iCloud is a popular cloud storage service offered by Apple, which allows users to store and sync their data across multiple devices. This includes photos, which can be automatically backed up to iCloud from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. However, over time, duplicate photos can accumulate in your iCloud library, taking up valuable storage space. In this blog, we’ll show you how to delete duplicate photos on iCloud.
Part 1: What is an iCloud drive?
iCloud Drive is a cloud-based file storage and synchronization service offered by Apple Inc. It allows users to store and access files, documents, photos, and other data across multiple Apple devices such as Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Windows PC. iCloud Drive allows users to easily access their files from anywhere and share them with others, making it a convenient tool for individuals and businesses alike. It also offers features such as automatic backups and version control, providing an additional layer of data security and management.
Part 2: How to Check iCloud Storage on Mac
To check your iCloud storage on Mac, follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “System Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on “Apple ID” at the top of the System Preferences window.
- Click on “iCloud” in the left-hand sidebar.
- Your available iCloud storage will be displayed at the bottom of the window.
- You can also click on “Manage…” to see a breakdown of how your iCloud storage is being used, which can help you identify which apps or files are taking up the most space. From there, you can delete unnecessary files or upgrade your iCloud storage plan if needed.
Part 3: How to Check iCloud Storage on an iPhone
To check your iCloud storage on an iPhone, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
- Select “iCloud” from the list of options.
- Tap “Manage Storage”.
- You will see the total storage at the top of the screen, along with a breakdown of how much storage is being used by each app.
From here, you can also see which apps are taking up the most space and manage your iCloud storage by deleting backups, turning off iCloud backup for certain apps, or purchasing more storage if needed.
Part 4: How to Check iCloud Storage on the Web
To check your iCloud storage on the web, you can follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and go to www.icloud.com.
- Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
- Once you are signed in, click on the “Settings” icon.
- Scroll down to the “iCloud” section and click on “Manage”.
- Here, you can see a breakdown of how much storage each app is using and how much storage you have left.
- To get more detailed information, click on each app to see what data is stored and how much space it is taking up.
By checking your iCloud storage regularly, you can keep track of how much space you have left and make sure that you don’t run out of storage. If you need more storage, you can upgrade your iCloud storage plan directly from this page.
Part 5: How to Delete Duplicates from an iCloud Photo Library
Want to tidy up your iCloud Photo Library? Here’s how to delete duplicate photos from an iCloud Photo Library: In the Photos app on your Mac, go to Preferences > iCloud > Photos and enable iCloud Photo Library. Once your photos have synced, select “All Photos,” choose “Show Duplicate Items,” and delete the duplicates you no longer need.
Part 6: How to Delete any Duplicate Files from iCloud
To delete any duplicate files from iCloud, you can follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and go to the iCloud website (www.icloud.com).
- Log in to your iCloud account using your Apple ID and password.
- Click on the “iCloud Drive” icon on the main screen.
- Navigate to the folder that contains the duplicate files you want to delete.
- Select the duplicate files you want to delete by holding down the “Command” key on your keyboard and clicking on each file.
- Once you have selected all the duplicate files, click on the “Delete” button on your keyboard. You can also right-click on the files and select “Delete” from the drop-down menu.
- A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to delete the selected files. Click on “Delete” to confirm and remove the duplicate files from your iCloud account.
It’s important to note that deleting a file from iCloud Drive will also delete it from all devices that are connected to your iCloud account. Therefore, make sure you only delete files that you no longer need or want.
Part 7: How to Delete any Duplicate Files from iCloud
iCloud storage is frequently utilized to save iPhone photos, but many users have unnecessary duplicate photos that consume space. To delete any duplicate files from iCloud, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Access your iCloud Photos Library
To delete duplicate photos on iCloud, you’ll need to access your iCloud Photos library. You can do this by opening the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and signing in with your iCloud account.
Step 2: Identify duplicate photos
Once you’ve accessed your iCloud Photos library, you can use the “All Photos” view to identify duplicate photos. Scroll through your photos and look for identical or similar images. Keep in mind that photos that appear to be duplicates may have slight differences in metadata, such as date or location, which can make them difficult to spot.
Step 3: Use the “Recently Deleted” folder
If you delete a photo from your iCloud Photos library, it will be moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder, where it will remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can use this folder to identify and delete duplicate photos.
To access the “Recently Deleted” folder, tap or click on the “Albums” tab in the Photos app, and then select “Recently Deleted”. From here, you can view all the photos that have been recently deleted from your iCloud Photos library, including duplicates.
Step 4: Delete duplicate photos
To delete duplicate photos, select them from the “Recently Deleted” folder, and then tap or click on the “Delete” button. This will permanently remove the selected photos from your iCloud Photos library, as well as your iCloud storage. Keep in mind that once a photo has been permanently deleted, it cannot be recovered.
Step 5: Enable iCloud Photo Library Optimisation
To prevent duplicate photos from accumulating in your iCloud Photos library in the future, you can enable iCloud Photo Library Optimisation. This feature will automatically store your original, full-resolution photos in iCloud while keeping smaller, optimized versions on your device. This can help free up storage space on your device and reduce the risk of duplicate photos.
