How Do I Delete Imported Photos On Mac? A Comprehensive Guide

Deleting imported photos on your Mac can free up valuable storage space and keep your photo library organized. This comprehensive guide, brought to you by dfphoto.net, provides step-by-step instructions and tips for removing photos from your Mac, ensuring a streamlined workflow for photographers and visual artists alike. Learn to manage your digital assets efficiently and reclaim your storage! Get ready to organize your photographs and learn about digital asset management.

1. Why Delete Imported Photos on Mac?

There are several reasons why you might want to delete imported photos on your Mac:

Free Up Storage Space: Photos, especially high-resolution images, can consume significant storage. Removing unwanted photos frees up space for new projects.
Organize Your Photo Library: Regularly deleting irrelevant or duplicate photos helps maintain a clean and manageable photo library.
Improve Performance: A cluttered photo library can slow down your Mac. Deleting unnecessary photos can improve overall system performance.
Privacy Concerns: You might want to remove photos containing sensitive information or personal moments you no longer wish to keep.
Streamline Workflow: A streamlined photo library makes it easier to find and work with the images you need.

2. Understanding Your Photo Storage Options on Mac

Before deleting photos, it’s important to understand where your photos are stored and how they are managed. There are primarily three ways photos end up on your Mac:

Photos App: This is Apple’s default photo management application that integrates with iCloud Photos.
External Storage: Photos might be stored on external hard drives, SD cards, or USB drives.
Local Folders: Photos can be stored in various folders on your Mac’s internal storage.

3. Different Ways to Delete Imported Photos on Mac

Here’s a detailed look at various methods for deleting photos from your Mac:

3.1. Deleting Photos Directly from the Photos App

This is the most common method if you use Apple’s Photos app to manage your library.

Open the Photos app: Launch the Photos application on your Mac.
Select the Photos: Navigate to the “Library” or “Albums” section and select the photos you want to delete. You can select multiple photos by holding down the Command key while clicking on each photo.
Delete the Photos:
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard, or
- Right-click on the selected photos and choose “Delete [Number] Photos.”
Confirm Deletion: A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click “Delete” to confirm.
Empty the “Recently Deleted” Album: The deleted photos are moved to the “Recently Deleted” album. To permanently remove them, go to “Recently Deleted” in the sidebar, click “Delete All” in the top right corner, and confirm. Photos remain in the “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days, according to Apple’s official support documentation, giving you a chance to recover them if needed.

3.2. Deleting Photos Imported from iPhone Using Image Capture

Image Capture is a utility that allows you to transfer images from a camera or iPhone to your Mac. It can also be used to delete photos directly from your iPhone after importing.

Connect Your iPhone: Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable and unlock your iPhone.
Open Image Capture: Open the Image Capture application (located in /Applications/Utilities).
Select Your iPhone: Select your iPhone from the list of devices in the left sidebar.
Select Photos to Delete: Select the photos you want to delete. You can use Command-A to select all photos.
Click the Delete Button: Click the small trash can icon at the bottom of the window.
Confirm Deletion: A dialog box will appear asking if you want to delete the selected photos. Click “Delete.”

Important Note: Deleting photos using Image Capture permanently removes them from your iPhone. They are not moved to the “Recently Deleted” album.

3.3. Deleting Photos from Folders in Finder

If you store your photos in regular folders on your Mac, you can delete them directly from Finder.

Open Finder: Open a Finder window.
Navigate to the Folder: Navigate to the folder containing the photos you want to delete.
Select Photos: Select the photos you want to delete.
Delete Photos:
- Drag the photos to the Trash icon in the Dock, or
- Right-click on the selected photos and choose “Move to Trash,” or
- Press Command-Delete.
Empty the Trash: To permanently delete the photos, right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and choose “Empty Trash.”

3.4. Deleting Photos from External Storage

If your photos are stored on an external hard drive, SD card, or USB drive, the process is similar to deleting from local folders.

Connect the External Storage: Connect the external storage device to your Mac.
Open Finder: Open a Finder window.
Navigate to the Device: Find the external storage device in the Finder sidebar and click on it.
Navigate to the Folder: Navigate to the folder containing the photos you want to delete.
Select Photos: Select the photos you want to delete.
Delete Photos:
- Drag the photos to the Trash icon in the Dock, or
- Right-click on the selected photos and choose “Move to Trash,” or
- Press Command-Delete.
Empty the Trash: To permanently delete the photos, right-click on the Trash icon in the Dock and choose “Empty Trash.”

