Is your iPhone running out of space? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some little-known tricks to free up storage and keep your device running smoothly.
Credit: Apple
The secret folder eating your storage
Ready to reclaim valuable space? Starting with iOS 16, the Photos app on your iPhone automatically detects duplicate photos and videos, organizing them into a ‘Duplicates’ album located in the ‘Utilities’ section.
First, check your iPhone’s compatibility
- Be sure to update your iPhone.
- Remember you need to have at least iOS 16 running on your iPhone.
- All iPhones including iPhone 8 and later, can update to iOS 16. This includes:
- iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later
If you have an older phone, consider upgrading.
🚨 Important: If you’re running iOS 16 or later and don’t have any duplicates, the “Duplicates” folder will not appear in the Utilities section of the Photos app.
Now, follow these simple steps to clear out duplicate photos and videos that are hogging your iPhone’s storage.
- Open your Photos app
- Scroll down to the Utilities section and there, you’ll find a tab called Duplicates, go ahead and tap on it.
This folder is where Apple keeps track of all your duplicate photos and videos. Many users are shocked to discover how many duplicates they have. For instance, you might have received the same image in multiple chats. Clearing out these duplicates can instantly free up gigabytes of storage.
SPACE RUNNING LOW? SECURELY STORE YOUR HEAVY FILES WITH THESE FREE CLOUD STORAGE SOLUTIONS
How to clear duplicates
- Open your Photos app
- Scroll down and find the Duplicates folder in the Utilities section.
- You’ll see duplicate files listed with a Merge button next to or above each.
- Tap Merge to remove duplicates and keep the original file.
- Confirm your decision by clicking the pop up window at the bottom of the screen that will say, “Merge # Exact Copies”. The number will change depending on how many files you are merging.
-
- For faster cleanup, tap Select in the top-right corner.
- Choose multiple duplicates or click Select All to merge everything at once.
- You’ll see check marks in the blue circle for each pair you wish to merge.
- Then tap “Merge” at the bottom of the screen.
- Then click the pop up with “Merge (number) Exact Copies Only” or “Merge (number) Items” and wait for the process to finish.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PHONE STORAGE IS FULL
What if you get a message that says your phone can’t merge photos at this time?
Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:
- Restart Your iPhone: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve software glitches. Press and hold the power button, then slide to power off. Turn your iPhone back on after a few seconds.
- Update iOS: Ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
- Check Storage Space: Make sure you have enough storage space on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check your available space. If your storage is nearly full, try freeing up some space by deleting unnecessary files or apps.
- Try Merging Fewer Photos: If you’re trying to merge a large number of duplicates at once, try merging them in smaller batches. This can sometimes help the process complete successfully.
- Use Wi-Fi: Ensure you’re connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. Sometimes, a poor internet connection can cause issues with merging duplicates.
More space-saving tricks
If you need even more space, try these additional tips:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Click iPhone Storage.
- Review the storage breakdown and app usage.
- Check Apple’s recommendations at the top of the page.
Some effective options include:
- Review large attachments: A quick way to reclaim storage by deleting unnecessary videos and documents from your messages.
- Auto delete old conversations: By enabling it automatically removes all your messages and. attachments that were sent or received 1 year ago.
- Remove Older Downloads: Keeps only the latest five automatically downloaded episodes per show.
- Review Downloaded Media: Manually check and remove unnecessary downloads.
BEST WAYS TO DELETE UNNECESSARY FILES FROM YOUR ICLOUD TO FREE UP STORAGE
Kurt’s key takeaways
These simple tricks can help you reclaim significant storage space on your iPhone. Regularly checking your Duplicates folder and following Apple’s storage recommendations can keep your device running smoothly without the need for costly upgrades. Remember to review your storage periodically to maintain optimal performance.
Do you think clearing duplicate photos will change how you take or manage photos going forward, and if so, how? Let us know in the comments below.
FOR MORE OF MY SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE