Deleting photos from your iPhone can free up valuable storage space and help you organize your photo library. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to delete single photos, multiple photos, and permanently remove them from your device. We’ll also cover how to recover deleted photos if you change your mind.
Deleting Individual Photos on Your iPhone
Removing individual photos from your iPhone is a simple process:
- Open the Photos app: Locate and launch the Photos application on your iPhone.
- Select the photo: Navigate to the photo you wish to delete and tap on it to select it.
- Tap the Trash icon: In the bottom right corner of the screen, tap the trash can icon.
- Confirm deletion: A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm the deletion. Tap “Delete Photo.”
iPhone showing Delete Photo option
Deleting Multiple Photos on Your iPhone
To delete multiple photos at once:
- Open the Photos app: Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Tap “Select”: In the top right corner of the screen, tap “Select.”
- Choose your photos: Tap on each photo you want to delete. Alternatively, you can drag your finger across multiple photos to quickly select them.
- Tap the Trash icon: Tap the trash can icon in the bottom right corner.
- Confirm deletion: A pop-up will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of the selected photos. Tap “Delete [Number] Photos.”
iPhone showing multiple photos selected in the Photos app
Permanently Deleting Photos from Your iPhone
Deleted photos are initially moved to the “Recently Deleted” album, where they remain for 30 days before being permanently erased. To permanently delete photos:
- Open the Photos app: Launch the Photos app.
- Go to “Recently Deleted”: Scroll down to the “Utilities” section and tap “Albums.” Then, tap “Recently Deleted.”
- Authenticate: You may need to use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock the album.
- Select photos: Tap “Select” and choose the photos you want to permanently delete. Alternatively, tap “Delete All” to empty the entire album.
- Confirm permanent deletion: Tap “Delete” or “Delete All” again to confirm. You will be asked to confirm one final time. Choose “Delete [number] Photos” or “Delete All Photos from All Devices” depending on your selection.
Recovering Deleted Photos on Your iPhone
If you accidentally delete a photo, you can recover it from the “Recently Deleted” album within 30 days:
- Open the Photos app and go to “Recently Deleted”: Follow steps 1 and 2 from the previous section.
- Authenticate if necessary: Use Face ID or Touch ID if prompted.
- Select photos to recover: Tap “Select” and choose the photos you wish to recover. Or tap “Recover All” to restore all photos in the album.
- Tap “Recover”: Confirm your choice by tapping “Recover” in the bottom right corner. The photos will be returned to your main photo library.
Managing Storage and Duplicate Photos
To check your iPhone’s storage: Go to Settings > General > [Device Name] Storage.
For devices running iOS 16 and later, you can easily manage duplicate photos:
- Open Photos: Launch the Photos app.
- Locate Duplicates Album: Scroll down to the “Utilities” section under “Albums” and tap “Duplicates.”
- Merge or Delete: Review the duplicates and choose to merge them (combining the best qualities of each duplicate) or delete them.
Deleting photos on your iPhone is a straightforward process, providing you with control over your photo library and storage space. Remember, you have a 30-day grace period to recover deleted photos before they are permanently removed. Use these steps to effectively manage your iPhone photos.
