Over the years, my iPhone’s Photos collection has gradually expanded to the point that I would worry about how much storage space I still had available. Then I learned two things that had a significant impact: Duplicate photo detection is a built-in function of the Photos app, and sorting and removing duplicates or unnecessary photos is oddly relaxing. I can concentrate on just one thing while I do this repetitious chore, and I also get to relive some of my best memories.

You don’t need any additional tools to find and remove duplicate photographs from the photographs app if you’re using iOS 16 or later.

Apple unveiled its “duplicate detection” function, which does just what its name implies. The application recognizes similar photos using on-device AI and compiles them into a convenient album inside the Photos app. According to Apple, duplicate images that seem identical but have different resolutions, file formats, or other minor variations are likewise classified as duplicates by the iPhone. This includes snapshots of almost similar photos taken simultaneously or even lower-resolution copies you may have saved to post on social media.

Before following the detailed instructions below, make sure that iCloud synchronization is enabled. Keep in mind that the Photos app, which I’m using for these examples, has a layout change in iOS 18. Check the Albums list for duplicates if you haven’t upgraded to that version.

See all of the new features we anticipate Apple releasing with iOS 26 this autumn for additional information.

Screenshots demonstrating iOS 16’s duplicate photo removal feature
To increase your iPhone’s storage, delete unnecessary images and movies.

Here’s how to make advantage of the iPhone’s built-in storage space-free tool:

1. Launch the iPhone’s Photos app.

2. Tap Duplicates after navigating to the Utilities section. You may see and remove all of your iPhone’s duplicate images here, either one at a time or one at a time.

3. Tap the choose button and then choose Select All to remove all duplicates at once. Additionally, you may eliminate them in groups of two or more: To the right of the pairings, hit the Select button after tapping Select in the upper right corner. After that, choose Merge [number] to combine all of the duplicate images your iPhone finds and discard them.

4. Tap the Merge button that shows next to each pair of duplicates if you choose to remove them one at a time. To remove duplicates, choose Merge [number] Copies. Repeat this process for each similar picture you want to remove later.

The best version of the picture remains in your collection after merging. The Recently Deleted album now contains the duplicates.