You may not notice it at first, but duplicate images can slowly take over your Google Photos storage and clutter your albums. If you're searching for how to delete duplicate photos on Google Photos, this guide will walk you through every effective method. Since Google Photos doesn’t include a built-in duplicate detection feature, we’ll cover both manual techniques and trusted third-party tools to help you clean up your library and save valuable space.
Many users find their Google Photos cluttered with multiple copies of the same image, which can be frustrating and waste valuable storage space. This issue often happens without users realizing why duplicates accumulate. Understanding the common causes can help you manage and prevent them effectively.
Here are the main reasons why duplicate photos appear in Google Photos:
| 🔎 Reason | 💭 Explanation |
| Multiple Device Backups | The same photos uploaded from different devices |
| Manual Re-uploads | The user uploads the same image more than once |
| Shared Albums or Downloads | Saving shared or messaged photos creates copies |
| Backup Errors | Interrupted or failed backups cause duplicates |
| File Variations | Edits, resolution changes, or format differences appear duplicated |
No, Google Photos cannot automatically find and remove duplicates. While it may block exact duplicates during upload, it does not detect or delete duplicates already in your library. It also cannot identify near-identical images. Here’s a simple list of pictures that Google Photos cannot automatically detect as duplicates:
Since duplicates and similar photos often build up in Google Photos, you’ll want to learn how to find and delete them. The next sections will guide you through effective methods for cleaning your photo library.
Ready to clean up your photo library? Here’s how to delete duplicate photos in Google Photos efficiently and keep your storage clutter-free.
Google Photos helps you identify duplicate photos during the upload by detecting exact copies. When you upload a photo that already exists in your library, Google Photos alerts you and prevents the duplicate from saving. This built-in feature works well for files that are exactly the same in size and format.
However, Google Photos does not scan your entire collection for existing duplicates. To delete duplicate photos from Google Photos already stored, you must manually review your library and remove repeated images. This method suits users with a small number of exact duplicates and requires no additional tools. For near-duplicates or edited photos, consider other solutions to keep your photo library organized and storage-efficient.
📝 Here’s a tutorial that shows you how to delete duplicate Google Photos using this built-in feature:
Step 1. Open Google Photos (app or photos.google.com) and sign in.
Step 2. Upload new photos by clicking the Upload button or using the app’s backup feature. If an identical photo already exists, Google Photos will skip uploading it and notify you with a message like “Photo already backed up.”
Step 3. To find duplicates already in your library, go to the Photos tab and use the grid view for easier visual comparison.
Step 4. Manually select the duplicate photos by clicking the checkmark (desktop) or tapping and holding (mobile).
Step 5. Click the Trash bin icon to delete selected duplicates. Remember to empty the Trash to permanently free up space.
Using third-party duplicate image remover tools can help you quickly get rid of duplicates in Google Photos, especially when your photo library is large. These tools scan your entire collection and compare images based on content, not just file names or sizes. This allows them to find exact duplicates and similar photos, even if they have different formats or edits.
Apps like Duplicate Photos Fixer and Remo Duplicate Photos Remover connect through Google Drive or export files to identify repeated pictures efficiently. While using these tools saves time and effort compared to manual deletion, always check their privacy policies and grant access only to trusted apps. This method offers a fast and reliable way to clean up your Google Photos storage and keep your library organized.
📝 Follow these steps to use the free third-party tool to remove duplicate photos in Google Photos:
Step 1. Download and install Duplicate Photos Fixer from its official website or your device’s app store (available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS).
Step 2. Launch the app, then choose Add Folder or Add Location, and select your Google Drive folder where your Google Photos are stored. (You need to export photos from Google Photos first and import them into Google Drive.)
Step 3. Click the Scan for Duplicates button to begin analyzing the selected folder. The app will compare images based on content, not just file names.
Step 4. Once the scan is completed, review the grouped duplicate photos presented by the app. You can manually select which copies to delete or use the auto-mark feature to keep one copy per group.
Step 5. After selecting duplicates, tap or click Delete Marked. Confirm the deletion when prompted to permanently remove the duplicates and free up storage space in your Google Photos library.
