iOS 18 Photo Cleanup: A Comprehensive Guide

Automatic and Manual Cleanup

iOS 18 introduces powerful photo management features designed to make cleaning up your photo library a breeze. The new "Clean Up" tool leverages AI to automatically identify and remove duplicates, screenshots, and low-quality images. It also provides detailed settings for manual cleanup, allowing you to refine your selection and decide how to handle the detected items.

Smart Cleanup Options

The Clean Up tool includes several customizable options to cater to your specific needs:

Duplicates: Easily identify and remove duplicate photos from multiple sources, such as iCloud and downloaded images.

Screenshots: Automatically detect and remove unnecessary screenshots taken for quick references or temporary purposes.

Low-Quality Photos: Eliminate blurry or visually distracting images that may clutter your gallery.

Duplicate Detection and Removal

iOS 18's duplicate detection algorithm is highly accurate and can identify duplicates even if they differ slightly in size or orientation. It categorizes duplicates into groups, making it easy to review and decide which version to keep. You can also choose to merge similar photos if you want to preserve the best aspects of each image.

Smart Suggestion

The Clean Up tool provides intelligent suggestions to help you make informed decisions. It identifies photos that may be unnecessary or duplicate, even if they haven't been automatically detected. These suggestions are based on various factors, including metadata, composition, and file size.

Manual Refinement

For more precise cleanup, iOS 18 offers extensive manual options. You can preview photos, tag them for deletion, and use the selection tool to fine-tune your cleanup process. Additionally, you can exclude certain albums or images from the cleanup to ensure important memories are preserved.

Cleanup Workflow

The Photo Clean Up feature streamlines the cleanup process with an intuitive workflow:

Scan: The tool scans your photo library to identify duplicates, screenshots, and low-quality images.

Review: A summary of detected items is presented for your review and confirmation.

Cleanup: Once you confirm the cleanup, the tool automatically removes the selected items or prompts you to decide on the ones you want to keep.

Conclusion

iOS 18 Photo Clean Up empowers you to maintain a well-organized and visually appealing photo library. Its automatic and manual cleanup options provide a comprehensive and flexible approach to removing clutter, duplicates, and unnecessary images. By leveraging this tool, you can unlock valuable storage space and rediscover the joy of browsing through your favorite photos.