How To Take Long Exposure Photos On Iphone

Your iPhone’s Photos app can accumulate thousands of photos over time, consuming storage space and making it challenging to manage your gallery. Whether you want to free up storage, start fresh with a clean slate, or prepare your phone for resale, deleting all photos at once is an efficient way to declutter your device. However, deleting your entire photo library requires careful steps, especially if you want to preserve important memories.

In this guide, you’ll learn about multiple methods to delete all photos on your iPhone, how to ensure complete deletion, and how to manage your gallery effectively afterward.

How Deleting Photos Works on iPhone

Before we dive into the methods, it’s important to understand how deleting photos works on iPhone.

1. Recently Deleted Album: When you delete photos from your library, they are moved to the Recently Deleted album instead of being permanently erased. Photos remain in this album for 30 days, allowing you to recover them if needed.

2. iCloud Syncing: If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting photos from your iPhone will also remove them from all connected Apple devices using the same Apple ID.

To ensure all photos are deleted completely, you must clear the Recently Deleted album after removing the photos from your library.

Methods to Delete All Photos on iPhone

Here are several ways to delete all photos from your iPhone, ranging from using the built-in Photos app to external solutions like computers or third-party apps.

Method 1: Deleting All Photos via the Photos App

The most straightforward way to delete photos is through the Photos app on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Photos App

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.

2. Navigate to the Library tab and tap All Photos to access your entire photo library.

Step 2: Select All Photos

1. Tap Select in the upper-right corner of the screen.

2. Drag your finger across the screen or scroll down to select multiple photos. For larger libraries, this process may take a while.

Step 3: Delete Selected Photos

1. Once all photos are selected, tap the trash can icon at the bottom-right corner.

2. Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete [Number] Photos.

Step 4: Clear the Recently Deleted Album

1. Go back to the Albums tab in the Photos app.

2. Scroll down to find the Recently Deleted album.

3. Open the album, tap Select, and then choose Delete All.

This ensures that all photos are permanently removed from your iPhone.

Method 2: Deleting Photos with iCloud Photos

If you have iCloud Photos enabled, any photos you delete from your iPhone will also be deleted from iCloud and other connected devices. This method is useful if you want to clean up your entire Apple ecosystem.

Step 1: Verify iCloud Photos is Enabled

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.

2. Ensure that iCloud Photos is turned on.

Step 2: Delete Photos via the Photos App

Follow the steps outlined in Method 1 to delete all photos. Since iCloud Photos syncs automatically, these deletions will reflect across all devices.

Step 3: Clear Recently Deleted Album

Make sure to empty the Recently Deleted album as described in Method 1 to finalize the deletion.

Method 3: Deleting Photos Using a Computer

Using a Mac or PC can be faster and more efficient for deleting large libraries of photos, especially if your iPhone has limited processing power or storage.

Step 1: Connect Your iPhone to Your Computer

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC using a USB cable.

2. Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust This Computer if prompted.

Step 2: Access Photos

1. On Mac: Open the Photos app or Image Capture.

2. On Windows PC: Open File Explorer, locate your iPhone under Devices and Drives, and access the DCIM folder.

Step 3: Select and Delete Photos

1. Select all the photos you want to delete. On Mac, use Command+A. On Windows, use Control+A.

2. Press the delete key or right-click and select Delete.

Step 4: Clear Recently Deleted Album on iPhone

After deleting the photos through your computer, open the Photos app on your iPhone and clear the Recently Deleted album.

Method 4: Using Third-Party Apps

If you find manual deletion tedious, third-party apps can simplify the process.

Some popular apps for managing and deleting photos include:

1. Gemini Photos: Automatically detects duplicates and helps you remove unwanted photos.

2. Cleaner for iPhone: Identifies and removes similar photos, screenshots, and videos.

3. PhoneClean: Offers bulk photo deletion along with other iPhone cleanup tools.

Steps to Use a Third-Party App

1. Download and install the app from the App Store.

2. Allow the app to access your photo library.

3. Follow the app’s instructions to scan and delete all photos.

These apps are particularly helpful for managing large photo libraries efficiently.

Precautions Before Deleting All Photos

Deleting all photos is a permanent action, so it’s essential to take certain precautions to avoid losing important memories.

Backup Your Photos

Before deleting your entire library, ensure you have backed up your photos.

Here are some backup options:

Using iCloud

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.

2. Turn on iCloud Photos to upload your photos to the cloud.

Using Google Photos

1. Download the Google Photos app from the App Store.

2. Log in with your Google account.

3. Enable Backup & Sync to save your photos online.

Using a Computer

Transfer your photos to a computer by connecting your iPhone and copying the photos to your hard drive.

Review Your Photos

Go through your library to ensure you’re not accidentally deleting important photos, such as family memories or documents.

What Happens After Deleting All Photos?

Once you delete all photos and clear the Recently Deleted album:

1. Storage Space: Significant storage space is freed up.

2. iCloud Sync: If iCloud Photos is enabled, the changes will reflect across all connected devices.

2. Permanent Deletion: Without a backup, deleted photos cannot be recovered.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Unable to Select All Photos

If selecting all photos manually is difficult due to a large library, consider using a computer or third-party app to streamline the process.

2. Photos Not Deleting

• Check your internet connection if using iCloud Photos.
• Restart your iPhone and try again.

3. iCloud Sync Issues

Ensure iCloud Photos is enabled under Settings and connected to a stable network.

Tips for Managing Photos in the Future

1. Use Cloud Storage: Services like iCloud, Google Photos, or Dropbox can automatically back up and manage your photos.

2. Regular Cleanup: Delete unwanted photos periodically to prevent clutter.

3. Optimize iPhone Storage: Enable Optimize iPhone Storage under Settings > Photos to save space by storing high-resolution photos in iCloud.

Conclusion

Deleting all photos from your iPhone is a straightforward process that can free up valuable storage space, improve performance, or prepare your device for resale. Whether you use the Photos app, a computer, or third-party apps, each method ensures a clean slate for your photo library. Always remember to back up your photos before deletion to preserve important memories. With proper photo management and periodic cleanups, you can keep your iPhone’s storage optimized and clutter-free.