To remove duplicate photos from Google Photos effectively, use Google Takeout to export your entire photo library to your computer. This approach gives you full control over your files and allows you to use powerful desktop tools to find duplicates. After downloading your photos via Google Takeout, run a trusted duplicate photo finder like Duplicate Cleaner or Cisdem Duplicate Finder.
These tools compare images based on content, not just file names, helping you spot exact and similar duplicates. Carefully review the results and delete unwanted copies on your computer. Finally, re-upload the cleaned photo collection to Google Photos. This method ensures the safe and thorough removal of duplicate photos while protecting your original files and saving storage space.
📝 Try using Google Takeout and a Google Photos duplicate finder on your desktop to thoroughly clean your photo library:
Step 1. Visit Google Takeout and sign in with your Google account.
Step 2. Deselect all services except Google Photos, then click Next step.
Step 3. Choose your preferred export settings (ZIP format and archive size), then click Create Export. Wait for the export link via email—it may take some time depending on your library size.
Step 4. Download and unzip the archive to a folder on your computer containing your photos.
Step 5. Download and install the free tool VisiPics. Open VisiPics, click Browse and select the folder with your extracted photos. Click Start to scan. After the scan, review the detected duplicates, select the ones you want to delete, and click Delete Selected.
As mentioned above, since Google Photos doesn’t automatically detect similar photos, cleaning them can be challenging. However, some of its built-in features can help you spot and manage these similar images manually. In the next section, we’ll explore how to find similar photos in Google Photos and remove them effectively.
If you want to find similar photos in Google Photos, the Map View can help. When your photos have location info turned on, Google Photos groups pictures taken in the same spot together on a map. This makes it easier to spot similar shots from trips or events without scrolling endlessly. It’s a simple way to clean up similar photos, especially if you take a lot of pictures when you travel or hang out with friends.
📝 Here’s how to use it to find and remove duplicates in Google Photos:
Step 1. Open the Google Photos app or visit photos.google.com and sign in.
Step 2. Tap or click the Search tab at the bottom (app) or top (web).
Step 3. Scroll down and select Places to open the Map View showing photo clusters by location.
Step 4. Explore the clusters by tapping locations with many photos to find similar images.
Step 5. Select the duplicate or unwanted photos, tap the trash icon, and confirm to delete them.
Google Photos offers a powerful Search function that helps you find similar photos by using keywords, dates, locations, or recognized objects. Its AI technology groups images with related content, such as sunsets, pets, or birthdays, allowing you to spot repeated shots easily.
To use this feature, open Google Photos and tap the Search tab. Enter keywords like “beach,” “wedding,” or “dog” to display collections of related photos. Review these photos carefully to identify duplicates or similar images. Select the unwanted photos and delete them.
📝 Follow this guide to use the Search function in Google Photos to find and delete duplicates:
Step 1. Open the Google Photos app or visit photos.google.com and sign in to your account.
Step 2. Tap or click the Search tab at the bottom (app) or top (web).
Step 3. Enter relevant keywords related to the photos you want to find, such as “beach,” “birthday,” or “dog.”
Step 4. Browse through the grouped photos that match your keywords and identify duplicates or similar images.
Step 5. Select the photos you want to delete by tapping or clicking the checkmark, then hit the trash bin icon to remove them.
The Stacks feature in Google Photos automatically groups photos that appear visually similar, such as burst shots or images taken seconds apart. This smart organization helps users spot repeated or near-identical photos without scanning the entire library. By reviewing stacked images, users can decide which versions to keep and which to remove. This method works well for users who often take multiple shots to capture the best moment.
📝 Follow the steps below to use Stacks in Google Photos and manage similar photos more effectively:
Step 1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone or go to photos.google.com on your computer and sign in with your Google account.
Step 2. Scroll through your Photos tab. Look for photo thumbnails that show a small number (like "2" or "3") in the top-right corner—this indicates that the photos are stacked.
Step 3. Tap (on mobile) or click (on desktop) the stacked thumbnail to expand the group and view all similar images included in the stack.
Step 4. Tap and hold (on mobile) or hover and click the checkmark (on desktop) to select the photos in the stack that you no longer need.
