How to Delete All Photos from iPad

Deleting all photos from your iPad can free up valuable storage space and improve performance. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to permanently remove all pictures from your iPad, including those in Recently Deleted. We’ll also cover important precautions to take before deleting your photos.

iPhone showing multiple photos selected in the Photos app

Back Up Your Photos

Before you delete anything, it’s crucial to back up any photos and videos you want to keep. Once deleted, photos are permanently removed after 30 days. iCloud Photos automatically backs up your photos if enabled. You can also back up to a computer or external hard drive. Check your available storage in Settings > General > [Device] Storage.

Delete Photos from Your iPad

Photos deleted from your iPad are initially moved to the Recently Deleted album, where they remain for 30 days before being permanently erased.

Delete Single Photos

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Select the photo you want to delete.
3. Tap the Trash icon.
4. Confirm by tapping “Delete Photo.”

Delete Multiple Photos

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap “Select” in the top right corner.
3. Tap each photo you want to delete or swipe across multiple photos to select them.
4. Tap the Trash icon.
5. Confirm by tapping “Delete [Number] Photos.”

iPhone showing Delete Photo option

Permanently Delete Photos from Recently Deleted

To completely remove photos from your iPad and free up space, you need to delete them from the Recently Deleted album.

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Scroll down and tap “Albums”.
3. Under “Utilities”, tap “Recently Deleted”.
4. Tap “Select”. You can individually select photos or choose “Delete All” in the bottom left corner.
5. Confirm by tapping “Delete [Number] Photos” or “Delete All”. This action permanently removes the photos from your iPad.

Important Considerations for iCloud Photos

If you use iCloud Photos, deleting photos from one device removes them from all your devices synced with the same Apple ID. Photos in a Shared Library can be deleted by any participant, but only the original uploader can permanently remove them from Recently Deleted.

Conclusion

Deleting all photos from your iPad is a straightforward process, but remember to back up important photos before deleting them. Permanently removing photos from the Recently Deleted album frees up storage space. Understanding how iCloud Photos and Shared Libraries impact deletion ensures you don’t lose precious memories.