You can delete a single photo or video, or delete multiple photos at once. You can also recover anything you accidentally deleted.
Before you delete
Make sure youback up the photos and videos you still want. When you use iCloud Photos, if you delete a photo or video on one device, it will be deleted on all other devices where you're signed in with the same Apple ID.Learn how to delete photos and videos in iCloud Photos.
To see how much storage space you have left on your device, go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage. Learn more aboutmanage your device's photo storage.
Delete photos or videos
When you delete photos and videos, they remain in your Recently Deleted album for 30 days. After 30 days they are permanently deleted.
If you use iCloud Photos and delete photos and videos from one device, the photos and videos on your other devices will be deleted.
If you add photos to your iPhone or iPad by connecting your device to your computer, you won't be able to delete them directly from your device in the Photos app. IfTrash can button
is grayed out when you try to delete a photo from your iPhone or iPad, you may need to stop syncing photos from your computer. Learn howstop syncing photos from your computer.
How to delete a single image
Open photos.
On the Library tab, tap All Photos and select the photo or video you want to delete.
PressTrash can button
and then tap Delete image.
How to delete multiple photos
Open photos.
On the Library tab, tap All Photos, then tap Select.
Tap multiple photos or slide your finger across multiple photos to select more than one.
PressTrash can button
and then confirm to delete the items.
This is possible in iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1 and higherlaunch a shared iCloud photo libraryand invite up to five contacts. Anyone can delete, add, or edit items in the shared library. If someone else deletes a photo or video from the shared library, it will no longer be visible to you. Only the person who added the photo or video to the shared library can permanently delete it or restore it from the Recently Deleted folder. You have 30 days to get back a photo or video from your recently deleted album.
Delete duplicate photos and videos
In the Photos app, tap Albums.
Tap the Duplicates album under Utilities.
Press Merge to combine the duplicates.
Press [Number] Merge Items to confirm.
When you merge duplicate photos, your phone combines the highest image quality and relevant data to keep one photo in your library. The other duplicate photos will be moved to your recently deleted album.
The album Duplicatesis available on iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and later. The duplicate detection process is automatic and may take some time.
Recover deleted photos or videos
Open Photos and tap the Albums tab.
Under Utilities, tap the recently deleted album.
In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 or later, use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your recently deleted album.
Press Select.
Select the photo or video you want to keep and tap Recover. To restore all photos and videos in the album, tap Restore All.
Tap Recover Photo to confirm.
If you accidentally delete a photo or video, you have 30 days to get it back from your recently deleted album. When you recover photos and videos, they go back to your library.
Find out what to do if you miss a photo or video
Make the recently deleted album unlocked by default
Open the Settings app.
Tap Photos.
Disable Use Face ID.
In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 or later, Face ID or Touch ID is required by default to see the hidden and recently deleted albums. If you disable Use Face ID, the hidden album will also be unlocked by default. Learn howhide your photos.
Delete photos permanently
Open Photos and tap the Albums tab.
Tap the album that was recently deleted.
In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 or later, use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your recently deleted album.
Press Select.
Select the photo or video you want and tap Delete. To delete all photos and videos in the album, tap Delete all.
Tap Delete Image to confirm.
Once you delete a photo from this album, you cannot get it back.
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