplicate Pictures.
Q1: Is there a way to delete duplicate photos on an iPhone for free?
Yes. Apple’s built-in Merge Duplicates feature in the Photos app is completely free on iOS 16 and later.
Q2: Is there a quick way to delete duplicate photos?
The fastest method is using the Duplicates album and tapping Merge. For large libraries, automated tools save even more time.
Q3: Should I merge duplicate photos on iPhone?
Yes. Merging keeps the best-quality photo and safely removes unnecessary copies without data loss.
Q4: Can iPhone photos detect duplicates?
Yes, but detection depends on image similarity. Some duplicates may still require manual or third-party cleanup.
Q5: Does this work on iPhone 13 / 15 / 16?
Yes. All methods work from iPhone 11 through iPhone 17 running iOS 18 or earlier.
Q6: How to delete duplicate photos on iPhone (iOS 18)?
Use Photos > Albums > Duplicates > Merge, or use third-party tools for deeper scanning.
Conclusion
Duplicate photos are one of the most common reasons iPhones run out of storage, especially on iOS 18 and earlier. Whether you use Apple’s built-in merge feature, manual deletion, or automated cleanup, knowing how to delete duplicate photos on iPhone saves space and keeps your library organized.
For users managing large photo collections via Mac, Tenorshare Cleamio offers a reliable, efficient way to detect and remove duplicates at scale while maintaining full control and safety.
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By Jenefey Aaron
2026-01-09 / File Tips