Where the Duplicates album is
In the Photos app, go to Collections and scroll down to Utilities. Duplicates is there. If you don't see it, Photos hasn't found any or is still analyzing your library: detection happens automatically and can take a while, especially for large libraries.
How to merge duplicates
- Open Duplicates. You'll see the sets of copies one below another.
- For one set, tap Merge next to it.
- For all of them, tap Select, then Select All and Merge.
- Confirm with Merge [number] Items.
Merging isn't deleting blindly: Photos keeps one version that combines the highest quality and the relevant data from all copies, and moves the rest to Recently Deleted, where they stay for 30 days just in case.
What it catches and what it doesn't
Photos finds copies of the same image: the same photo saved twice, forwarded in a chat or imported again. That frees some space, but in most libraries it's not the biggest chunk.
What it doesn't catch is similar photos: ten takes of the same group shot, bursts, the same sunset from three angles. They aren't duplicates, so no tool should delete them on its own, but you almost always only need one or two. That's where the real space is.
- Bursts have their own collection under Media Types → Bursts.
- For everything else, the practical approach is to look at shots from the same moment side by side and keep the best one.
Do you need a duplicate cleaner app?
For exact copies, no: the Duplicates album does what many paid apps promise. An app is worth it if it helps with what Photos doesn't cover, like similar photos, blurry shots or getting through a year of photos quickly. If so, check the real price: many charge weekly. We compare them in apps to delete photos by swiping.
FAQ
Does merging duplicates reduce quality?
No. Photos keeps the highest-quality version and combines the data from the other copies into it. The others go to Recently Deleted for 30 days.
Why don't I see the Duplicates album?
Either there are no duplicates or Photos hasn't finished analyzing your library. It only appears once it finds some. You need iOS 16 or later.
Are duplicates merged in iCloud and on my other devices too?
Yes. With iCloud Photos, the merge syncs and the extra copies are deleted on all your devices.