{"id":5464,"date":"2024-05-13T01:41:27","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T01:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/?p=5464"},"modified":"2025-02-27T14:28:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:28:20","slug":"find-similar-photos-on-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Similar (But Not Duplicate) Photos on iPhone"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#duplicate_vs_similar_images\" title=\"Duplicate vs. Similar Images\">Duplicate vs. Similar Images<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#3_ways_to_find_similar_photos_on_iphone\" title=\"3 Ways to Find Similar Photos on iPhone\">3 Ways to Find Similar Photos on iPhone<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#method_1_use_third-party_app\" title=\"Method 1 Use Third-Party App\">Method 1 Use Third-Party App<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#method_2_use_built-in_photos_app_features\" title=\"Method 2 Use Built-in Photos App Features\">Method 2 Use Built-in Photos App Features<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#method_3_create_smart_albums_on_a_mac\" title=\"Method 3 Create Smart Albums on a Mac\">Method 3 Create Smart Albums on a Mac<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#final_words\" title=\"Final Words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#faq\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#how_do_i_find_similar_photos_on_my_iphone\" title=\"How do I find similar photos on my iPhone?\">How do I find similar photos on my iPhone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#are_there_ways_to_automate_finding_similar_photos_on_my_iphone\" title=\"Are there ways to automate finding similar photos on my iPhone?\">Are there ways to automate finding similar photos on my iPhone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#can_i_use_my_mac_to_help_organize_similar_photos_from_my_iphone\" title=\"Can I use my Mac to help organize similar photos from my iPhone?\">Can I use my Mac to help organize similar photos from my iPhone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/#are_third-party_apps_safe_to_use_for_photo_management\" title=\"Are third-party apps safe to use for photo management?\">Are third-party apps safe to use for photo management?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Need to find near-duplicates in your library? Many people know how to find exact duplicates on their phones, but what about those dozens of super similar-looking photos from the same event? Or portraits taken from different angles? That\u2019s a completely different story, and today we will show you several solutions, from an automatic way to find similar photos on an iPhone to a more old-school approach to photo management.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"duplicate_vs_similar_images\"><\/span>Duplicate vs. Similar Images<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many people assume duplicates and similar images are the same, but they are not. Since iOS 16, Apple\u2019s Photos app can detect duplicates based on identical file characteristics, like metadata, and pixel structure. Similar images, on the other hand, may look almost identical to the human eye but differ in data, which makes them undetectable by Apple&#8217;s duplicate detection tool.<\/p>\n<p><b>What <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/duplicate-photos-on-iphone\/\">makes a duplicate<\/a>? Apple classifies a photo as a duplicate if it matches another file based on specific criteria:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Exact pixel data<\/b> \u2013 The image must be a bit-for-bit match. Even slight edits, such as cropping or adjusting brightness, create a new unique file.<\/li>\n<li><b>Identical metadata<\/b> \u2013 The file must have the same timestamp, resolution, format, and camera settings. Any difference in these values, even a small shift in exposure, results in a unique image.<\/li>\n<li><b>Matching<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/codesigningstore.com\/what-is-a-file-hash-definition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>file hash<\/b><\/a> \u2013 Apple\u2019s Photos app likely uses cryptographic hash functions (such as SHA-256) to compare files. If the hash values are identical, the system considers the images duplicates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If two photos look almost the same but have small differences\u2014such as a slightly shifted angle, different lighting, or motion variations\u2014they will not register as duplicates. However, there are still some features and tricks that can help with similar images.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_ways_to_find_similar_photos_on_iphone\"><\/span>3 Ways to Find Similar Photos on iPhone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>OK, let\u2019s see how to deal with similar photos that Apple\u2019s built-in duplicate detection ignores. To not waste your time, we will start with the easiest way to find similar photos and quickly get rid of the ones you definitely don\u2019t need. Then, we\u2019ll cover some more old-school alternatives for those who prefer a hands-on approach.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_1_use_third-party_app\"><\/span>Method 1: Use Third-Party App<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The first and definitely best option is third-party duplicate finder apps. Unlike the <em>Duplicates<\/em> album in Apple\u2019s Photos app, these apps can spot visually similar images\u2014even if they are not exact copies. We have tested dozens of these tools, and you can read about them in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/apps-to-delete-duplicate-photos-iphone\"><b>rating of the best apps to remove duplicate photos on iPhone<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To demonstrate, we will use the #1 from that list\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/clever-cleaner-ai-cleanup-app\/id1666645584\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Clever Cleaner: AI Cleaner app<\/b><\/a>. This app is completely free, with no hidden payments, so you can try it with no strings attached. Also, despite being 100% free, it has surprisingly powerful AI that can compete with bigger names on the market, which usually are quite pricey. <b>Clever Cleaner is quite straightforward, but here\u2019s a quick guide:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You can either type <b>\u201cClever Cleaner\u201d<\/b> into the search bar in the App Store or download it using <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/id1666645584\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this link<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Open the app and go to the <b>Similars<\/b> tab.