To enable iCloud Photo Library Optimisation, go to Settings > Photos on your iPhone or iPad, or open the Photos app on your Mac and go to Preferences > iCloud. From here, select “Optimise [device] Storage” to enable the feature.
Part 8: How to Delete Duplicate Photos in iCloud with Mac Cleaner
it is possible to delete duplicate photos in iCloud with Mac Cleaner as it is designed to clean up and optimize your Mac’s storage. To delete duplicate photos in iCloud, you will need to follow the steps provided by iCloud or use a third-party tool designed specifically for managing iCloud storage.
In such situations, try checking out Mac Cleaner – a cleaning app specifically designed to remove unnecessary files from your Mac. With its exceptional scanning capabilities, you can eliminate files from even the most obscure folders. If you want to use this app, follow these steps:
Step #1: Start Mac Cleaner On Your Computer/Laptop
If you want to use Mac Cleaner on your computer or laptop, here’s what you need to do:
- Click the provided link to visit the Mac Cleaner download site.
- Download the DMG file by clicking the “Download Now” button.
- Open the DMG file once it finishes downloading to begin the installation process.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- Mac Cleaner will automatically launch after installation.
Step #2: Choose from Six Modules
Mac Cleaner offers six different modules, each with its own specific use and purpose. You should choose the module that is most relevant to your needs. Here is a brief overview of each module:
- Clean Up Junk: searches for and deletes system cache, app cache, Trash files, and iTunes cache.
- Delete Large Files: scans for files larger than 50MB.
- Delete Duplicate Files: checks for duplicate files in a specific folder.
- Erase Private Data: finds files with private data, such as chat data and Photo cache.
- Speed Up Your Mac: deactivates certain programs to reduce CPU and RAM usage.
- Manage Apps & Extensions: this allows you to uninstall apps and remove browser extensions.
Simply click on the module you want to use from the left sidebar to get started. Launch the application and click on the “Delete Duplicate Files” module. Select “iCloud” as the location you want to scan for duplicates.
Step #3: Click Scan/Start Now/View Items
Step #3 involves initiating the scanning process to search for files, apps, extensions, or processes depending on the module you have selected. Here are the steps to follow for each module:
- Clean Up Junk: You will be presented with two scanning methods- Quick Clean and Deep Clean. Quick Clean scans for System Junk, App Junk, Trash Bin, and iTunes Junk, while Deep Clean scans for additional file categories such as Downloads, iOS Junk, and Unused Disk Images. Choose a scanning method and click on Scan.
- Delete Large Files: Click on the Scan button.
- Delete Duplicate Files: In the center of the interface, there is a “Select a File Directory” field. To the left of it, click on the Browse button, and navigate to the directory you want to scan for duplicate files. Once the directory is selected, click on Scan.
- Erase Private Data: Click on the Scan button.
- Speed Up Your Mac: Click on the Start Now button.
- Manage Apps & Extensions: This module presents two options- Uninstall Applications and Remove Extensions.
Select the option you want and click on the View Items button. Once the scan is complete, Mac Cleaner will display a list of duplicate files found in your iCloud storage.
Step #4: Select Item/s
- Clean Up Junk: On the left side of the interface, there’s a list of file categories. Select a category (e.g., System Junk, Downloads, Trash Bin, Unused Disk Images, etc.) and then select a file from the right-hand side list. Click on the checkbox next to the file to select it, or click “Select All” to choose all the items.
- Delete Large Files: Simply select an item (e.g., file, folder, disk image, archive, etc.) from the list.
- Delete Duplicate Files: Choose an item (e.g., image, document, audio, video, etc.) from the list.
- Erase Private Data: Select a category from the five options on the left-hand side, including Online Traces, Usage Traces, Chat Data, Photo Junk, and Mail Attachment. A list of files will appear on the right side of the interface. Choose the files you want to delete from that list.
- Speed Up Your Mac: The process is similar to Erase Private Data, but with only five options on the left side, including Disable Login Items, Deactivate Heavy Consumers, Remove Launch Agents, and Free Up RAM.
- Manage Apps & Extensions: If you selected the Uninstall Application option, a list of applications will appear. You don’t have to select them. If you chose to Remove Extensions, a list of browsers will appear on the left side of the interface. Select a browser from that list and proceed to the next step.
Review the list and select the duplicate files you want to delete.
Step #5: Click the Blue Button
No matter which module you are currently using, you will always find a blue button labeled Clean, Delete, Erase, Deactivate, Uninstall, or Remove at the top-right corner of the window. Click on this button to proceed. Click on the “Delete” button to delete the selected duplicates from your iCloud storage.
Wrapping up
In conclusion, deleting duplicate photos on iCloud can be a time-consuming process, but it’s important to keep your iCloud Photos library organized and free of unnecessary duplicates. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can identify and delete duplicate photos, as well as prevent them from accumulating in the future.
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