3.5. Using Third-Party Apps for Photo Management and Deletion

Several third-party applications offer advanced photo management features, including duplicate detection and batch deletion. These apps can be helpful for efficiently managing large photo libraries. One example that can assist with this is CleanMy®Phone, which can help clear redundant similar pictures, blurred photos, old screenshots, and other useless stuff.

Examples of Third-Party Photo Management Apps:

Adobe Lightroom
Capture One
ON1 Photo RAW
CleanMy®Phone

3.6. Deleting Photos After Importing with the Photos App

The Photos app offers an option to automatically delete photos from your iPhone or camera after importing them to your Mac.

Connect Your Device: Connect your iPhone or camera to your Mac.
Open Photos App: Open the Photos app.
Import Photos: Select the photos you want to import.
Check “Delete After Import”: Look for a checkbox labeled “Delete After Import” (or similar wording) in the import window and make sure it is checked.
Import Photos: Click the “Import Selected” or “Import All New Photos” button.

The Photos app will automatically delete the imported photos from your device after they have been successfully copied to your Mac.

4. Tips for Efficient Photo Deletion

Here are some tips to help you efficiently manage and delete photos on your Mac:

Regularly Review Your Photos: Make it a habit to regularly review your photo library and delete unwanted photos.
Use Albums and Folders: Organize your photos into albums and folders to make it easier to find and delete specific groups of photos.
Identify Duplicate Photos: Use a duplicate photo finder app to identify and delete duplicate photos.
Backup Your Photos: Before deleting any photos, make sure you have a backup in case you accidentally delete something you need.
Use Smart Albums: Create Smart Albums in the Photos app to automatically group photos based on criteria like date, location, or keywords. This can help you quickly identify photos you might want to delete.
Utilize Keyboard Shortcuts: Learn keyboard shortcuts for deleting photos to speed up the process.
Be Careful with “Empty Trash”: Double-check the contents of the Trash before emptying it to avoid accidentally deleting important files.

5. Understanding iCloud Photos and Deletion

If you use iCloud Photos, deleting photos on your Mac will also delete them from iCloud and all your other devices connected to iCloud Photos. Here’s what you need to know:

Synchronization: iCloud Photos automatically syncs your photo library across all your devices.
Deletion: When you delete a photo on one device, it is also deleted on all other devices connected to iCloud Photos.
Recently Deleted: Deleted photos are moved to the “Recently Deleted” album on all devices and remain there for 30 days.
Disabling iCloud Photos: If you don’t want changes to sync across all devices, you can disable iCloud Photos on your Mac or other devices. Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and uncheck “Photos”.

Important Note: Before deleting photos when using iCloud Photos, make sure you understand the implications and have a backup if needed.

6. Using iTunes to Manage Photos (for Older macOS Versions)

If you’re running an older version of macOS (prior to Catalina), you can use iTunes to manage and delete photos synced from your computer to your iPhone. This method involves re-syncing your iPhone after deselecting the photos you want to remove.

6.1 Steps to Delete Photos Using iTunes:

Connect your iPhone: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
Open iTunes: Launch iTunes on your computer.
Select Your Device: In iTunes, click on the device icon representing your iPhone. It’s usually located near the top-left corner of the iTunes window.
Go to the Photos Tab: In the left sidebar, under your iPhone’s name, click on the “Photos” tab.
Choose Selected Albums: Ensure that the “Sync Photos” checkbox is selected. Then, choose the “Selected albums” option. This allows you to choose which albums or individual photos you want to keep on your iPhone.
Deselect Photos to Remove: Carefully review the list of albums and photos. Deselect the albums or individual photos that you want to remove from your iPhone.
Apply Changes: Click the “Apply” button in the bottom-right corner of the iTunes window. iTunes will begin syncing your iPhone, and the deselected photos will be removed from your device.

6.2 Removing All Synced Photos:

If you want to delete all photos that were synced from your computer to your iPhone, follow these steps:

In the “Photos” tab in iTunes, deselect the “Sync Photos from” checkbox.
A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to “Remove photos.” Click “Remove photos” to confirm.
Click the “Apply” button in the bottom-right corner of the iTunes window. iTunes will sync your iPhone and remove all synced photos from your device.

7. Troubleshooting: Can’t Delete Photos from iPhone?

Sometimes, you might encounter issues when trying to delete photos from your iPhone. Here are some common causes and solutions:

Photos Added via Third-Party App: If the photos were added to your iPhone using a third-party app (like Google Photos or Dropbox), you might need to delete them from within that app.
iCloud Photos Issues: Ensure that iCloud Photos is functioning correctly and that you have enough iCloud storage.
Older macOS Version and iTunes: If you are using an older macOS version and syncing photos via iTunes, follow the steps outlined in section 6.
Insufficient Free Space: Make sure your iPhone has enough free storage space. If your iPhone is full, you might not be able to delete photos.
Disable iCloud Photos Temporarily: Temporarily disable iCloud Photos on your iPhone (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos > toggle off iCloud Photos) and try deleting the photos again. Remember to re-enable iCloud Photos afterward.

