A concealed directory is consuming your iPhone's storage capacity.

Is your iPhone storage running low? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with some simple tricks to free up space and keep your device running smoothly.

A Hidden Storage Hog

Did you know your iPhone has a hidden folder that quietly eats up storage space? It’s where Apple stores duplicate photos and videos, and many users are surprised to discover how much space these duplicates take up. For instance, you might have received the same image in multiple group chats. Clearing these duplicates can instantly free up gigabytes of storage.

How to Clean Up Duplicates

Open the Photos app.
Scroll down to the Utilities section and tap on the Duplicates card.
You’ll see a list of duplicate files with a Merge option next to each.
Tap Merge to remove duplicates and keep the original file.
Confirm your decision by clicking “Merge # exact copies” in the pop-up window.

For faster cleaning:

Tap Select in the upper right corner.
Choose multiple duplicates or select Select All to merge everything at once.
Click Merge at the bottom of the screen and wait for the process to finish.

More Space-Saving Tips

If you still need more space, try these additional tips:

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check app usage.
Review Apple’s recommendations at the top of the page for tailored advice.
Clear large attachments from your Messages app.
Enable automatic removal of old conversations to delete messages and attachments older than a year.
Remove older podcast downloads and keep only the latest episodes.

Kurt’s Key Takeaway

Regularly checking the Duplicates folder and following Apple’s storage recommendations can help keep your iPhone running smoothly without costly upgrades. Make it a habit to review your storage for optimal performance.

Have you tried cleaning up duplicates? Let us know how it went—share your story at Tech Word News.com/contact.

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Kurt "Tech Word News" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist with a passion for gadgets and tools that make life easier. Catch his insights on Tech Word News & Tech Word News, and get answers to your tech questions at Tech Word News.com.