Start with large videos
Videos often recover more storage than photos. Review old clips, accidental recordings, and repeated videos first. A few large videos can free more space than hundreds of small photos.
Clean screenshots next
Screenshots are usually easier to judge than personal photos. Remove old confirmations, temporary notes, memes, app screens, and duplicate captures you no longer need.
Handle exact duplicates
Exact duplicate photos are a low-friction cleanup category. Use Apple Photos Duplicates if available, or a review-first tool like CleanLens if you want duplicates included in a broader cleanup plan.
Review similar shots
Similar shots can contain many easy wins, but they need care. Keep the best expression, sharpest focus, or most meaningful photo from a group, then remove the extras only after review.
Remember Recently Deleted
After deleting photos, iOS keeps items in Recently Deleted for a period of time. This is useful for recovery, but storage may not be fully reclaimed until those items are permanently removed.
Where CleanLens helps
CleanLens helps organize cleanup opportunities so you do not have to manually hunt through the whole library. It is built for a review-first process: find the likely clutter, inspect it, keep what matters, and delete only when you are confident.
If your goal is storage, prioritize large videos first. If your goal is organization, focus on duplicates and similar photo groups.