Step 5. Tap the trash bin icon at the top right to delete the selected photos. To free up storage permanently, go to the Trash folder in the side menu and click Empty Trash.
Duplicate photos can waste storage, clutter your library, and make photo management frustrating. Although Google Photos blocks exact duplicates during upload, it doesn’t catch everything, especially when photos are edited, renamed, or uploaded from multiple sources. To keep your library organized and prevent unnecessary uploads, follow these tips:
1. Turn on Backup & Sync
Use Google Photos’ Backup & Sync feature to upload new photos automatically. This helps avoid uploading the same images manually from different devices.
2. Avoid uploading from multiple apps
Stick to Google Photos for photo uploads. Third-party galleries or cloud apps may re-upload the same photos, creating duplicates.
3. Check your library before importing
Before uploading photos from USB drives or external devices, scan your library to make sure those files aren't already there.
4. Avoid repeated exports
If you use Google Takeout or another export method, avoid uploading exported photos back to Google Photos unless necessary—they often include duplicates.
5. Keep your photo folders organized
By keeping folders sorted by date or event on your devices, you can better track what you’ve uploaded and what’s new.
Although deleting duplicate photos can help clean up space in Google Photos, this only solves part of the problem. As your photo library continues to grow, storage limits become harder to manage. The most efficient way to increase cloud storage is by using a cloud management tool like CBackup.
CBackup lets you combine multiple free cloud drives (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.) into one large backup space—ideal for storing high-resolution photos. You can also automatically back up your Google Photos to another cloud to protect them and reduce the pressure on your main Google account.
CBackup supports scheduled backups, file filtering, and version history, helping you manage photo backups smartly and avoid uploading duplicates again. If you're running out of space but want to keep all your photos safe and accessible, CBackup provides a flexible and secure solution, without forcing you to pay for extra storage from Google.
📝 Here are the steps to use this tool:
Step 1. Go to CBackup’s website and create a free account.
Step 2. Log in to the CBackup web app, click “Storage”, and connect your cloud accounts (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox).
Step 3. After adding accounts, click “+ Add Combined Cloud”, choose the connected drives, and click Next to merge them.
Step 4. Name your combined cloud, arrange the order of clouds if needed, and click Combine.
Step 5. Go to the Backup tab, click “Backup” > “Backup to Combined Cloud”, select your photo folder, and choose the combined cloud as the destination. Click Start Backup to begin.
In this post, we explored effective ways on how to remove duplicates in Google Photos, from using built-in features like Identical Duplicate Detection, Map View, and Search, to leveraging third-party tools and Google Takeout with desktop scanners. Each method offers different advantages depending on your needs, whether you prefer manual control or automated cleanup.
Additionally, we shared tips to avoid duplicates in the future and a bonus tip on expanding your cloud storage with CBackup. By applying these strategies, you can keep your Google Photos organized, save storage space, and enjoy a clutter-free photo library.
Here are answers to some of the most common questions about deleting duplicate photos in Google Photos. These FAQs cover key concerns and provide helpful tips to make managing your photo library easier.
Google Photos cannot remove duplicates automatically. While it prevents exact duplicate photos from uploading during backup, it does not scan your existing library to find and delete duplicates. Users need to manually review and delete repeated images or use third-party tools and methods to clean up duplicate photos effectively.
When using Google Photos on iPhone, duplicate photos can take up valuable space and clutter your library. Since Google Photos doesn’t automatically delete duplicates, you need to find and remove them manually. To help with this, you can use the app’s features to Google Photos find duplicates, and delete them step-by-step.
Here’s how to delete duplicates from Google Photos on iPhone:
The best tool for Google Photos duplicate detection depends on your needs. For built-in options, Google Photos offers basic duplicate prevention during upload but doesn’t find all duplicates inside your library. For more thorough detection, third-party tools like VisiPics, a free desktop app, or Duplicate Cleaner provide powerful scanning when combined with Google Takeout exports. These tools analyze photo content to spot exact and similar duplicates.
If you prefer an all-in-one cloud solution, tools like CBackup help manage and back up photos across multiple clouds but focus less on duplicates. Always review duplicates carefully before deleting, whichever tool you choose.