SpaceSift

Support

Find answers to common questions or get in touch.

Getting Started

SpaceSift finds photos you probably don't need and lets you remove them to free up storage. Here's how to get started:

  1. 1
    Grant photo access. SpaceSift needs full photo library access to scan your photos. All analysis stays on your device.
  2. 2
    Tap Scan. The app looks for duplicates, similar photos, blurry images, screenshots, and large videos.
  3. 3
    Review categories. Tap any category to see photo groups sorted by how much space you'd get back.
  4. 4
    Compare and decide. Look at photos side by side. The best one is pre-selected. Swipe to keep or delete.
  5. 5
    Free up space. Deleted photos go to Recently Deleted for 30 days. You can always get them back.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does SpaceSift find duplicates?

It uses Apple's Vision framework to create a visual fingerprint of each photo. If two photos have matching fingerprints, they get grouped as duplicates, even if the file names or metadata are different.

What's the difference between duplicates and similar photos?

Duplicates are visually identical copies. Similar photos are near-identical shots, like burst photos or multiple takes of the same scene, where the content is very close but not pixel-perfect.

How does the app detect blurry photos?

It measures image sharpness using a technique called Laplacian variance. Photos below a certain threshold get flagged as blurry. You always get to review and confirm before anything is deleted.

Will deleted photos be permanently removed?

No. Deleted photos move to your device's Recently Deleted album, where they remain recoverable for 30 days. After 30 days, iOS permanently removes them.

Can I undo a cleanup?

Yes. Open the Photos app, go to Albums, and find Recently Deleted. You can recover any photo deleted through SpaceSift within 30 days.

Does SpaceSift upload my photos?

No. All scanning and analysis happens entirely on your device using Apple's on-device frameworks. No photos, metadata, or results are ever uploaded, shared, or sent anywhere.

How does video cleanup work?

SpaceSift lists all your videos sorted by file size so you can quickly find the ones using the most storage. Select the ones you don't need and queue them for removal. Videos go to Recently Deleted for 30 days, just like photos.

Why does the app need full photo library access?

To find duplicates and similar shots across your whole library, the app needs to see all your photos. With limited access it can only scan the photos you manually select, which defeats the purpose. Nothing is ever uploaded.

What happens if I close the app during a scan?

SpaceSift saves your progress. When you reopen the app, it will offer to resume from where you left off.

Can I dismiss photo groups I want to keep?

Yes. Swipe on any group and tap "Keep All" to dismiss it. You can reset dismissed groups later in Settings if you change your mind.

Troubleshooting

The scan seems stuck

Large photo libraries can take a few minutes to scan. The progress ring shows which phase is active. If the app becomes unresponsive, force-quit and reopen. It will offer to resume the scan.

The app shows "No photos found"

Make sure you've granted full photo library access. Go to Settings on your device, find SpaceSift, and ensure Photos is set to "Full Access".

The app shows fewer results than expected

SpaceSift only flags items it's confident about. If your library is already well-organized, you may see fewer results. You can always scan again after adding new photos.

Still need help?

We're here to help with any questions about SpaceSift.

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