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Too many photos on your phone? Here's how to filter through them quickly

If the idea of wading through your photos is too much of a task, there are ways to speed things up a little.

SMARTPHONES MAKE GREAT instant cameras. They’re always on us, they boot up within moments and the quality now is better than what we could have imagined years ago.

So it’s inevitable when you’re taking numerous photos that you will end up with a large collection of them, and have to go through the entire process of deleting the unnecessary ones.

You could look through them on your phone, but that could take a while to do so here are some quick ways to filter through them.

If you want to do it the old-fashioned way

Usually, the easiest way is to connect your phone to your computer and view it either through your hard drive or through a complementary programme (iPhoto if you’re an iPhone user on Mac for example).

Regardless of the device you’re using, you will be able to view all your photos here and it’s generally a much faster way of filtering through your collection, especially if you want to delete in bulk or transfer some photos to your computer.

If you want some help

If that sounds like too much effort, you can relax as there’s enough help at hand to ensure you don’t get bogged down.

For iOS, you have a collection of apps to choose from like Flic, which allows you to cycle through individual photos like Tinder, swiping left to delete and right to keep. Others like Duplicate Photo Fixer will get rid of any repeat photos you may have taken.

For Android, you’re better off going for something like Gallery Doctor if you find yourself with numerous duplicate photos.

screen-doctor-624x500 Gallery Doctor / Google Play Gallery Doctor / Google Play / Google Play

If you’ve limited space, but like to take more photos

Provided you’re keeping things in order, there are ways to save more photos on your phone without compromising space.

Some camera apps allow you to adjust the resolution quality of your images, allowing you to reduce the file size of photos without taking a hit in photo quality. This is handy if you can’t (or don’t want to) rely on micro SD cards or online services like Dropbox.

This is usually found hidden in settings, but once you change, be sure to test it out first before you stick to it. 

Unless you’re looking to blow up and print out your photos, you don’t have to use the highest resolution settings, but the type of camera you have will determine how much of a change there will be if you drop the resolution.

Google Camera resolution Apps like Google Camera (pictured) allow you to adjust the quality of images and videos you capture. Google Google

Read: The EU has charged Google with hurting consumers and stifling innovation >

Read: ‘Man do cars, woman do cake’ – Death threats for Sue Perkins amid Top Gear rumours >

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10 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Lyons
    Favourite Mary Lyons
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:33 PM

    The tech guides go right over my head even though I am the one who needs them most!!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
    Favourite Byyys
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:29 PM

    If you’ve limited space and have to delete photos or Apps to make room, then just buy a MicroSD card.. (I have a 64GB SD card with plenty of space left) Apple wont allow the use of SD cards with iPhones or no USB support either to easily transfer Photos to PC!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kelvin Collins
    Favourite Kelvin Collins
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:35 PM

    However you can set up iCloud to automatically copy all photos to a PC as they’re shot, meaning you have a back up and can delete off your phone if you so wish. No need for any cables or leads!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
    Favourite Byyys
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:43 PM

    iCloud?…. Naaaah ill keep my privacy/data to myself and do it the old fashioned way with leads!

    38
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kelvin Collins
    Favourite Kelvin Collins
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:49 PM

    You got some dodgy photos you want to keep secret?

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LittleBlackPetal
    Favourite LittleBlackPetal
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:56 PM

    I’ve this problem with my phone now, and don’t really trust backing them up to Google or anything. Would you trust an sd card from eBay? Is an sd card and usb key the best way to go?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute LittleBlackPetal
    Favourite LittleBlackPetal
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:57 PM

    Does everyone not have dodgey photos that they want to keep secret?! :-/

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute andrew haire
    Favourite andrew haire
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    Apr 15th 2015, 12:41 PM

    Don’t take too many photos. Live in the moment.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Peacham
    Favourite Ken Peacham
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    Apr 15th 2015, 1:09 PM

    I use an app called Clean Master (Android) great for sorting and deleting duplicate pics – also keeps the rest of your phone clean of junk

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mahonez
    Favourite mahonez
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    Apr 15th 2015, 5:28 PM

    For precious pics that I really want to save, I email them to myself. Or upload to Dropbox. Or print em out. Crap amount of storage in iPhone 5c, so I have to try and sort and delete pics often.

    3
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