Your iPhone has a hidden folder eating up storage space without you even knowing
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.
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.
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.
Read On The Fox News 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. Tap on it
STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT'S THE CYBERGUY REPORT NOW
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
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 Merge check marks in the blue circle for each pair you wish to merge
Then tap 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
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
What Is Artificial Intelligence (Ai)?
Some effective space-saving options include:
Review large attachments: A quick way to reclaim storage is by deleting unnecessary videos and documents from your messages
Auto-delete old conversations: By enabling it, it automatically removes all your messages and attachments that were sent or received one 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
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 by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:
What is the best way to protect your Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android devices from getting hacked?
What is the best way to stay private, secure and anonymous while browsing the web?
How can I get rid of robocalls with apps and data removal services?
How do I remove my private data from the internet?
New from Kurt:
Try CyberGuy's new games (crosswords, word searches, trivia and more!)
CyberGuy's Exclusive Coupons and Deals
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.Original article source: Your iPhone has a hidden folder eating up storage space without you even knowing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
41 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Nothing's first pair of real headphones are coming soon — here's what we know so far
Nothing is back at it with a new hardware reveal in the Nothing Headphone (1), slated for official debut alongside its Phone (3) on July 1. Nothing CEO Carl Pei voiced his optimism about the forthcoming set of gadgets, citing the launch at the tail end of his speech at SXSW London on Thursday. It's likely to be the brand's first set of over-ear headphones, which have so far designed some of the best wireless earbuds. There's very little we know about the new Nothing Headphone (1), though Pei did confirm the naming. It fits with alternative Nothing-branded devices, such as the Nothing Ear (3) and Nothing (open). One thing you can expect is a ChatGPT integration as seen across Nothing's audio and smartphone lineup. We tried ChatGPT with the Nothing Ear to solid results, and it's cropped up on almost every release so far, so it would only make sense for it to debut on the Nothing Headphone (1), as well. You can also expect a competitive price. Nothing might be known for premium products, but it usually stamps them with a significant value proposition. Most Headphone (1) pricing rumors suggest around $400, which undercuts the new Sony WH1000-XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones by about $50. Another particular highlight for Nothing's brand is its design ethos. It loves its transparent technology and LED glyph lighting, made popular on its Nothing Ear (1) and Nothing Phone (1). Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Mockups abound on what the Nothing Headphone (1) could inevitably look like. While mostly relegated to its smartphone side, it would be interesting to see Nothing's glyph design pop up on the Headphone (1), especially in reference to certain modes or features like ANC, incoming calls, or ChatGPT. The glyph integration could not only put Sony and Apple in their place, but mark it as one of the best headphones in terms of chic alone. Nothing recently announced an ongoing audio partnership with KEF, a high-end speaker and headphone maker, but reports suggest this most likely pertains to the Phone (3)'s internal speakers. We'll have to wait and see. More information about Nothing's first-ever pair of headphones is set to be unveiled on July 1 alongside the Phone (3) itself.
Engadget
41 minutes ago
- Engadget
The Sonos Era 300 is on sale for 20 percent off right now
Sonos is selling a bunch of its speakers at a discount on its own site and Amazon. This includes the well-regarded Era 300 smart speaker, which is down to just $359. That's 20 percent off and notable because this particular speaker rarely goes on sale. It's a Sonos miracle! The deal applies to both the black and white colorways. The Era 300 is a highly capable device that we praised in our official review, saying that it "sounds excellent." We went on to say that it offers a premium experience that far surpasses other products in the company's lineup, like the Era 100. This is also true when compared to rival speakers like Apple's HomePod. It's simple to set up and offers the company's proprietary Trueplay tuning system. This feature optimizes the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of a room by leveraging an internal microphone. It measures how sound reflects off surfaces and adjusts the EQ to match. It's pretty nifty. As for connectivity, it can pair with another Era 300 speaker for a true stereo experience. It also includes a Bluetooth receiver and line-in options. Of course, the speaker integrates with just about every streaming music service. The built-in mic also allows for voice assistant control, but only with Siri and Alexa. Google Assistant is left out of the party. This speaker goes all-in on spatial audio, and the results are mixed. Sometimes it's sublime and sometimes it's kind of eh. This is more of a dig on the technology itself. It has serious potential but is still experiencing growing pains. The only real downside of this speaker is the exorbitant asking price, which has been slightly alleviated by this sale. As previously mentioned, other Sonos products are available at a discount. This includes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, which is 26 percent off at $369. These deals are available via Sonos itself. There's also an ongoing sale on portable speakers that includes the Move 2 and the Roam 2. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice .
The Verge
2 hours ago
- The Verge
Posted Jun 5, 2025 at 10:57 AM EDT 0 Comments
Apple Arcade is adding Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD. The tower defense game is headed to Apple Arcade on July 3rd, along with the spinoff Angry Birds Bounce, which swaps the classic slingshot gameplay for arcade-style brick-breaking. As previously announced, What the Car? for the Apple Vision Pro and Uno: Arcade Edition are available starting today.
