Is there anything more annoying than scrolling through kilometers of photos and finding the same pictures five times in a row? After more than five years of helping people transfer photos from iPhone to PC, I can tell you that duplicate photos are a common headache. This is especially true for those who frequently take or download images.
Have you ever wondered how to get rid of duplicate photos on iPhone? Why do so many of them show up in the first place? And what tools can make the process simple and safe? In this article, I’ll answer all these questions, share my tried-and-true methods, and prove that managing duplicates is easier than it seems. We’ll go through everything step by step, so you’ll be able to organize your photo collection effortlessly.
- Why do duplicate photos appear?
- Reasons to delete duplicate photos on iPhone
- How to get rid of duplicate photos on iPhone?
- Remove duplicate photos via CopyTrans Studio
- How to fix common issues
Why do duplicate photos appear?
Before you deal with removing duplicate photos, it would be interesting to know why duplicate photos appear in the first place? I can give you a few key reasons:
- Re-saving: sometimes you accidentally save the same image multiple times. For example, you downloaded a photo from a messaging app and then re-saved it from another chat room.
- Sync via iCloud: iCloud or other cloud services can sometimes cause glitches that result in photos uploading twice.
- Photo editing: when you edit photos on your phone, the system creates copies of the originals that stay in your Photo Library.
- Importing from other devices: when you transfer photos from your computer or other devices, you can end up with duplicates.
- Create Live Photos and Burst Photos: these features create extra files that sometimes look like duplicates.
Forewarned is forearmed. Now you know the main reasons why it happens, and you can choose the appropriate method to remove the duplicates and prevent future occurrences.
Delete duplicate photos on iPhone
Reasons to get rid of them
Deleting duplicates is not just a way to put things in order. It’s a real relief for your digital life! Here are a few reasons why it’s important:
- Space clearing: Photos are one of the “heaviest” types of data. Especially when it comes to high quality photos. Duplicates can take up gigabytes of space that could be used for more important things.
- Improved iPhone performance: Full iPhone storage often leads to slower device performance. If there are no unnecessary photos, then there are no problems with iPhone performance.
- Usability: A clean photo gallery is key to an easy navigation. There’s order instead of chaos.
- Save time when backing up photos: Fewer duplicates means less data to transfer. It is especially important for those who, like me, regularly transfer photos to the computer.
From my own experience, a clean photo collection is not only about freeing up space, but also about feeling control over the content.
How to get rid of duplicate photos on iPhone?
If you want to find duplicate photos on iPhone, just use Photos app and then delete them.
Apple introduced the duplicate recognition feature in the Photos app some time ago. Here’s how you can use it:
- Open the Photos app. Scroll down to the Utilities section.
- Select “Duplicates” (this feature is available from iOS 16).
- The app will automatically show similar photos. You can merge them by selecting the “Merge” option. This will keep the best version of the image and delete the rest.


The feature is handy, but it doesn’t always recognize duplicates 100%. If you have a large library, you may need an additional tool to remove duplicate photos. For example, CopyTrans Studio.
Remove duplicate photos
When transferring photos to PC
If you are also constantly backing up the photos to your computer, then I have good news for you. With CopyTrans Studio, you can save all your photos as a single copy. CopyTrans Studio automatically deletes duplicate photos when you transfer data from iPhone to PC.
The only thing you should do is to make a full backup to a folder of your choice.
- Download and install CopyTrans Studio.
- Open CopyTrans Studio, the following window will open. Click on the Open button.
- Select your iPhone and click on “Photo Library”.
- You can now select the option “Back up” and set it.


More detailed guide on how to back up photos with CopyTrans Studio.
Duplicate photos on iPhone
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
- Can’t Delete Duplicate Photos
Solution: If you can’t delete photos directly from your iPhone, check if they were synced from another device via iTunes or Finder. If so, you’ll need to remove them on the syncing device. - Can’t Find Duplicates
Solution: Make sure your iPhone is up-to-date. If the built-in “Duplicates” feature isn’t working, use a third-party app like CopyTrans Studio for a more thorough scan. - Duplicate Photos Keep Reappearing
Solution: This can happen if iCloud Photos is enabled and changes aren’t syncing properly. Try turning off iCloud Photos temporarily, deleting the duplicates, and then re-enabling iCloud Photos. - Accidentally Deleted Important Photos
Solution: Check the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app. You can recover deleted photos within 30 days. - Too Many Photos to Handle
Solution: For massive libraries, use CopyTrans Studio to automate the process and save hours of manual work.
How to remove duplicate photos on iPhone
Concluson:
Deleting duplicate photos is a simple step to bringing order to your digital space. Your iPhone will work faster, you will free up space, and the photo search will be easier. You can use the built-in iOS tools or try CopyTrans Studio to make the process as convenient as possible.
I realize that dealing with duplicates is not an easy task, but you’ll definitely be able to do it! The main thing is to start, and then you will remove duplicate photos from iPhone. Good luck to you in putting things in order!