Removing unwanted photos from your iCloud storage can free up valuable space and help keep your photo collection organized. Whether you want to delete a few pictures or clear out entire albums, there are multiple ways to manage your iCloud photos. In this guide, I'll walk you through the step-by-step process of deleting photos from iCloud using your iPhone, Mac, or the iCloud website.

What Happens When You Delete Photos from iCloud?

Before diving into the deletion methods, it's important to understand what happens when you remove photos from iCloud:

• When you delete a photo from iCloud, it's removed from all your devices that use the same Apple ID
• Deleted photos are moved to the "Recently Deleted" album, where they remain for 30 days
• After 30 days, photos are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered
• You can manually empty the "Recently Deleted" album to permanently remove photos immediately

How to Delete Photos from iCloud on iPhone

Your iPhone offers several ways to remove photos from iCloud. Here are the most effective methods:

Method 1: Delete Individual Photos from the Photos App

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone
2. Find the photo(s) you want to delete
3. Tap "Select" in the upper-right corner
4. Tap on each photo you want to remove, or slide your finger across multiple photos to select them
5. Tap the trash icon at the bottom of the screen
6. Confirm by tapping "Delete Photos"

Method 2: Delete Entire Albums from iPhone

If you want to remove a whole collection of photos at once:

1. Open the Photos app and go to the "Albums" tab
2. Tap "See All" next to My Albums (if necessary)
3. Tap "Edit" in the upper-right corner
4. For albums you created (not system albums): tap the red minus icon, then tap "Delete Album"
5. Note: This only deletes the album, not the photos themselves
6. To delete all photos in an album: Open the album, tap "Select," then "Select All," tap the trash icon, and confirm deletion

Method 3: Delete Photos by Date or Location

The Photos app organizes pictures by time and place, making it easy to delete batches:

1. Open the Photos app and tap the "Library" tab
2. Tap "Days," "Months," or "Years" at the bottom of the screen
3. Find the collection you want to delete
4. Tap "Select" and choose the photos
5. Tap the trash icon and confirm deletion

Method 4: Empty the Recently Deleted Folder

To permanently remove photos from iCloud and free up space immediately:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Scroll down and tap "Recently Deleted" under Utilities
3. Tap "Select" in the upper-right corner
4. Tap "Delete All" in the bottom-left corner
5. Confirm by tapping "Delete X Items"

How to Delete Photos from iCloud on Mac

Mac users have similar options for managing and deleting iCloud photos:

Method 1: Delete Photos Using the Photos App on Mac

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac
2. Find the photos you want to delete
3. Select the photos by clicking on them (hold Command to select multiple photos)
4. Press the Delete key on your keyboard
5. Click "Delete" to confirm

Method 2: Delete Photos by Collection on Mac

1. Open Photos app and click on "Photos" in the sidebar
2. Click on "Years," "Months," or "Days" view at the top
3. Select the time period containing photos you want to delete
4. Press Command+A to select all photos in that period (or manually select specific photos)
5. Press Delete and confirm

Method 3: Empty Recently Deleted Folder on Mac

1. In the Photos app, find "Recently Deleted" in the sidebar
2. Click on it to view deleted photos
3. Click "Delete All" in the upper-right corner
4. Confirm the permanent deletion

How to Delete Photos from iCloud on the Website

You can also manage your iCloud photos through any web browser:

Method 1: Delete Individual Photos on iCloud.com

1. Go to iCloud.com in your web browser
2. Sign in with your Apple ID and password
3. Click on "Photos"
4. Browse and select the photos you want to delete
5. Click the trash icon in the top menu
6. Confirm deletion when prompted

Method 2: Delete Multiple Photos on iCloud.com

1. Sign in to iCloud.com and open Photos
2. Hold down the Command key (Mac) or Control key (Windows) while clicking to select multiple photos
3. Alternatively, select one photo, hold Shift, and click another photo to select all photos between them
4. Click the trash icon and confirm

Method 3: Empty Recently Deleted on iCloud.com

1. After logging into iCloud.com and opening Photos
2. Click on "Recently Deleted" in the sidebar
3. Click "Recover All" or "Delete All" in the upper-right corner
4. Choose "Delete All" and confirm

How to Delete Photos from iCloud Without Deleting from iPhone

Sometimes you might want to remove photos from iCloud storage while keeping them on your device. Here's how:

Method 1: Turn Off iCloud Photos

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone
2. Tap your name at the top
3. Tap "iCloud"
4. Tap "Photos"
5. Toggle off "iCloud Photos"
6. When prompted, choose "Download to This iPhone" to keep local copies

Note: This will disconnect your iPhone photos from iCloud entirely. Any future photos taken won't be uploaded to iCloud.

