With the increase in the use of messaging applications, social networks and other applications, it is common to find duplicate photos on iPhones, often unintentionally.
In this article, we will explain why duplicate photos are generated, how to avoid it and how to delete them if you do not want to keep them, to avoid the problems that are generated by having them.
Why are duplicate photos generated on iPhone?
Duplicate photos can be generated for various reasons such as syncing with multiple devices, import or sync issues, use of third-party apps, system errors, and human errors. Let's look at each of these separately.
Synchronization between devices using iCloud
When you use services like iCloud Photo Library to sync your photos across multiple devices, It is common for photos to be duplicated during the process. They also usually happen with third-party clouds such as Google Drive or MEGA, so keep this in mind if you are a user of any type of cloud service.
Problems during import or synchronization
When transferring photos from a PC or Mac to your iPhone, especially when using iTunes (which is not the most intuitive program in the world, that is said), errors may arise that generate duplicate copies of the images.
Third-party applications
Some photo editing, album management or instant messaging apps can create duplicate images, especially when activating automatic backup or synchronization functions.
A common example of this is WhatsApp, which stores sent and received photos, causing duplicates due to the way it processes attached photos.
System errors
If a software update has failed, or is not downloaded correctly, it could Corruption of the Photos app occurs that makes duplicate photographs appear, although it is a somewhat remote option, the possibility does exist.
Human error
Sometimes users generate duplicates without realizing it, by manually importing the same photos multiple times or by downloading them from different sources. And in most cases, this is the first reason why there are duplicate photos on the iPhone.
What problems does having duplicate photos on the iPhone cause?
Duplicate photos can cause several problems, including:
Unnecessary space occupation: you are spending storage to have the same thing
Duplicate photos take up extra storage space of your device, which can reduce the amount of space available for other files and applications, in addition to being a clear waste of memory because you are storing the same thing twice.
Clutter and confusion in photo library management
Having multiple copies of the same photo can make your photo library cluttered and difficult to navigate, especially when you're looking for a specific photo.
Additionally, duplicate photos can make it difficult to organize and manage your photo collection, since you will have to deal with multiple versions of the same image.
Difficulty making backup copies
When you back up your photo library, duplicate photos take up extra space in the backup, which may increase the time and space required to perform the backup, forcing you to have to purchase a better iCloud subscription when you really wouldn't need it if you had everything in order.
Risk of losing the original photo
If you delete one of the duplicate copies of a photo, you risk accidentally delete the original version of the photo, which can be problematic if you want to maintain the best quality or metadata associated with the original image.
How can we avoid having duplicate photos on the iPhone?
To avoid duplicate photos, we believe that the most important thing would be to pay attention to how we synchronize or download photos on our iPhone, since by eliminating human error the chances of having duplicate photos on the iPhone are significantly reduced. Other tips that you can keep in mind to avoid duplicate photos are the following:
Use a single sync source
If you use cloud services such as iCloud Photo Library, make sure it's your main sync source to avoid problems and duplication.
It also doesn't hurt that turn off automatic sync on other platforms like iTunes to avoid conflicts, and check for duplicate photos during import.
Opt for reliable photo management apps
By using third-party apps to edit or manage your photos, choose those with a solid reputation and good reviews in image library management, such as lso we have advised you on this website on other occasions.
Keep your photo library organized
Spend time regularly organize and review your photos using the native Photos app on iOS. Deleting duplicate photos that you find from time to time will help keep your collection organized and free of redundancies.
Make regular backups
Schedule frequent backups from your photo library to prevent data loss, to avoid having to import photos again and generate duplicates of them.
Keep your software up to date
Be sure to keep your iPhone and all related photo management apps up to date, as software updates can fix bugs and improve the stability of the Photos app, thereby reducing the likelihood of photo duplication issues.
How to delete duplicate photos on iPhone
There are several ways to delete duplicate photos on iPhone:
• Use the native iOS Photos app: You can do this manually by selecting the duplicate photos in the “All Photos” album and deleting them. You can also use the existing Merge option in the iOS gallery itself.
• Use third-party apps: You can download applications like «Duplicate Photos Fixer» from the App Store to scan and remove duplicate photos automatically or manually, which will make your life easier.
• Synchronization with your PC or Mac: You can also access your iPhone photo library from iTunes or Finder on Mac to manually delete duplicate photos, the same way you do from the phone itself.
Although removing duplicate photos can be a tedious process, we trust that thanks to this post you can keep your photo library organized and free of unnecessary duplicates. Do you know another method to delete duplicate photos on iPhone? If so, don't hesitate to share it in comments!