With the widespread use of messaging, social networks and certain apps, it is normal that we see that we have duplicate photos on iPhone, many of them unintentionally.
In this post we will explain why duplicate photos are generated, what you can do to avoid it and how to delete them once and for all if you don't want to have them.
Why are duplicate photos generated on iPhone?
With the use of certain applications and having some settings set on the phone, it is normal for a certain number of duplicate photos to be generated. There are several reasons why duplicate photos are generated, which we can classify into the following groups:
Synchronization with multiple devices
If you use iCloud Photo Library or another cloud storage service To sync your photos between multiple devices, photos may accidentally be duplicated during the sync process.
Import or sync issues
When importing photos from a PC or Mac to your iPhone, and especially when syncing photos with iTunes, Errors may occur resulting in duplicate copies of images being created. It's not very common, but it used to happen quite a bit with older versions of iTunes.
Third-party applications
Some photo editing or album organizing apps may create duplicate copies of photos as part of their normal operation, especially if automatic backup or sync features are used.
Another source of duplicate photos is the ubiquitous WhatsApp, which generates a repository of sent and received photos that often end up as duplicate photos on iPhone.
System errors
Sometimes the system errors on iPhone can cause photos to be duplicated, especially after software updates or problems with the Photos app database.
Human error: it is always a present factor
Sometimes, Users can inadvertently create duplicate copies of photos, when manually importing the same images multiple times or downloading them from different sources.
How can we avoid having duplicate photos on iPhone?
Above all, in the latter case the advice is clear: we must pay more attention in how we synchronize or download photos on our iPhone to avoid the hassle of having duplicate photos.
So, when you share photos with other devices or people, make sure you do so in a neat and organized manner to avoid creating duplicate copies.
Other tips we can give you are the following:
Use a single sync source
If you use cloud services like iCloud Photo Library, make sure it's your only sync source to avoid conflicts and duplication. Yes too sync photos with iTunes or other services, turn off automatic sync to avoid duplication, and make sure there are no duplicate photos in the selection you're importing.
Use reliable photo management apps
When using third-party applications to edit or manage your photos, make sure you choose trusted apps that have good reviews and a solid reputation in managing photo libraries.
Organize your photos regularly
Set aside time regularly to review and organize your photos in the native iOS Photos app. A little time to delete duplicate photos that you find from time to time will keep your photo library organized.
Make backup copies
Make regular backups of your photo library to avoid data loss and having to import photos again, which could cause duplications.
Update your software
Keep your iPhone and all applications related to photo management updated, as Software updates can fix bugs and improve stability, which can help prevent photo duplication issues.
How to delete duplicate photos on iPhone
There are different ways to delete duplicate photos on the iPhone, which we will arrange in order of preference.
Use the native iOS Photos app: or in other words, do it by hand.
I think this option does not need to be explained much to make it clear. Basically it is opening the Photos app on the iPhone, searching for and selecting the “All Photos” album and scrolling between them and selecting the ones you want to delete. Once selected, tap the trash icon in the bottom right corner to delete them.
The app also has its own way of Find them automatically and Merge them, but from time to time it gives a false negative.
Using third-party apps: the vague, but functional option
You can also use third-party apps available in the App Store that are specifically designed to find and remove duplicate photos on your iPhone, such as "Duplicate Photos Fixer."
To use the Duplicate Photos Fixer app on your iPhone to remove duplicate photos, follow these steps:
- Download and install the app on your device.
- Open Duplicate Photos Fixer and allows access to your photos from the application. This is important since without this permission you will not be able to do your job.
- Once you have granted access, the app will start scanning your photo library looking for duplicates, which may take a while depending on how many photos you have.
- Once the scan is completed, the application will show you the results, that is, the duplicate photos you have found. You can review them to make sure they are truly duplicates and not similar images that you want to keep.
- After reviewing the results, the app will give you the option to delete duplicate photos automatically or manually. Choose the option you prefer.
Synchronization with your PC or Mac
Another alternative you have, which I personally see as nonsense, is to use iTunes or Finder if you're on Mac to access your Photos library of the iPhone to do manual removal.
The way to do it is more or less similar to doing it from the phone itself: access the Gallery from Finder or iTunes, and review one by one to see if we are interested in keeping those photos or not.
It doesn't make much sense to do it this way, why are we going to lie, but it does give you the added convenience of having a larger screen in order to locate the photos and be able to compare them better.