Method 2: Use "Download and Keep Originals" Option

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Tap your name, then "iCloud"
3. Tap "Photos"
4. Select "Download and Keep Originals"
5. This ensures full-resolution photos stay on your device even if deleted from iCloud

How to Free Up iCloud Storage Without Deleting Photos

If your goal is to create more iCloud space without losing photos, consider these alternatives:

Option 1: Optimize iPhone Storage

1. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Photos
2. Select "Optimize iPhone Storage"
3. This keeps full-resolution photos in iCloud but uses smaller versions on your device to save space

Option 2: Use iCloud Photo Library with Another Backup Service

You can use iCloud Photos alongside another service for redundancy:

1. Install Google Photos, Amazon Photos, or another backup app
2. Set up automatic backup in that app
3. Once photos are backed up to the alternative service, you can safely delete them from iCloud

Option 3: Upgrade iCloud Storage

If you need more space for your photos:

1. Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage
2. Tap "Change Storage Plan"
3. Choose a larger plan (options include 50GB, 200GB, or 2TB)
4. Follow the prompts to complete the purchase

Common Issues When Deleting Photos from iCloud

Users sometimes encounter problems when trying to remove photos. Here are solutions to typical issues:

Problem 1: Photos Reappearing After Deletion

If deleted photos keep coming back:

1. Check that all your devices are using the same Apple ID
2. Make sure all devices have iCloud Photos enabled
3. Verify that all devices have synced recently (connect to Wi-Fi and power)
4. Turn off any automatic backup features in third-party apps that might be restoring photos

Problem 2: Unable to Delete Photos

If you can't delete certain photos:

1. Check if the photos are in a shared album (these can only be deleted by the owner)
2. Ensure you have adequate internet connection for sync operations
3. Restart your device and try again
4. Update to the latest iOS/macOS version

Problem 3: Storage Not Freeing Up After Deletion

If your storage space doesn't increase after deleting photos:

1. Remember to empty the "Recently Deleted" album
2. Allow time for iCloud to sync (can take several hours with large deletions)
3. Check your iCloud storage breakdown (Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage)
4. Sign out of iCloud and sign back in to refresh the connection

Comparing Methods for Deleting iCloud Photos

Method	Pros	Cons	Best For
iPhone Photos App	Convenient, familiar interface	Can be slow for large batches	Daily photo management
Mac Photos App	Larger screen, easier selection	Requires Mac access	Managing large collections
iCloud.com	Accessible from any device	Less responsive than native apps	When away from Apple devices
Turning off iCloud Photos	Keeps photos on device	Stops all photo syncing	One-time separation from iCloud

Tips for Managing iCloud Photos Effectively

Tip 1: Regular Photo Maintenance

• Set a monthly reminder to review and delete unwanted photos
• Sort photos by size to identify and remove large files first
• Create albums for important photos to make it easier to keep what matters

Tip 2: Use Smart Albums on Mac

• On Mac, create Smart Albums that filter by criteria like date or low quality
• Use these collections to quickly identify photos that are candidates for deletion

Tip 3: Check Screenshot and Duplicate Photos

• The "Screenshots" album often contains many disposable images
• In iOS 16 and later, use the "Duplicates" feature to find and merge duplicate photos

Tip 4: Backup Before Bulk Deletions

• Before deleting large numbers of photos, ensure you have a backup
• Consider exporting important photos to an external drive

Understanding iCloud Photos Storage

To better manage your photos, it helps to understand how iCloud Photos works:

• iCloud Photos uses your iCloud storage allocation (5GB free, paid plans available)
• All photos and videos count against your storage limit
• Live Photos and videos consume significantly more space than standard photos
• Original, full-resolution photos are stored in iCloud when using Optimize Storage
• Shared albums have separate storage limits and don't count against your personal iCloud storage

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Conclusion

Deleting photos from iCloud is a straightforward process that can be done from your iPhone, Mac, or the iCloud website. By regularly managing your photo library and removing unwanted images, you can maintain an organized collection and avoid paying for unnecessary storage space.

Remember that deleted photos remain in the Recently Deleted album for 30 days, giving you time to recover anything removed by accident. For permanent deletion and immediate space recovery, be sure to empty this album.

Whether you're looking to free up storage, organize your photo collection, or simply remove unwanted pictures, the methods outlined in this guide provide various options to manage your iCloud photos effectively across all your Apple devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting photos from my iPhone delete them from iCloud too?

Yes, if you have iCloud Photos turned on, deleting photos from your iPhone will also delete them from iCloud and all other devices signed in with the same Apple ID. The photos will move to the Recently Deleted album, where they'll stay for 30 days before being permanently removed.

Can I recover photos after deleting them from iCloud?

Yes, you can recover deleted photos within 30 days after deletion. Go to the Recently Deleted album in the Photos app on any device or on iCloud.com, select the photos you want to recover, and tap "Recover." After 30 days, deleted photos are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.

Why are my photos still in iCloud after I deleted them?

If photos still appear in iCloud after deletion, it could be because they're still in your Recently Deleted album, your devices haven't fully synced yet, or the photos might be stored in a shared album. Check the Recently Deleted folder and make sure all your devices are connected to the internet to complete the sync process.

How do I delete thousands of photos from iCloud quickly?

The fastest way to delete thousands of photos is using a Mac. Open the Photos app, press Command+A to select all photos (or select a specific album or time period), press Delete, and confirm. Then empty the Recently Deleted folder. For even larger libraries, consider selecting photos in chunks by date ranges rather than all at once.

If I delete photos from iCloud but keep them on my iPhone, will they upload again?

If you keep iCloud Photos enabled, any photos on your iPhone will automatically re-upload to iCloud. To prevent this, you need to either turn off iCloud Photos completely or move the photos you want to keep to a separate app or folder that doesn't sync with iCloud.