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-10012\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/clever-cleaner-similars-howto-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"Tap the Similars in Clever Cleaner\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>At the bottom, tap <em>Smart Cleanup<\/em>. The app will scan your library in seconds and suggest images for deletion.<\/li>\n<li>If you don\u2019t want to remove a specific photo, tap <em>Restore<\/em> to keep it.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-9585\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/clever-cleaner-similars-howto-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"Slide to Delete in Clever Cleaner\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Scroll through the list and review the choices. If you approve, <b>Slide to delete<\/b>, confirm the deletion once more and the app will take care of the rest.<\/li>\n<li>Alternatively, if you want to go through each group for a more hands-on cleanup, tap on a group and make decisions on your own.<img class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-10061\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/clever-cleaner-i-similars-1.jpg\" alt=\"Best Shot\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>The app\u2019s AI automatically preselects the <b>Best Shot<\/b> to keep. It is quite good at this, but if you disagree, you can choose a different shot.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-10062\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/clever-cleaner-i-similars-2.jpg\" alt=\"Move to Tras in Clever Cleaner\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>When you made your decision tap <em>Move to Trash<\/em> to delete the marked photos or <em>Skip All<\/em> to skip this group and move to the next one. This process is fast and definitely easier than manually sorting in the Photos app.<\/li>\n<li>When finished, tap <em>Empty Trash<\/em> at the bottom. The app will ask for confirmation before deletion.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-10063\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/clever-cleaner-i-similars-3.jpg\" alt=\"Confirmation in Clever Cleaner\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. Clever Cleaner reminds you that all deleted similar photos will remain in the <em>Recently Deleted<\/em> folder in the Photos app for <b>30 days<\/b>, as is standard for Apple devices. If you don\u2019t want to wait for automatic removal, you can clear them manually, so the deleted photos no longer take up space on your iPhone.<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9 m-b-25\">\r\n<iframe width=\"1519\" height=\"586\" class=\"embed-responsive-item\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PJZfJnOUmRE?si=o_sICU0u3cfp_aS-\" sandbox=\"allow-popups allow-forms allow-scripts allow-pointer-lock allow-same-origin allow-top-navigation allow-presentation\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>If your goal was to find similar photos to free up space, you can use three other tools in Clever Cleaner to clear even more storage. Like Similars, all of these are free and unlimited as well, and as we read on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cleverfiles.com\/clever-cleaner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official Clever Cleaner cleanup app\u2019s page<\/a>, they <b>should remain free<\/b> for all early users. <b>Here\u2019s what they are<\/b>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Screenshots<\/b> \u2013 The app identifies all screenshots you have taken and allows you to delete them all in one go.<\/li>\n<li><b>Lives<\/b> \u2013 This feature <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/convert-live-photos-to-still\/\">converts Live Photos into still images<\/a>, which reduces storage space without losing the core of the shot.<\/li>\n<li><b>Heavies<\/b> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-large-videos-on-iphone\/\">Sorts your videos by size<\/a> from big to small for quick removal\u2014something the Photos app can\u2019t do natively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_2_use_built-in_photos_app_features\"><\/span>Method 2: Use Built-in Photos App Features<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s get back to what you have available without third-party solutions. As we said at the beginning, the Photos app has no problem finding duplicates, but when it comes to similar images, it\u2019s a whole other story. Apple doesn\u2019t offer any targeted tools for similar images, but there are a couple of features that can help. Maybe not as useful as the previous method, but better than nothing.<\/p>\n<p><b>Here&#8217;s how to use the &#8216;Albums&#8217; and &#8216;Search&#8217; functionalities:<\/b><\/p>\n<h4>Use Albums to Group Similar Images<\/h4>\n<p>Automatically generated albums are a handy feature in the Photos app. These albums are based on certain criteria like location, date, and picture type (e.g., Live Photos, Portraits, Panoramas).<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <b>Photos<\/b> app and tap on the &#8216;<b>Albums<\/b>&#8216; tab at the bottom.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5047\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/go-to-albums.jpg\" alt=\"go to albums\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Scroll to find albums automatically created by your iPhone, such as &#8216;<b>Selfies<\/b>&#8216; or &#8216;<b>Landscapes<\/b>.&#8217;<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5471\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/automatic-album.jpg\" alt=\"albums automatically created by your iPhone\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Review these albums to discover groupings of similar images based on the context of the photos or the camera settings used.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5470\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pets-album.jpg\" alt=\"Review albums to find similar images\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Note<\/b>. If Apple misses some photos in the People &amp; Pets album, you can add them manually. Open a photo, tap the <b>Info (i)<\/b> button, and Tap the person or pet with a question mark next to their picture, then tap Name This Person or Name This Pet. This helps refine Apple\u2019s recognition over time.