How to find and remove duplicate photos on your iPhone 17

Removing duplicate photos on iPhone 17 is easier than ever, thanks to built-in features and reliable third-party apps. With just a few taps, it’s possible to declutter the photo library, save storage space, and keep only the best memories, and no technical expertise is required. Here’s how to remove duplicate photos on your iPhone 17.

Steps to Remove Duplicate Photos on iPhone 17

To remove duplicate photos on an iPhone 17, use the built-in Duplicates feature in the Photos app or try a third-party app for more advanced detection, especially for similar but not identical photos.

Using the Built-In Duplicates Feature

The Photos app in iPhone 17 includes a straightforward duplicates detection tool. Here’s how to use it:

• Open the Photos app.
• Scroll down to the Utilities section and tap Duplicates. This folder appears when your iPhone detects duplicate images.

• Review the listed duplicates. Use the Merge button next to each set, or tap Select, then Select All, to merge duplicates in bulk.

• Confirm the action to let iPhone automatically keep the highest-quality version and move duplicates to your Recently Deleted album.
• To permanently free up space, open the Recently Deleted folder and erase those photos.

This tool works best for exact duplicates and ensures important details (like edits or captions) are preserved in the retained image.

Handling Near-Duplicates and Bursts

While iOS’s built-in features focus on perfect matches, many users accumulate near-duplicates, such as burst-mode photos or slight variations.

• For Bursts, go to Photos > Albums > Media Types > Bursts.
• Review each group, select your favorite, then tap Keep Only Favorites—the rest will be removed automatically.

Third-Party Apps for Extra Help

If your collection includes similar but not identical photos, specialized apps offer extra muscle:

• Remo Duplicate Photos Remover: Scans and identifies both exact and similar photos, allowing you to preview before deletion. Free to use and known for its simplicity.
• Photo Cleaner – Album Organizer: Highlights duplicate and similar images and allows filtering by album or date. It offers a widget for storage monitoring and other handy tools, with a brief free trial period.
• Clean My Photos: Lets users view duplicate sets and compress images, making space-saving easy. Also offers a free trial.

Most popular tools sort duplicates into groups, flagging the best version and offering simple controls to delete or keep photos as needed.

Tips and Best Practices

• Regularly use the Photos app’s Duplicates and Bursts features to keep your library organized.
• Periodically clear the Recently Deleted folder for actual storage gain.
• For comprehensive results, combine manual reviews with trusted third-party apps for near-duplicates.

What happens to metadata and originals when I merge duplicates?

When you merge duplicates in the iPhone Photos app, the highest-quality version is kept, and all relevant metadata from the duplicates—such as captions, keywords, and favorites—is combined into the single remaining photo.

The other original copies are not permanently deleted right away; instead, they are moved to the Recently Deleted album, where they can be restored for a limited time if needed.

Metadata Handling

• Merged Photo: Retains the best quality version and consolidates metadata (captions, tags, favorites, etc.) from all duplicates in the set.
• Special Cases: If the duplicates have different or unique information (like different titles or locations), Photos tries to keep as much important information as possible in the final version, but it may prioritize or leave out some details when things are unclear.
• Edits and Formats: Differences in edits, resolution, or format are evaluated; the app will preserve the best quality and a single resulting file.

Originals After Merge

• Removed Copies: All redundant originals go to the Recently Deleted album, where they remain recoverable for a set period (usually 30 days) before being deleted permanently.
• Option to Restore: If an unwanted version was merged or deleted, it is possible to recover it from Recently Deleted during this window.

This careful merging process ensures minimal loss of data or context while allowing for an organized, space-saving photo library.

Keeping a tidy photo library on iPhone 17 is both simple and satisfying. With Apple’s built-in Duplicates tool for exact copies and user-friendly apps for similar images, anyone can reclaim lost storage space and enjoy a streamlined collection of cherished photos. Making the process a regular habit ensures the best memories are always easy to find and share.