How to Delete Multiple Photos on iPhone: 5 Easy Ways

We all love taking photos on our iPhones. But before you know it, thousands of pictures pile up. Your storage starts running low, and things slow down.

Deleting photos one by one feels like a chore. Fortunately, there are faster ways to clean up your library. In this guide, you will learn how to delete multiple photos on iPhone using five simple methods.

Whether you have 500 or 5,000 photos to remove, these steps will save you tons of time. Let’s get started.

Why You Might Need to Delete Multiple Photos on iPhone

First, let’s talk about why bulk-deleting photos actually matters.

The most common reason is storage. Photos and videos eat up a lot of space on your iPhone. When storage runs low, your phone gets sluggish and stops updating apps.

On top of that, most of us have hundreds of duplicate or blurry shots. You probably don’t need all 47 photos of last Tuesday’s sunset. Cleaning these out keeps your library neat and easy to browse.

Also, a well-organized photo library simply feels better. You can actually find the pictures you want without endless scrolling.

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How to Delete Multiple Photos on iPhone?

Method 1: Select and Delete Multiple Photos in the Photos App

This is the quickest way to delete multiple photos on iPhone. It works right inside the built-in Photos app.

Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap Library at the bottom of the screen.
3. Make sure you are in the All Photos view.
4. Tap Select in the upper right corner.
5. Tap each photo you want to delete. A blue checkmark will appear on each one.
6. Once you have selected everything, tap the trash icon at the bottom right.
7. Tap Delete Photos to confirm.

Pro tip: Instead of tapping photos one by one, try dragging your finger across the screen. This lets you select a whole row of photos in one swipe. It is a huge time-saver when you want to clear large batches quickly.

Method 2: Delete an Entire Album at Once

Sometimes, you want to remove a whole group of photos at once. For example, maybe you created an album for a trip you no longer need.

Here is how to handle that:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Tap Albums at the bottom.
3. Find the album you want to delete.
4. Open the album, then tap Select in the upper right.
5. Tap Select All in the upper left.
6. Tap the trash icon and confirm.

Important note: Simply deleting the album itself does not remove the photos. It only removes the album folder. To actually free up storage, you need to delete the photos inside first.

This method works best for project-based or event-based albums you no longer need.

Method 3: Delete Photos by Date or Month

If you want to clear out old photos from a specific time period, this method is perfect. The Photos app organizes your library by date, which makes this really easy.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Photos app and tap Library.
2. At the top, switch the view to Months or Days.
3. Find the time period you want to clean up.
4. Tap the three-dot menu (or Select button) next to that month or day.
5. Tap Select All Photos for that time period.
6. Tap the trash icon and confirm deletion.

This is especially useful for removing old vacation photos or screenshots from months ago. Instead of scrolling through your entire library, you can target specific time ranges directly.

I personally use this method every few months. It helps me clear out random screenshots and food photos I will never look at again.

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Method 4: Use the iPhone’s Duplicates Feature (iOS 16 and Later)

Starting with iOS 16, Apple added a handy feature that detects duplicate photos. This is a great first step before doing any manual cleanup.

Here is how to use it:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Scroll down and tap Utilities in the Albums section.
3. Tap Duplicates.
4. You will see pairs of identical or similar photos.
5. Tap Merge next to each pair to keep the best version.
6. To merge all duplicates at once, tap Select, then Select All, and then Merge.

Merging duplicates automatically keeps the highest-quality version. It then moves the extras to the Recently Deleted folder.

However, keep in mind that this feature is only available on iOS 16 or later. To check your iOS version, go to Settings > General > About.

Method 5: Delete All Photos Using iCloud or a Computer

If you need to delete a very large number of photos, using a computer might be easier. A bigger screen and a mouse make bulk-selecting much faster.

Option A: Using a Mac

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac or use AirDrop.
2. Open the Photos app on your Mac.
3. Select photos using Command + Click or Command + A to select all.
4. Press Delete and confirm.

Option B: Using iCloud.com

1. Go to iCloud.com on any computer and sign in.
2. Click on Photos.
3. Select the photos you want to remove (use Ctrl + Click on Windows).
4. Click the trash icon to delete.

This method is ideal when you want to delete hundreds or thousands of photos at once. It also works well if your iPhone screen is too small for comfortable bulk-selecting.

Don’t Forget to Empty the Recently Deleted Folder

This step is crucial, and many people miss it.

When you delete photos on your iPhone, they don’t disappear right away. Instead, they move to the Recently Deleted folder. Apple keeps them there for 30 days before permanently removing them.

That means your storage won’t free up until you empty this folder. Here is how to do that:

1. Open the Photos app.
2. Scroll down to Utilities and tap Recently Deleted.
3. Tap Select, then Delete All.
4. Confirm to permanently remove everything.

After doing this, you should notice a difference in your available storage right away. You can check by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Quick Tips to Keep Your iPhone Photos Organized

Once you have cleared out old photos, here are a few ways to stay organized going forward:

• Turn on iCloud Photos. This backs up your photos to the cloud and frees up local storage automatically.
• Enable “Optimize iPhone Storage.” This keeps smaller versions on your phone while storing originals in iCloud.
• Do a monthly cleanup. Set a reminder to review and delete unwanted photos every month.
• Use albums wisely. Sort your favorite photos into albums so the rest is easier to delete later.

These small habits prevent the clutter from building up again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Recover Photos After Deleting Them From My iPhone?

Yes, you can. Deleted photos stay in the Recently Deleted folder for up to 30 days. You can restore them from there anytime during that window. After 30 days, they are gone permanently.

How Do I Select All Photos on My iPhone at Once?

There is no single “select all” button for your entire library. However, you can select all photos within a specific day, month, or album. Use the method described in Method 3 above for the fastest results.

Will Deleting Photos From My iPhone Also Delete Them From iCloud?

Yes, if you have iCloud Photos turned on, deleting a photo from your iPhone also removes it from iCloud. To keep photos in iCloud while removing them from your phone, you would need to turn off iCloud Photos first.

How Much Storage Do Photos Typically Use on an iPhone?

It depends on the photo quality and format. On average, a single iPhone photo takes about 2 to 5 MB. Videos use much more. A library of 1,000 photos could use anywhere from 2 GB to 5 GB of storage.

Wrapping Up

Now you know how to delete multiple photos on iPhone using five different methods. Whether you prefer the built-in Photos app, the Duplicates feature, or a computer, there is an option for every situation.

Start with whichever method feels easiest for you. For most people, Method 1 or Method 3 works best for regular cleanups. And don’t forget to empty that Recently Deleted folder afterward.

A clean photo library means more storage, better performance, and less stress when searching for your favorite memories. Happy cleaning!