"So, my question is a little tricky. We all have completely identical duplicate photos, and I know iOS has a built-in option to merge them without using external apps or services. But what if my gallery is a total mess with similar photos? How can I remove these near-duplicates and clean up my camera roll? Any free app recommendations or tutorials would be super helpful to automate this process at no cost. Thanks!"
- from Apple Community
Many iPhone and iPad users encounter a common issue during use: their photo albums are filled with duplicate photos and screenshots. These duplicate photos not only take up valuable storage space on the device but also make browsing and organizing photos a hassle. This is especially important for users with limited storage, as timely removal of these redundant photos is crucial.
This article will provide a detailed guide on how to delete duplicate photos on iPad/iPhone, helping you free up space and keep your photo album organized.
Before we start deleting, let's first understand why duplicate photos appear on iPhone/iPad. Only by understanding the cause can we prevent similar issues from happening again after cleaning up. The following are some possible reasons:
While there are several factors that can lead to duplicates, there are also various ways to remove them. Below is how to get rid of double image on iPad/iPhone in three effective methods.
Can Apple Photos remove duplicates? Of course. If your iPhone/iPad is running iOS 16/iPadOS 16 or later, the built-in "Duplicates" feature is the simplest and most direct way to handle this. It automatically detects similar or identical photos and offers the option to merge them, helping you quickly organize your photo album.
Here is how to merge duplicate photos on iPad/iPhone:
Step 1. Unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the Photos app.
Step 2. Next, swipe inward from the left edge of the screen to reveal the sidebar.
Step 3. Then, tap the "Duplicates" option under the "Utilities" section. This will display all duplicate photos and videos on your iPad/iPhone.
Step 4. From there, tap the "Merge" button next to a pair of photos or videos to combine them into one file. Alternatively, you can tap the "Select" button in the top-right corner to choose multiple files.
Step 5. Once selected, hit the "Merge" button to combine several photos or videos at once.
Note: After merging, the deleted duplicates will be moved to the "Recently Deleted" album. Don't forget to go there and clear them permanently; otherwise, they will still take up storage for up to 30 days.
If your iPad is running iOS/iPadOS 15 or earlier, you won't have the option to merge images natively. You can only manually delete the duplicates one by one. While this method can be time-consuming, it gives you full control and ensures you delete only the photos you don't need.
Here is how to remove duplicate photos on an iPad/iPhone manually:
Step 1. Unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the Photos app.
Step 2. Tap "Albums" or choose "All Photos" from the "Library" tab to view your full photo collection.
Step 3. Browse through the photos carefully and identify duplicates or very similar shots you no longer need.
Step 4. Tap "Select" in the upper-right corner of the screen, and tap on each duplicate photo to highlight it. You can select multiple images at once.
Step 5.Once you have selected all the unwanted duplicates, tap the "Trash Bin" (Delete) icon at the bottom-right corner.
Step 6. Confirm your choice by tapping "Delete Photos" in the pop-up window.
Step 7. Open the "Recently Deleted" album in the "Albums" > "Utilities" section.
Step 8. Tap "Select" > "Delete All" (or manually select and delete) to permanently remove the duplicates and free up storage.
If you have a large number of duplicate photos in your album or want to organize them more efficiently on your computer, you can use specialized tools like Coolmuster iOS Assistant. This software not only helps you quickly detect and delete duplicate photos but also makes it easy to back up, export, and manage contacts, messages, music, and other data.
Key features of iOS Assistant:
How do I bulk delete duplicate photos on iPhone/iPad? Follow the steps below:
01Install and launch iOS Assistant on your computer. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer using a USB cable. On your device, tap "Trust" when prompted to trust this computer.
02Once the software detects your device, you'll see a user-friendly interface with all your iPhone/iPad files sorted by category.
03To delete duplicate photos, click the "Photos" tab in the left sidebar. Browse through the images and select the duplicates you want to remove, then click the "Delete" button at the top of the interface to remove the selected photos. The unwanted duplicates will be instantly deleted from your device.
Video Tutorial:
Q1. Why isn't the Duplicates album showing up on my iPad/iPhone?
The "Duplicates" album will only appear if there are duplicate photos on your iPad/iPhone. If you don't see the "Duplicates" folder, it's likely that you don't have any duplicates at the moment. Additionally, this feature is only available on iOS/iPadOS 16 and later versions. If your system version is older, the album will not be displayed.
Q2. How to find duplicate photos on iPad/iPhone?
Your iPad/iPhone has a built-in duplicate photo finder within the Photos app. When you open the app, you can check the Duplicates album (if it appears) to view any duplicate photos on your device. From there, you can merge the duplicates, and the app will retain the highest quality image, moving the others to the Recently Deleted album.
Q3. Will deleting duplicate photos affect iCloud?
Yes. If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting a photo on one device removes it from all devices linked to the same Apple ID. Back up first if needed.
Duplicate photos on iPhone/iPad are a common issue that not only wastes storage space but also affects the user experience.
However, if you have thousands of photos in your album, it's recommended to use Coolmuster iOS Assistant, which helps you quickly and batch-remove duplicate photos while ensuring data safety.
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How to Delete Files on iPhone/iPad in 6 Ways [Step-by-Step Guide]
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