iOS 16.4 Expands Duplicate Image Detection to iCloud Shared Photo Library

[MacRumors]

In addition to new emojis, web push notifications, and a range of other features, the iOS 16.4 update expands support for detecting duplicate images to iCloud Shared Photo Library.

With iOS 16, Apple added a duplicate detection function for the Photos app. If you have duplicate images, the Photos app displays a "Duplicates" folder in the Utilities album section. From there, you can merge all of your duplicate images together.

At launch, the duplicate detection option did not work with iCloud Shared Photo Library, but that's changing with the iOS 16.4 update. According to Apple, after installing iOS 16.4, you will be able to detect duplicate photos and videos in iCloud Shared Photo Library, merging them to cut down on unnecessary extra images.

iOS 16.4 is set to be released to the public as soon as next week. The update also includes VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app, a fix for an issue that could cause Ask to Buy requests to fail to appear on a parent's device, a bug with Matter-compatible thermostats, and additional Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14 models.

Article Link: iOS 16.4 Expands Duplicate Image Detection to iCloud Shared Photo Library

 

[Cmd-Z]

Cool, but maybe I'll wait a few point-releases before being brave enough to try 🤔

 

[MaxSto]

Finally!

 

[Razorpit]

Finally!

They were planning on making this an iOS 17 feature but they figured what the heck, let's give it to them early. 😉

 

[munpip214]

Will this detect if the same picture exists in personal and shared or just separately?

 

[zorinlynx]

The list of duplicate images never seems to match between my iPhone and Mac with the same photo library. It makes me wonder if the feature really works well at all.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Shared library is a feature I will never ever turn on.

 

[ignatius345]

Interesting. If there's a one copy of a photo in the shared library and another in the personal library, I wonder which it deletes?

 

[axantas]

Interesting. If there's a one copy of a photo in the shared library and another in the personal library, I wonder which it deletes?

It will delete your personal photo - as you are the only one, who is looking for it. You will never find the copy again.
...sorry, but this duplicate,triplicate, quadruplicate photo-thing is an absolute mess here at Apple.

Don't ever trust an automatic cleanup, as you will lose your pictures for sure. Assure an automatic backup somewhere else/local (I do it on Amazon as a second backup) and be sure, you will not lose your photos.

 

[aggiesrwe03]

Neat now make it searchable so I don’t have to search through 100 albums to find the right one!

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

Well that's one way to get your customers to save your hosting costs

 

[nutmac]

In the future, I would love de-duplication expanding to cover photos and videos stored on iMessage and Files across Family Shared accounts, regardless of the shared status. In few years, my family will exceed 2TB+2TB limit of iCloud storage capacity.

 

[itti]

Good feature to have!

 

[Stellarspace]

What about the Hidden album? or search capability in the Hidden album?

 

[npmacuser5]

With the current version of Family iPhoto sharing only duplicated 10,000 photos and deleted 6 years of search. This fixes Apple terrible iPhotos and the even worse iCloud services. Would have been better to just do it right in the first place. I can manage my duplicates just fine.

 

[svish]

Good to see this available for shared iCloud library. Will be useful.

 

[NMBob]

"How can we get them to let us scan their pictures?"

 

[Stanfield]

I could really go for automatic detection and deletion of home screen screenshots. At this point I think I've pocket-shot about 2000.

 

[waterbug]

I have 1,165 duplicates in my phone .

Every Merge requires two clicks in two separate areas of the screen. Is there a way enable a one-click Merge or a multi-select Merge?