<\/div>\n<h4>Use Search to Find Images by Content<\/h4>\n<p>The search functionality in the Photos app uses image recognition technology to categorize photos by recognizable scenes. The Photos app can recognize thousands of objects and scenes, including beaches, mountains, pets, food, and more. If you remember taking multiple shots of the same subject, this feature can help find similar images by keywords.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--success\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>Few tips:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You can combine search terms to narrow down results. For example, searching \u201c<b>dog New York<\/b>\u201d will show only photos of dogs taken in New York.<\/li>\n<li>If you don\u2019t find what you\u2019re looking for, try a broader keyword. Searching \u201c<b>car<\/b>\u201d might return more results than \u201c<b>red Ferrari<\/b>\u201d since Apple\u2019s algorithms may not recognize specific details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li>Tap on the &#8216;<b>Search<\/b>&#8216; icon in the <b>Photos<\/b> app.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5472\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/use-photo-search.jpg\" alt=\"Tap on the 'Search' icon\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Enter a keyword like &#8216;<b>beach<\/b>,&#8217; &#8216;<b>dog<\/b>,&#8217; or &#8216;<b>sunset<\/b>.&#8217; The app will display photos that match the descriptor, often pulling up similar images related by content.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5473\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/search-similar-pictures.jpg\" alt=\"search similar images on iphone\" width=\"277\" height=\"600\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Browse through the results to find and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/organize-iphone-photos\/\">organize images<\/a> that are visually or contextually similar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>While albums and search help sort photos, they <b>lack automation<\/b>. If you manage your iPhone photos on a Mac, there\u2019s another way to organize similar images faster: Smart Albums. The next section explains how to use them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--primary\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\">Did you Know?<\/div> The technology behind the search functionality in the Photos app is <a href=\"https:\/\/cyme.io\/photographers-tips\/photo-editing-software\/mac-apple-photos\/apple-photos-evolution\/\">continually evolving<\/a>. It began by recognizing simple objects and scenes, but now it can identify a wide array of subjects and even suggest memories related to specific people, places, or events. And as of the latest iOS 18 update, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/apple-intelligence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Intelligence<\/a> takes this even further, using AI to enhance search accuracy, recognize more complex subjects, and generate better suggestions.<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"method_3_create_smart_albums_on_a_mac\"><\/span>Method 3: Create Smart Albums on a Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For those who prefer the larger display of a Mac, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/organize-photos-on-mac\/\">macOS offers powerful tools to organize photos<\/a> automatically. Smart Albums in the Photos app can help sort your photos based on specific criteria you set, which is excellent for dealing with large collections of photos.<\/p>\n<div class=\"frame_bg frame_bg--default\"><div class=\"frame_bg--title\"><\/div><b>How this method differs from the Photos app on iPhone?<\/b> Smart Albums on Mac automate grouping, while the iPhone Photos app requires manual sorting. On a Mac, you can filter by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/whatis\/definition\/metadata\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">metadata<\/a> like date, file size, and photo type, something the iPhone app doesn\u2019t allow. Bulk deletion is also much faster, whereas iPhone forces you to tap each photo manually.<\/div>\n<p><b>Here&#8217;s a simple guide on how to use this feature:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Connect your iPhone to your Mac and sync your photos. This can be done using <b>Finder<\/b> on macOS Catalina and later, or <b>iTunes<\/b> on earlier versions. (You can also use <b>iCloud Photos<\/b> to sync albums on both of your devices.)<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5091 size-full\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/open-photos-finder.jpg\" alt=\"Sync photos through Finder\" width=\"920\" height=\"452\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Open the <b>Photos<\/b> app on your Mac, go to &#8216;<b>File<\/b>&#8216; &gt; &#8216;<b>New Smart Album<\/b>&#8216;. Set criteria like date, camera type, or keywords such as &#8220;holiday&#8221; or &#8220;family&#8221;.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-5469 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/create-new-smart-album.jpg\" alt=\"New Smart Album\" width=\"274\" height=\"340\" \/><\/li>\n<li><b>Smart Albums<\/b> automatically update when new photos that meet the criteria are added. This keeps your photos organized without ongoing effort.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"border-gray border-radius-10 aligncenter wp-image-4818\" src=\"\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/created-smart-album.jpg\" alt=\"Smart Album\" width=\"920\" height=\"552\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Smart Albums on Mac won\u2019t analyze images like third-party apps, but they offer a faster and more organized way to sort and delete similar photos compared to iPhone\u2019s Photos app. If your photos are synced with iCloud, this method saves a lot of time with bulk deletion. For those who prefer a manual but structured approach, Smart Albums are a solid option. But if you want true automation, a third-party app is still the best choice.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_words\"><\/span>Final Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>With the development of AI, it has become <b>easier than ever<\/b> to find and remove similar photos on an iPhone. Third-party tools like the one we covered (Clever Cleaner) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/best-ai-cleaners-for-iphone\/\">use AI to automatically group images<\/a> and even suggest the best photo to keep in each set. What once required hours of manual sorting and organizing can now be done in minutes with the right app\u2014and if you choose to trust its automatic cleanup, it usually takes just seconds.