8. Maintaining Your Mac for Optimal Performance

While managing your photo library is key, a well-maintained Mac contributes significantly to a smooth and efficient workflow. Regularly decluttering your system can prevent performance bottlenecks and ensure optimal speed.

8.1 Removing Unnecessary Files:

Over time, your Mac accumulates various unnecessary files, including temporary files, caches, and application leftovers. Removing these files can free up storage space and improve system responsiveness.

Manual Removal:

You can manually remove unnecessary files by clearing out your Downloads folder, emptying the Trash, and deleting old files from various folders.

Automatic Removal:

For a more thorough and efficient cleaning, consider using a dedicated Mac cleaning tool like CleanMyMac X. This tool can automatically scan your system for unnecessary files and safely remove them, optimizing your Mac’s performance.

8.2 Using CleanMyMac X:

CleanMyMac X is a popular Mac cleaning and optimization tool that can help you remove unnecessary files, manage applications, and improve your Mac’s overall performance.

Steps to Use CleanMyMac X:

Download and Install: Download CleanMyMac X from the official website and install it on your Mac.
Launch CleanMyMac X: Open the CleanMyMac X application.
Run a Scan: Click the “Scan” button to start a comprehensive scan of your system.
Review Results: After the scan is complete, review the results and select the categories of files you want to remove.
Run the Cleanup: Click the “Clean” button to remove the selected files and optimize your Mac.

8.3 Freeing Up Space and Deleting Offline Content

Running out of space on your iPhone can hinder your ability to take new photos and videos. Here are a few ways to free up space and delete offline content:

1. Review and Delete Unused Apps

Go through your installed apps and delete those you no longer use or need. This can free up a significant amount of storage space.

2. Clear Offline Content

Many apps allow you to download content for offline use. Clear this offline content periodically to free up space. For example, in Spotify or Apple Music, you can remove downloaded songs or podcasts.

3. Delete Large Attachments

Large email attachments can consume a lot of storage space. Review your email accounts and delete any large attachments you no longer need.

9. FAQ: Deleting Imported Photos on Mac

Q1: How do I permanently delete photos from my Mac?

To permanently delete photos, you need to empty the Trash after moving the photos to the Trash. In the Photos app, you also need to empty the “Recently Deleted” album.

Q2: Can I recover deleted photos from my Mac?

Yes, you can recover deleted photos from the “Recently Deleted” album in the Photos app or from the Trash (if you haven’t emptied it). There are also data recovery tools available that can help you recover photos that have been permanently deleted.

Q3: How do I delete duplicate photos on my Mac?

You can use a duplicate photo finder app to identify and delete duplicate photos. Some popular options include Gemini 2, Photos Duplicate Cleaner, and Cisdem Duplicate Finder.

Q4: How do I delete photos from iCloud?

Deleting photos from the Photos app on your Mac (when iCloud Photos is enabled) will also delete them from iCloud and all your other devices connected to iCloud Photos.

Q5: How do I stop photos from syncing to iCloud?

You can disable iCloud Photos in System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and uncheck “Photos.”

Q6: Why can’t I delete photos from my iPhone using my Mac?

This could be due to several reasons, including the photos being added via a third-party app, iCloud Photos issues, or using an older macOS version and syncing via iTunes. See section 7 for troubleshooting steps.

Q7: How long do photos stay in the “Recently Deleted” album?

Photos remain in the “Recently Deleted” album for 30 days before being permanently deleted.

Q8: Is it safe to use third-party apps to delete photos?

Yes, but make sure you download the apps from reputable sources and read reviews before installing them.

Q9: How do I delete photos from an external hard drive on my Mac?

Connect the external hard drive to your Mac, navigate to the photos in Finder, and move them to the Trash. Then, empty the Trash to permanently delete them.

Q10: How do I delete photos from my Mac without deleting them from my iPhone?

Disable iCloud Photos on your Mac before deleting the photos. This will prevent the deletions from syncing to your iPhone.

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By following these steps and tips, you can effectively delete imported photos on your Mac, manage your photo library, and keep your system running smoothly. Remember to always back up your photos before deleting them and to understand the implications of using iCloud Photos. Happy photo managing!