Delete photos on your iPhone or iPad

You can delete a single photo or video or delete multiple images at once. You can also recover anything in Recently Deleted within 30 days.

Before you delete

Make sure that you back up the photos and videos that you still want. When you use iCloud Photos and delete a photo or video on one device, it gets deleted on all other devices where you're signed in with the same Apple Account. Learn how to delete photos and videos in iCloud Photos.

To see how much storage you have left on your device, go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage. Learn more about managing your device photo storage.

Delete photos or videos

When you delete photos and videos, they go to your Recently Deleted album for 30 days. After 30 days, they'll be permanently deleted.

If you add photos to your iPhone or iPad by connecting your device to your computer, you can't delete them directly from your device in the Photos app. If the Trash button is gray when you try to delete a photo from your iPhone or iPad, you might need to stop syncing photos from your computer. Learn how to stop syncing photos from your computer.

In iOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.1, and later, you can start an iCloud Shared Photo Library and 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 no longer appears for you, either. Only the person who added the photo or video to the Shared Library can permanently delete or recover it from the Recently Deleted folder. You have 30 days to get a photo or video back from your Recently Deleted album.

Delete duplicate photos and videos

1. Open Photos.

2. Swipe up, then tap the Duplicates album under Utilities.

3. Tap Merge to combine the duplicates.

4. Tap Merge [Number] 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 move to your Recently Deleted album.

The Duplicates album is available on iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, and later. The duplicates detection process happens automatically and may take some time.

Recover deleted photos or videos

1. Open Photos.

2. Swipe up, then tap the Recently Deleted album under Utilities.

3. In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later, tap View Album, then use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your Recently Deleted album.

4. Tap Select, then select the photo or video that you want to keep.

5. Tap the More button, then tap Recover. If you want to recover all the photos and videos in the album, tap Recover All.

6. Tap Recover 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.

Learn what to do if you're missing a photo or video

Make the Recently Deleted album unlocked by default

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Tap Apps, then tap Photos.

3. Turn off Use Face ID.

In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later, Face ID or Touch ID is required to view the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums by default. If you turn off Use Face ID, the Hidden album will also be unlocked by default. Learn how to hide your photos.

Delete photos permanently

1. Open Photos.

2. Swipe up, then tap the Recently Deleted album under Utilities.

3. In iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1, or later, tap View Album, then use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your Recently Deleted album.

4. Tap Select, then select the photo or video that you want to delete.

5. Tap the More button, then tap Delete. If you want to delete all the photos and videos in the album, tap Delete All.

6. Tap Delete Photo to confirm.

When you delete a photo from this album, you can't get it back.