Photo cleanup FAQ for duplicate photos, similar photos, screenshots, and safe review

The hardest part of photo cleanup is not tapping Delete. It is deciding whether the group in front of you is actually low-risk clutter or a set of photos that still need judgment.

That is why the strongest photo-cleanup flow starts with the easiest categories first. Screenshots and obvious duplicates create confidence before the user moves into similar shots, bursts, and heavier video decisions.

There is no universal order for every library, but there is a practical order that reduces risk for most people. Start with low-value clutter, then exact duplicates, then near-duplicates, then the heavier or more emotional categories.

• Screenshots first when the library feels noisy
• Exact duplicates next when repeats are obvious
• Similar photos later because they require more judgment
• Large videos early if storage pressure is urgent

Duplicate photos usually point to obvious repetition. Similar photos are about multiple images that look close enough to compete, even if they are not exact copies. The cleanup logic, confidence level, and user expectation are different.

That distinction matters because users often need a definition before they can trust the grouping they are looking at.