How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone: Exact Copies and Similar Shots

By Matthieu Poulain · Updated September 26, 2026 · 7 min read

To delete duplicate photos on iPhone, open Photos > Utilities > Duplicates and tap Merge on each set. iOS keeps the best-quality copy and moves the rest to Recently Deleted. That album only catches exact and near-exact copies, so similar shots like bursts and "just one more" photos need a second pass.

Two kinds of "duplicates" on your iPhone

Before you start, it helps to know what you're actually hunting for. Most people's libraries have two different problems.

Exact duplicates are the same image saved more than once. They come from saving a photo someone sent you twice, re-importing from a computer, or edits exported as new files. They can differ slightly in resolution or metadata, but the picture is the same.

Similar shots are different photos that look almost alike: a burst, ten attempts at the same group photo, the sunset you shot from three angles. They're not copies, so iOS doesn't treat them as duplicates. In most camera rolls, they take far more space than true duplicates.

Step 1: Use the built-in Duplicates album

Since iOS 16, the Photos app detects duplicates on its own. It's free, it runs on your iPhone, and it's the right first stop.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Go to Collections (or Albums, depending on your iOS version) and scroll down to Utilities.
3. Tap Duplicates. Each row shows a set of copies side by side.
4. Tap Merge next to a set, then confirm.
5. To go faster, tap Select, choose several sets (or Select All), then tap Merge at the bottom.

When you merge, iOS keeps the highest-quality version, combines relevant metadata (such as captions or keywords) into it, and moves the other copies to Recently Deleted. Nothing is lost for 30 days.

No Duplicates album? Here's why

The Duplicates album only shows up when iOS has found at least one set. If you just updated iOS or imported a big batch of photos, the library may still be indexing. That work happens mostly when your iPhone is locked and plugged in, so leave it charging overnight and check again.

If it still doesn't appear after a day or two, you probably don't have exact duplicates. Your storage problem is more likely similar shots, videos, or screenshots.

Step 2: Clean up similar shots and bursts

This is where most of the space hides, and where iOS won't help much. You have two options.

Option A: By hand in the Photos app

1. Open Photos and scroll to a day where you took a lot of pictures.
2. Tap Select, then tap the shots you don't want (or drag your finger across several thumbnails to select them in one gesture).
3. Tap the trash icon and confirm.

For bursts, open the burst, tap Select, pick the frames you like, tap Done, and choose to keep only your favorites.

This works, but it's slow on a big library. Thumbnails are small, similar shots are spread across your timeline, and it's hard to compare them.

Option B: With a similar-photo finder

An app that groups similar shots saves you the scrolling. PhotoTri uses Apple's Vision framework on your iPhone to group near-identical photos taken within seconds of each other, including bursts. For each group you tap the photo you want to keep, or choose Keep all or Delete all. Groups you've reviewed don't come back, so you can stop and pick up later.

Everything goes to PhotoTri's own trash first. You review it, restore anything you changed your mind about, and only then send the rest to iOS Recently Deleted. The analysis happens on-device and your photos never leave the iPhone.

If you're comparing apps, our guide to choosing a photo cleaner app covers what to check: pricing model, privacy, and whether deletions can be undone.

Step 3: Actually get the space back

Deleting or merging doesn't free storage straight away. The copies sit in Recently Deleted for 30 days, still taking up room.

1. In Photos, go to Utilities > Recently Deleted.
2. Unlock with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
3. Glance through to make sure nothing important is there.
4. Tap Select, then Delete All, and confirm.

Where duplicates come from (and how to avoid new ones)

• Saving from messaging apps. Photos shared in group chats often get saved by more than one route. Check your messaging app's auto-save setting.
• Re-importing from a computer or camera. Importing the same card twice creates copies. Import once, then clear the card.
• Screenshots of photos. A screenshot of a picture is a separate image. Delete the screenshot once you're done with it.
• Burst mode by accident. Sliding the shutter button to the left captures a burst of dozens of frames. Review bursts soon after taking them.
• Taking "safety" shots. It's fine to take five. Just delete four the same evening, while you still remember which one is best.

Should you merge everything without looking?

For exact duplicates, merging in bulk is generally safe. iOS keeps the best-quality version and you have 30 days to change your mind.

For similar shots, don't bulk-delete blindly. "Similar" is a judgment call: a closed eye, a better smile, a slightly different crop. Go group by group and keep the one you'd actually share.

Once duplicates are gone, the next big wins are usually large videos and screenshots. Our guide to freeing up space on iPhone walks through the rest.