How to Delete iPhone Photos in Bulk (Select, Duplicates, Recover)

A camera roll full of near-identical shots, screenshots and test videos is one of the quickest ways to run out of space on a phone. If you run a business from your iPhone, it also makes it harder to find the one photo you need for a client or a post. The good news is that you can clear dozens at a time without tapping each one.

Everything below follows Apple's own help page for deleting photos on iPhone and iPad. Apple updates Photos regularly, so if a button looks slightly different on your phone, follow the nearest option.

Selecting and deleting many iPhone photos at once

1. Open Photos.
2. Tap Select.
3. Tap several photos or videos, or slide your finger across a row of them to select more than one.
4. Tap the Trash button.
5. Confirm the deletion.

Sliding your finger across the thumbnails is the fastest way to grab a run of pictures, such as a burst of similar shots. Tap a selected item again to deselect it before you delete.

Is there a Select All button for deleting iPhone photos?

Apple's page mentions Select All only in the section about merging duplicates, not as a general way to delete every photo. I wouldn't promise a Select All button for ordinary deletion, because it varies by version and screen. If you want to clear a whole group, the quickest routes are sliding your finger across the thumbnails, or working album by album.

Cleaning up duplicate iPhone photos in bulk

Duplicates are a common reason for a bloated library. Apple says that on iOS 16 or later you can find them in a special album:

1. Open Photos and tap Collections.
2. Swipe up and tap Duplicates under Utilities.
3. To combine one set, tap Merge.
4. To handle several sets, tap Select, then tap each set, or tap Select All.
5. Tap Merge, then confirm.

Apple says merging keeps the highest-quality image and moves the other copies to Recently Deleted. Detection is automatic and can take time, so a fresh import might not show up straight away.

Where deleted iPhone photos go

Deleted photos and videos go to the Recently Deleted album for 30 days, then they're permanently deleted. That's a safety net if you tap the wrong thing. It also means that your storage won't free up fully until the 30 days pass or you empty the album yourself.

Emptying Recently Deleted to free up space now

1. Open Photos, tap Collections, swipe up and tap Recently Deleted under Utilities.
2. On iOS 16 or later, tap View Album and open it with Face ID or Touch ID.
3. Tap Select and choose the items. To pick everything, tap Cancel, then tap Select again.
4. Tap More, then tap Delete or Delete All.
5. Tap Delete from All Devices or Delete Photos I Added to confirm.

Apple is clear that permanently deleted items can't be recovered, so look through the album first.

Getting back iPhone photos you deleted by mistake

1. Open Photos, tap Collections, swipe up and tap Recently Deleted.
2. Open it with Face ID or Touch ID if asked.
3. Tap Select and choose the items you want to keep.
4. Tap More, then tap Recover (or Recover All).
5. Tap Recover to confirm.

Recovered items return to your library. You have 30 days to do this.

What iCloud Photos changes when you bulk delete iPhone photos

If iCloud Photos is on, Apple says deleting on one device deletes on every device signed in with the same Apple Account. That includes your iPad and Mac. Apple's advice is to back up anything you want to keep before you start.

It's worth checking this before a big clear-out. If you're only trying to make room on the phone and still want the pictures elsewhere, make sure you have copies you can reach first. If you like looking back over old pictures, my guide to seeing your memories on Facebook is a gentle reminder of why to keep the good ones.

When the iPhone Trash button is grey

Apple says you can't delete photos that were added by syncing from a computer. If the Trash button is grey, you may need to stop syncing photos from your computer. That's a different setup from iCloud Photos, so check whether you ever connected the phone to a computer for photo syncing.

Deleting hidden iPhone photos in bulk

On iOS 16 or later, Apple says Face ID or Touch ID is required by default to view the Hidden and Recently Deleted albums. If that is a nuisance when you're doing a big clear-out, open Settings, tap Apps, tap Photos and turn off Use Face ID. Apple notes that this also opens the Hidden album by default, so think about who else uses the phone before you change it.

A sensible routine is to delete in small batches rather than one giant sweep. Select a month at a time, glance at what you're about to remove, and only then tap Trash. It takes a little longer, but you're far less likely to lose the one photo you needed for a quote, a listing or a client.

Checking how much space deleting iPhone photos freed

Apple points to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage to see your space. Check it before and after a big clear-out so you know whether the deleted items are still waiting in Recently Deleted.

Keeping only your best shots makes posting easier too. When you're ready to share, my guide to editing an Instagram post with multiple pictures covers swapping and tidying photos in a carousel.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete multiple photos on iPhone?

Open Photos, tap Select, tap several photos or slide your finger across them, then tap the Trash button and confirm.

How long do deleted iPhone photos stay in Recently Deleted?

Apple says they stay for 30 days, then they're permanently deleted.

How do I delete all iPhone photos for good?

Open Recently Deleted, open it with Face ID or Touch ID, tap Select, then More, then Delete or Delete All, and confirm. Apple says permanently deleted items can't be recovered.

Why is the Trash button grey on my iPhone?

Apple says photos added by syncing from a computer can't be deleted on the phone. You may need to stop syncing photos from your computer.

Will deleting photos on my iPhone delete them from my iPad?

With iCloud Photos on, Apple says deleting on one device deletes on all devices signed in with the same Apple Account.

Can I get deleted iPhone photos back?

Yes, within 30 days. Open Recently Deleted, tap Select, choose the items, then tap More and Recover.