Top Ways to Delete Photos from Google Photos in 2025

Top Ways to Delete Photos from Google Photos in 2025: Deleting photos from Google Photos is straightforward and allows you to free up storage space and keep your collection organized. Google Photos offers users a cloud-based platform to back up and store pictures and videos from their devices, ensuring they are safely preserved.
Deleting photos is simple and can be done across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. You can choose to delete individual images or entire albums. Additionally, Google Photos gives you the option to permanently remove photos from the Trash after 30 days, ensuring they are completely gone from your account.
Before deleting, make sure to back up any critical content you wish to keep elsewhere, as the removal is permanent. It’s also important to note that deleting photos from Google Photos won’t affect the images stored in both places. With proper management, Google Photos can remain an efficient, organized platform for storing your memories.
How to Delete Photos from Google Photos on Mobile Devices
To delete photos from Google Photos on mobile devices, follow these simple steps:
Open the Google Photos App
- Launch the Google Photos app on your smartphone or tablet. Make sure you are signed into the correct Google account where your photos are stored.
Select the Photos You Want to Delete
- Single Photo: Find the photo you want to delete. Tap on it to open it.
- Multiple Photos: Tap and hold on a photo until it’s selected. Then, tap on other images to choose them.
Tap the Trash Icon
- Once the photos are selected, tap the trash bin icon, which is usually located at the top of the screen (on Android devices) or at the bottom (on iOS devices).
Confirm the Deletion
- You want to delete the selected photos. Confirm the action by tapping Move to Trash.
Check the Trash Folder (Optional)
- It’s permanently deleted. You can restore or permanently delete them by going to the Trash folder from the sidebar menu.
Empty Trash (Optional)
- To permanently delete photos, go to the Trash folder and tap on Empty Trash. This will remove all images from the Trash.
Efficiently manage and delete unwanted photos from your Google Photos library on mobile devices.
Freeing Up Storage: Deleting Unwanted Photos from Google Photos
Freeing up storage by deleting unwanted photos from Google Photos is an effective way to manage your content and keep your account organized. Google Photos provides an easy solution for cleaning up your photo library, whether it’s removing blurry pictures and duplicates or simply clearing space for new memories. Here’s how you can delete unwanted photos and reclaim storage:
Identify Photos You Don’t Need
- These could include blurry pictures, duplicates, screenshots, or any images that are taking up unnecessary space.
- You can also use the Search feature to look for specific types of photos (e.g., screenshots, videos, or similar images) to help you quickly identify unnecessary content.
Use the ‘Free Up Space’ Feature
- If you’re using Google Photos with its backup and sync feature, you can use the “Free up space” tool to delete photos from your device that are already backed up in the cloud.
- Go to Settings > Free up space, and the app will remove any photos already stored in Google Photos, helping you free up storage on your device without losing any content.
Delete Unwanted Photos Manually
- For more control, go through your library and manually select photos to delete.
- Tap and hold a photo to select it, then tap the trash icon. You can choose multiple images at once to delete in bulk.
Use Google Photos’ Cleanup Suggestions
- Google Photos provides suggestions for photos to delete, such as blurry images or duplicate pictures. You can access these by going to Assistant and looking for the Suggestions section.
Permanently Delete Photos from Trash
- After deleting photos, they are sent to the Trash folder. To permanently remove them and free up storage, go to the Trash folder and tap Empty Trash.
Manage Storage Settings
- To ensure you don’t run into storage issues in the future, check your storage settings in Google Photos and adjust your backup settings if needed. You can choose between storing photos in original quality or compressing them to “Storage saver” quality, which saves space.
By following these steps, you can quickly delete unwanted photos and manage your storage more effectively, keeping your Google Photos library clutter-free and optimized.
How to Delete Multiple Photos at Once in Google Photos
To delete multiple photos at once in Google Photos, follow these steps:
Open the Google Photos App
- Launch the Google Photos app on your smartphone or tablet and ensure you’re signed in to your Google account.
Go to Your Photos Library
- Navigate to the Photos tab, where all your images are displayed.
Select Multiple Photos
- Tap and hold on to the first photo you want to delete. This will select it.
- After holding the first photo, you can now tap additional images to choose them. You can continue tapping multiple photos to pick them all at once.
Tap the Trash Icon
- Once you’ve selected all the photos, you want to see them on the top of the screen (Android) or the bottom (iOS).
Confirm Deletion
- Tap Move to Trash to confirm.
Empty Trash (Optional)
- Photos moved to the Trash will stay there for 30 days before being permanently deleted. To delete them permanently, go to the Trash folder and tap Empty Trash.
Additional Tips:
- Select All Photos: To delete all photos in an album or a specific day, open that album or day and then tap Select All at the top of the screen (Android only).
Delete multiple photos at once, keeping your Google Photos library organized and clutter-free.
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What Happens When You Delete Photos from Google Photos?
When you delete photos from Google Photos, several things happen depending on where the image is stored and how you manage your account. Here’s a breakdown of what happens when you delete photos:
Moved to the Trash
- Temporary Deletion: During this time, you can restore the image if you change your mind. It will not be permanently deleted until you either let the 30 days pass or manually empty the Trash.
Freeing Up Storage
- Device and Cloud Storage: Deleting a photo from Google Photos will free up storage space in your Google account. However, if you delete the image from your device and Google Photos is set to sync with your device, the photo will also be removed from your device’s storage (unless it’s stored separately).
- Backup Considerations: If your photos are backed up to Google Photos but stored on your device, deleting them from the app will only remove them from the cloud backup and your device unless specified otherwise.
Effect on Shared Photos or Albums
- Shared Photos: If the photo was shared with others, deleting it from your Google Photos account will not remove it from their view. They will still have access to the shared photo unless you remove it from the shared album.
- Albums: If the photo is part of a shared album, deleting it will remove it from the album, but depending on the sharing settings, it may remain visible to other users.
Permanent Deletion After 30 Days
- After 30 days in the Trash, the photo is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. This is when it is truly removed from your Google Photos account and cloud storage.
Impact on Photos on Other Devices
- If you have Google Photos syncing enabled, deleting photos from the cloud will also delete them from all devices connected to your account. However, photos stored locally on your device (and not synced) will remain intact.
Does Not Affect Photos in Google Drive
- Photos stored in Google Drive are separate from Google Photos, so deleting images from Google Photos won’t impact your Google Drive storage unless they are also saved there.
They are moved to the Trash. You have up to 30 days to restore them, and after 30 days, they are permanently deleted. Always be sure to back up any critical content before deletion if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting photos from Google Photos affect shared albums?
Depending on the sharing settings, it will be removed from any shared albums and may no longer be visible to other users.
How can I delete photos from Google Photos without losing them on my device?
From your device, turn off backup and sync before deleting, or choose to delete photos from the cloud only.
Does deleting a photo from Google Photos count against my Google storage?
Yes, deleting photos from Google Photos frees up storage space in your Google account, especially if you are using the full-resolution option (original quality).
Can I delete all photos from Google Photos at once?
Yes, you can delete all photos in an album or by date at once. On Android, tap Select All after selecting the first photo.
What should I do if I accidentally delete a photo?
Go to the Trash folder, select the image, and tap Restore.der, select the photo, and tap Restore.
Conclusion
Library and free up storage space. Whether you’re looking to remove unwanted images, organize your collection, or reclaim storage on your device and in the cloud, Google Photos offers several ways to delete content.