Duplicates and bursts: group first
One scan sorts duplicates, similar shots, and bursts into groups that keep a single photo each. Every recommendation is readable: sharper, larger, a favorite, or more complete.
Screenshots, blurry shots, large videos
Screenshots, blurry photos, and large videos are listed as their own categories, with filters for category, date, album, and size so nothing has to be reviewed in one sitting.
Review one group at a time
You see a single group, keep it, skip it, or accept the recommendation in a batch. Everything you decide is remembered on the device for the next incremental scan.
A pending tray before anything is deleted
Chosen photos wait in an in-app pending-deletion tray. Only after final confirmation does PhotoKit move them to the system Recently Deleted album, where they stay recoverable.
Where it fits
Storage is filling up and the library is too big to guess at
OnceClean is for people whose photo library keeps growing and who would rather not delete blind. It is not a memory cleaner, an antivirus tool, or a speed booster, and it does not use alarming system-failure messaging. It puts duplicate and low-value candidates in front of you and leaves the decision with you.
It all happens on device
Photo analysis, fingerprints, grouping, decisions, and the completion report stay on the device. Photo content is never uploaded, and no account is required.
It works with no network
Scanning, review, deletion, and the completion report all work offline, and natural-language filtering is parsed on device. When a phrase cannot be parsed, the app falls back to visible filter chips.
Deletion is reversible
Deletion goes through iOS Recently Deleted, and the recovery window is managed by the system. The completion report shows estimated and actual release, elapsed time, and category contribution.
Common questions
Know the boundaries before you start
Are my photos uploaded?
No. Analysis, grouping, and reports are produced on the device. There is no account system, no cloud photo upload, and no third-party analytics or advertising SDK.
Can a deleted photo be recovered?
Yes. PhotoKit performs the deletion, so photos go to iOS Recently Deleted and the recovery window is managed by the system. The app never bypasses that flow to delete permanently.
What does the free version do?
You can scan the whole library and review every group, and delete up to 50 photos per scan run. One lifetime purchase, not a subscription, unlocks unlimited deletion, recommended batch processing, natural-language filtering, and incremental scanning.
Do I need an account or a login?
No. There is no account and no subscription. Fingerprints and decisions are stored locally, and uninstalling the app removes that local data with it.
Can Shortcuts start a scan?
Yes. The "Scan New Photos" App Intent returns to the on-device scan flow and handles only the photos that were added since the last run.