5 digital tidying tips you didn’t know you wanted

May 2, 2025

Let’s be honest, our digital lives can get pretty chaotic.

Between a mountain of unread emails, random screenshots cluttering your desktop, and a downloads folder that feels like a lost cause, digital clutter is real. But tackling it doesn’t have to feel like an insurmountable task.

With a few clever automations and the right tools, you can streamline your tech without the hassle of constant upkeep.

Your go-to digital decluttering guide

1. Manage old emails with auto-filtering

Still holding onto newsletters from ages ago? Set up a filter to automatically archive or delete emails older than six months or from certain senders.

For Gmail users

To find old messages:

Type “older_than:6m” in Gmail’s search bar.
In Outlook, sort by date or use Advanced Search for old emails.

To set up automatic cleanup:

In Gmail, click the slider icon in the search bar, select “Create filter.”
Choose whether to archive or delete these emails.
Be sure to apply this to future email matches, then click Create Filter.

For Outlook users

Go to File > Manage Rules and Alerts > New Rules.
Select “Apply rules to incoming messages.”
Set the criteria to filter by sender or subject, and decide to move or delete.

For long-term cleanup:

Use the automatic archive feature in Outlook under File > Options > Advanced.
Define what qualifies as old and whether to archive or delete.

For AOL users

To find old emails:

Enter Previous: 01/01/2024 in the search bar and choose Search by Email.

Setting it up:

AOL doesn’t offer advanced filters, so you’ll need to manually select and delete emails.
Tip: Sort by sender or date to make this easier.

For Yahoo users

Finding old messages:

Search for “Previous: 2024/01/01” in Yahoo Mail to locate messages before that date.

Automatic setup:

Yahoo lacks a true filter for old emails, but you can move specific emails to a folder for later bulk deletion.

Steps to delete private data online

2. Organize your photo collection

Sort through screenshots and duplicates

Screenshots, burst photos, and those accidental snaps take up more space than you’d think. Here’s how to tidy up, whether you’re team iPhone or Android.

To find a screenshot:

On your iPhone

Open the Photos app.
Scroll down to Media Type.
Tap Screenshots to view them all in one spot.

Sorting through screenshots:

In the screenshot album, tap the Up/Down arrows for sorting options.
Choose to sort by oldest or newest or filter as needed.

To delete duplicates:

In the Photos app, go to Albums, scroll down to Utilities, and click on Dupes.
Tap Merge to combine identical photos automatically.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

On Android

sSettings can differ by manufacturer.

Finding screenshots:

Open the Photos or File app.
Navigate to the folder labeled Screenshots.
Use Grid View to select multiple images at once.

To find duplicates:

Open the Photos or File app and go to the Clean tab.
Check and delete blurry photos and other unnecessary files.
Confirm deletion to free up space.

Note: Steps may vary slightly based on your iOS version or Android device.

3. Automate your download folder

Set it and forget it
If your downloads are piling up, don’t worry – both Macs and PCs have built-in features to help out.

For Mac:

Open Finder from the dock.
Scroll and click on Applications.
Select “Folder Action” when prompted.
Set it to receive files from the Downloads folder.
In the search bar, add “Filter finder items.”
Then choose to either Move finder items to trash or a different folder.
Save the workflow to automatically clear files older than 30 days.

For PC:

Enable Storage Sense in Settings > System > Storage. Set it to clean up downloads after 30 days.

Say goodbye to manually tidying that folder again.

4. Create a “Junk Drawer” album for photos

Keep it messy but manageable
Instead of cluttering your main library with random screenshots, receipts, or memes, give them a designated space—like a digital junk drawer.

On iPhone:

Open Photos.
Go to Albums.
Tap + to create a New Album.
Name it something like “Junk” or “Throwaways.”
Select unwanted photos, tap Add to, and move them to the new album.

On Android (Google Photos):

Open Google Photos.
Tap Library > + New Album.
Name it “Junk” or “Throwaways.”
While browsing, long-press to select multiple images, then tap the 3-dot menu and select Add to album.

Why do this?

You can easily clear space when needed.
Keeps your main library organized.
Helps cue your memory; if it’s not crucial, toss it in the junk.

5. Update old passwords

Use a password manager to audit logins
Old passwords are like skeletons in your digital closet. Password managers can help identify weak or reused passwords and suggest more secure alternatives.

Here are some handy tips on choosing the best password manager:

Look for something secure.
It should work seamlessly across devices.
Create unique and complex passwords for every account.
Automatically enter your login details for easier access.
Ensure it has browser extensions for convenience.
Have a backup plan in case you forget your primary password.
Get notified if any of your passwords are compromised.
Use two-factor authentication for extra safety.

Find my expert-reviewed recommendations for password managers of 2025.

Key takeaways

Not only does organizing your digital space enhance aesthetics, but it also boosts efficiency and security. Setting filters in Gmail and Outlook can clear unwanted emails. Properly sorting your screenshots keeps your folders manageable. Automating the cleanup in your downloads folder saves time and stress. Creating a “Junk Drawer” album for lesser photos helps maintain a clean library. Regularly updating passwords via a manager adds security without much effort.

Want to share your tips or seek help with tech challenges? Reach out to us.

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