<\/p>\n<p>If for some reason you can\u2019t or won\u2019t use a third-party app, there are still some built-in options in the iPhone\u2019s native Photos app. They\u2019re pretty basic, but Apple keeps improving them with each update. As of <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-gb\/guide\/iphone\/iphfed2c4091\/ios\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iOS 18<\/a>, Photos can organize images by topics such as <em>Recent Days, Trips, and People &amp; Pets<\/em>. It\u2019s not much compared to dedicated tools, but it\u2019s still a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n<p>And if you\u2019re a Mac person, the Photos app on macOS offers some additional possibilities that aren\u2019t available on the iPhone. Smart Albums let you automatically group photos based on metadata like date, file size, or keywords and tags to organize and delete similar images in bulk. Plus, managing a photo library on a larger screen gives you a better overview, especially when sorting through hundreds of photos.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you prefer AI-powered automation, built-in Apple tools, or a Mac-based approach, there\u2019s a method for everyone.<\/p>\n<section itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><div class=\"panel-group sc_accordion_faq\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\" aria-multiselectable=\"true\"><h2 class=\"sc_accordion_faq--title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faq\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq1\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_do_i_find_similar_photos_on_my_iphone\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq1\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq1\">\r\n                How do I find similar photos on my iPhone?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq1\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                You can find similar photos on your iPhone in a few ways. The fastest option is using a third-party app like Clever Cleaner, which scans your library with AI, groups similar images, and suggests which to keep or delete. It can do all this automatically.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq2\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"are_there_ways_to_automate_finding_similar_photos_on_my_iphone\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq2\">\r\n                Are there ways to automate finding similar photos on my iPhone?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq2\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                While the iPhone doesn\u2019t automatically group similar photos, third-party apps like Clever Cleaner or CleanMy\u00aePhone\u00a0can automate this process by using advanced algorithms to detect and group similar images.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq3\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"can_i_use_my_mac_to_help_organize_similar_photos_from_my_iphone\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq3\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq3\">\r\n                Can I use my Mac to help organize similar photos from my iPhone?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq3\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq3\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                Yes, you can sync your iPhone with your Mac and use features like Smart Albums in the macOS Photos app. You can create albums based on specific criteria like date, location, or even camera settings to help group similar images.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"panel panel-default\" itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\r\n    <div class=\"panel-heading\" role=\"tab\" id=\"headingfaq4\" aria-selected=\"true\">\r\n        <h3 class=\"panel-title\" itemprop=\"name\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"are_third-party_apps_safe_to_use_for_photo_management\"><\/span>\r\n            <a role=\"button\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapsefaq4\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-controls=\"collapsefaq4\">\r\n                Are third-party apps safe to use for photo management?\r\n                <i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i>\r\n            <\/a>\r\n        <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div id=\"collapsefaq4\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"headingfaq4\">\r\n        <div class=\"panel-body\" itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemscope=\"\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\r\n            <div itemprop=\"text\">\r\n                Third-party apps you can find in the App Store are usually safe, as Apple reviews them before approval. However, not all apps handle privacy the same way. Some upload photos to the cloud for processing, which can be a security risk. If privacy matters, choose an app that processes everything locally on your device, like the one we covered in this article\u2014Clever Cleaner, which does not send any data outside your iPhone. Always check permissions, reviews, and developer policies before granting access to your photo library.\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need to find near-duplicates in your library? Many people know how to find exact duplicates on their phones, but what about those dozens of super similar-looking photos from the same event? Or portraits taken from different angles? That\u2019s a completely different story, and today we will show you several solutions, from an automatic way to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"slider-tags":[],"class_list":["post-5464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Find Similar Photos on iPhone (But Not Duplicates)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how to find similar photos on iPhone using built-in tools, third-party apps, and Smart Albums on your Mac to simplify your photo management.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Find Similar Photos on iPhone (But Not Duplicates)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Discover how to find similar photos on iPhone using built-in tools, third-party apps, and Smart Albums on your Mac to simplify your photo management.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.insanelymac.com\/blog\/find-similar-photos-on-iphone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsanelyMac Blog - 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