I’m struggling with duplicate files on my iPhone and want to clear them up fast. Does anyone know the best app or method to delete them efficiently? Any tips would be great, thanks!
Get Rid of Duplicate and Similar Photos on iPhone – Quick, Free, and Easy
Let’s face it: we all have hundreds, if not thousands, of photos cluttering our iPhone galleries. Chances are between accidental duplicates, near-identical bursts, and screenshots you forgot to delete, 95% of those pictures are just taking up space. The good news? You don’t need to sift through them manually anymore. iPhone has some free tools to help, but there’s also a highly recommended app that’ll make this way easier. The Clever Cleaner App is a favorite among Redditors for handling duplicate photos efficiently—plus, it’s totally free! Here’s how you can use it to reclaim storage space without breaking a sweat.
Quick Guide: Removing Duplicate Photos on Your iPhone
Step 1: Download the Clever Cleaner App
You’ll want to start by heading to the App Store to grab Clever Cleaner. Hunting down duplicates has never been simpler, thanks to this gem. Best part? It won’t cost you a dime.
Free Clever Cleaner App – Grab it Here
Step 2: Grant Access to Your Photos
Once you’ve installed the app, give it permission to access your photo library. Don’t sweat it, though—this is a common requirement, and tons of users report no privacy issues after using it. The app’s AI system needs this access to scan and group duplicates or similar photos.
Step 3: Let AI Work Its Magic
Now, here comes the marvel of modern tech. The app uses an AI-powered algorithm to analyze your gallery. Depending on how many photos you’ve got, scanning can take anywhere from 2 to 6 minutes. Go grab a coffee or scroll Reddit, and by the time you’re back, Clever Cleaner will have your duplicates organized for review.
Step 4: Review Results
Once the scan is complete, the app shows grouped photos and suggests which ones to keep or delete. For burst shots, it picks the best one. For everything else, it simply tags the extras that are hogging space. You can review and confirm its choices or adjust manually if needed.
Step 5: One-Tap Cleanup
When you’re satisfied with the results, tap ‘Smart Cleanup’ to remove duplicates. But wait! To truly free up space, you’ll need to go to the Photos app and empty the recently deleted folder. Voilà—junk photos gone!
How Much Space Can You Save?
Using this app, some users reported clearing up 10+ GB in minutes. Seriously, just imagine all the space those duplicate selfies and irrelevant screenshots were eating up. With Clever Cleaner, storage becomes less of a headache—and you didn’t even have to spend a penny.
Want More Ways to Declutter Photos and Free Up iPhone Storage?
If you’re still exploring, there are other resources to help manage your photo overload. Check these out:
- How to Remove Duplicate Photos on iPhone: 4 Methods on MacGasm
- Reddit Thread: Removing Duplicate Photos on iPhone
- Apple Community Discussion: Tackling Duplicates and Similar Photos
- Clever Cleaner App Insights on Reddit
- InsanelyMac’s Guide to Handling Duplicate Photos
- YouTube: Step-by-Step Removal of Duplicate Photos
- Reddit: Storage Full? Easy Fix Without Buying More iCloud Space
Stop letting duplicates weigh you down! Give Clever Cleaner a try or explore some of the other methods mentioned—it’s time to reclaim storage space for the stuff that really matters. Done in just minutes, you’ll wonder why you ever lived with the chaos!
Clever Cleaner sounds decent, but let me play devil’s advocate for a sec—do you really need an app for this? Apple’s built-in Photos app has a “Duplicates” folder now (iOS 16 and up). It scans your library automatically and groups duplicates for you. Just go to Photos > Albums > Utilities > Duplicates, and boom—you can merge them without downloading anything third-party.
That said, the AI aspect of Clever Cleaner might catch photos that Apple’s method misses, like similar bursts or slightly edited versions. If you’re the kind of person who hates manual work, it might be worth it. But honestly, do we need ANOTHER app when Apple’s already added the feature? Food for thought.
On another note, careful with storage cleaners that claim to be free. Some apps sneak paywalls to unlock features, so don’t be surprised if you’re nudged into a subscription after deleting a few hundred photos. Always a catch, right?
Honestly, the whole duplicate photo thing has always been a pain, right? But there’s no need to go into full panic-cleaning mode. Both @mikeappsreviewer and @chasseurdetoiles brought up solid suggestions. Clever Cleaner app sounds awesome, especially with its AI, but I’d be cautious because apps like this often say they’re free until you get nudged into some premium feature you “didn’t know” you needed. One moment you’re deleting duplicates, next thing you’re staring at a $4.99/month subscription. Classic move.
Now, let me throw a curveball here: if you’re using iOS 16 or newer, why not just stick to the built-in Photos app? The Duplicates folder under Albums > Utilities is surprisingly decent. It won’t catch “near-identical-but-not-really” pics (e.g. slightly different burst shots), but for actual duplicates? It does the job, and you don’t have to download another app. I mean, do you want more clutter when you’re trying to get rid of clutter? Feels ironic to me.
That being said, if you’re sitting with thousands (yes, we see you serial screenshot hoarders) of photos and no time to manually review, then Clever Cleaner seems worth trying. But just a heads-up—don’t forget to clear out the Recently Deleted folder! It’s like decluttering your house but leaving all the trash bags in the middle of your living room. No clean space for you.
Another thought: if you’re trying to clear duplicates beyond photos (like files, emails, etc.), Clever Cleaner might fall short—seems very photo-focused. For those struggling with other file dupes, apps like File Manager or Documents by Readdle might be better.
TL;DR: If you trust AI and don’t mind third-party apps, yes, Clever Cleaner is worth testing. If you’re running iOS 16+, give Apple’s Duplicates feature a go first. Why overcomplicate things? Also: do we REALLY need so many selfies? Just saying.
Alright, fast track answer for the duplicate files debate here: while Clever Cleaner app is getting a ton of love (AI for duplicates? Cool), it’s not the only path, folks. Personally, I’d split this into two thinking routes:
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Apple Native Solutions: If you’re on iOS 16+, check out the native Photos app Duplicates album in Utilities. It’s not perfect (it misses slightly varied images or burst clusters), but hey, no downloads, no data access requests. It’s all clean and built-in. But yeah, don’t expect miracles for non-photo file cleanup.
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Clever Cleaner App – Positives & Negatives:
- Pros: Speeds up the process, catches both duplicates and “similar-ish” images, and seems to get glowing feedback for its AI. Plus, it’s free (until it’s not—watch for hidden fees or optional subscriptions lurking post-download). Definitely useful if you’ve got like 10,000 photos and zero patience.
- Cons: You’re trusting a third-party app with image access. Privacy-conscious peeps? This might give you pause. Also, it’s pretty photo-focused—won’t help much with duplicate files. So if your clutter goes beyond pictures, look elsewhere.
Others mentioned premium bumps are almost inevitable with apps like Clever Cleaner. Fair warning: if the ‘free’ AI tool locks premium for bigger tasks, stick to manual methods or Apple’s limited but neutral approach.
For non-photo duplicates or expanded needs (emails, files, etc.), try Readdle’s Documents app or alternatives like File Manager. These are decent if you need broader organizing power and offer flexibility beyond just duplicates detection.
TL;DR: Native Photos tool—good for basics, no hassle. Clever Cleaner—solid for bulk image cleanup if AI’s your jam (but don’t get caught in premium lock-in hysteria). Expand to tools like Readdle if this goes beyond galleries. Bonus tip? Quit hoarding unnecessary screenshots; half the battle is just taking fewer pics initially.