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How to Delete Old Photos from an iPhone or iPad
Question details
The user wants to know how to delete old or unwanted photos from an iOS device to manage and free up storage space.
- Product
- iPhone and iPad
- Device & OS
- iOS / iPadOS
- Scenario
- Freeing up device storage by removing old images stored locally or in the cloud.
- Observed behavior
- Photos occupy storage space across different locations, such as the local Apple Photos app, iCloud, or third-party cloud services, requiring specific deletion steps for permanent removal.
Confirm exactly where your photos are saved (locally on the device, iCloud, or a third-party service like Google Photos) and ensure you have backed up any important memories before permanently deleting them.
Delete Photos via the Apple Photos App
The standard and most direct method to remove photos stored locally on your iOS device or synced via iCloud.
If you use iCloud Photos, keep in mind that deleting a photo from your iPhone or iPad will also delete it from iCloud and any other devices signed in to the same Apple ID.
Navigate to your home screen and tap to open the Apple Photos app.
Tap 'Select' in the upper-right corner of the screen, then tap individual photos or drag your finger across multiple photos to select them.
Tap the Trash icon at the bottom right of the screen, then tap 'Delete [Number] Photos' to confirm.
To free up space immediately, go to the 'Albums' tab, scroll down to 'Recently Deleted', authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, tap 'Select', and choose 'Delete All'.
Delete Photos from Third-Party Cloud Services
Use this method if your photos are backed up to alternative cloud services rather than iCloud.
Archive Old Photos to PDF with WPS Office Before Deleting
Before permanently deleting your old photos to clear up space, use WPS Office to convert and compress them into a single PDF document. This allows you to safely archive your digital albums in WPS Cloud while freeing up local iPhone storage.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install the free WPS Office app from the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
- 2. Open the Picture to PDF Tool: Open WPS Office, tap the '+' icon or go to the 'Tools' tab, and select 'Picture to PDF'.
- 3. Select Your Photos: Choose the old photos you want to archive from your iOS camera roll.
- 4. Export to PDF: Tap 'Save' or 'Export' to generate a single PDF album of your selected images.
- 5. Delete Original Photos: Once your new PDF is safely backed up to WPS Cloud, you can safely delete the original photos from your Apple Photos app to regain storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my iPhone storage still full after deleting old photos?
When you delete photos, iOS temporarily moves them to a 'Recently Deleted' folder for 30 days in case you change your mind. To regain storage space immediately, you must navigate to Albums > Recently Deleted, select the photos, and permanently delete them.
If I delete photos from my iPhone, are they also deleted from iCloud?
Yes. If you have iCloud Photos enabled, deleting a photo from your iPhone or iPad will sync that deletion across all devices signed into your Apple ID, effectively removing it from iCloud as well.
How can I quickly select and delete multiple photos at once?
In the Photos app, tap 'Select' in the top right corner. You can then lightly press and drag your finger continuously across multiple rows of photos to select hundreds of them quickly before tapping the Trash icon.
Can I recover photos after permanently deleting them from the Recently Deleted folder?
No. Once you empty the Recently Deleted folder, the photos are permanently erased from your device and iCloud. You can only recover them if you previously created a separate backup using iTunes, Finder, or a third-party cloud service.
