Google Photos finds duplicates automatically, but you have to delete them yourself
Google Photos does not have a single "remove all duplicates" button. Instead, the app shows you photos that look the same or nearly the same, groups them together, and lets you choose which ones to keep. The grouping happens in a section called "Similar," which you access from the search tab. From there, you delete the copies you do not want — one at a time or in small batches.
This matters because duplicate photos waste your storage space, especially if you shoot a burst of ten nearly identical shots and Google Photos backs up all of them. If you are paying for Google One storage (100 GB or more), removing duplicates can extend how long you keep your photos before you hit your limit.
Key Takeaways
- Google Photos groups similar photos in the "Similar" section under the search tab, but does not delete them automatically.
- You can review each group and delete the copies you do not want, keeping only the best version of each shot.
- Deleting photos from Google Photos removes them from your backup, but does not delete the original files on your phone or computer.
- If you use Google Photos on multiple devices, duplicates may appear because the same photo was backed up from different phones or computers.
Where to find the Similar section in Google Photos
Open Google Photos on your phone or computer. At the bottom of the screen (phone) or the left side (computer), tap or click the search icon — it looks like a magnifying glass. Scroll down until you see a section labeled "Similar." This section groups photos that Google Photos thinks are duplicates or very close to the same image.
Not every photo will appear in Similar. Google Photos only groups photos that are nearly identical — same subject, same angle, taken seconds apart. If you have one blurry version and one sharp version of the same moment, they will show up here. If you have ten photos from a burst shot, some of them will be grouped together.
On a phone, the Similar section shows a preview of each group. On a computer, you see a grid of thumbnails. Tap or click any group to open it and see all the photos inside.
How to review and delete duplicates from each group
When you open a group in Similar, you see all the photos Google Photos thinks are the same or nearly the same. Look at each one. Usually one will be sharper, better lit, or more in focus than the others. That is the one to keep.
To delete a photo from the group, tap or click it to select it, then tap or click the trash icon (phone) or press the Delete key (computer). The photo moves to your Trash folder. You can still recover it for 60 days if you change your mind — go to Trash, find the photo, and tap or click Restore.
You do not have to delete all the duplicates in a group at once. You can delete one, go back to the Similar section, and come back to the same group later. Google Photos will remember which ones you deleted and will not show them again.
Why duplicates appear even when you only took one photo
Duplicates happen for several reasons. The most common is burst mode — when you hold down the shutter button on your phone, it takes many photos in quick succession. Google Photos backs up all of them, so you end up with ten nearly identical shots. The Similar section groups these together so you can keep the sharpest one and delete the rest.
Another reason is syncing across devices. If you back up photos from your phone to Google Photos, then later back up the same photos from your computer (perhaps because you transferred them there), Google Photos may not recognize them as the same file. It treats them as two separate uploads and groups them in Similar.
Screenshots and edited versions can also create duplicates. If you take a screenshot of a photo, or if you edit a photo and save it as a new file, Google Photos may see both the original and the edited version as separate photos. The Similar section will group them, and you can delete the version you do not need.
What happens when you delete a photo from Google Photos
When you delete a photo from Google Photos, it removes the copy that Google Photos is storing on its servers. It does not delete the original file on your phone, computer, or external hard drive. If you took the photo with your phone and backed it up to Google Photos, deleting it from Google Photos still leaves the original on your phone.
If you want to delete the original file as well, you have to do that separately in your phone's photo app or your computer's file manager. Google Photos and your device's storage are separate — deleting from one does not touch the other.
Deleted photos go to your Trash folder for 60 days. After 60 days, they are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. If you delete a photo by mistake, you have two months to restore it before it is gone for good.
How to prevent duplicates from building up in the future
The best way to prevent duplicates is to clean up burst shots as soon as you take them. Most phones let you review a burst and delete the blurry or unwanted frames before they back up to Google Photos. On iPhone, open the burst in your Photos app, tap Select, and delete the frames you do not want. On Android, the process varies by phone, but usually involves long-pressing the burst and choosing which frames to keep.
If you back up photos from multiple devices, be careful not to transfer the same photos to Google Photos twice. If you move photos from your phone to your computer and then back up the computer to Google Photos, you may end up with duplicates. Instead, back up only from the device where the photos originated.
You can also turn off automatic backup for certain folders or apps if they are creating unwanted duplicates. In Google Photos settings, go to Backup and sync, then choose which folders or apps to include. This prevents screenshots, edited versions, or temporary files from being backed up automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Photos automatically delete duplicates for me?
No. Google Photos groups similar photos in the Similar section, but you have to manually delete the ones you do not want. There is no automatic cleanup feature that removes duplicates without your permission.
Will deleting duplicates from Google Photos free up space on my phone?
No. Deleting from Google Photos only removes the backup copy on Google's servers. It does not delete the original file on your phone. To free up phone storage, you have to delete the original photos in your phone's photo app.
Can I recover a photo I deleted from Google Photos by mistake?
Yes, for 60 days. Deleted photos go to your Trash folder. Open Google Photos, go to the search tab, scroll down, and tap or click Trash. Find the photo you want to restore and tap or click Restore. After 60 days, deleted photos are permanently removed.
Why does Google Photos show the same photo twice if I only took it once?
Usually because you backed it up from two different devices. If you transferred photos from your phone to your computer and then backed up the computer to Google Photos, Google Photos may see them as separate uploads. The Similar section will group them so you can delete the extra copy.
Can I delete all duplicates at once instead of one by one?
Not in a single action. You have to go through each group in the Similar section and delete the copies you do not want. You can delete multiple photos from the same group at once by selecting them, but you cannot delete all duplicates across all groups with one command.