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Bonnie42

Q: How do I delete multiple photos on my iPhone 5s.

Deleting all 5,000 would be very much better than one at a time. I can easily drag the 10 from my MacBP before my trip.
I've tried everything on the forum.  Anything there isn't on the current device or apps. 

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Sep 2, 2015 1:50 PM

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Q: How do I delete multiple photos on my iPhone 5s.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by rockmyplimsoul,Solvedanswer

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul Sep 3, 2015 4:56 AM in response to Bonnie42
    Level 5 (7,126 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 3, 2015 4:56 AM in response to Bonnie42

    Are you using iCloud Photo Library?  If so then don't delete the photos from your iPhone - they'll be deleted from iCloud and any other device linked to your account.  If you select "Optimize iPhone Storage" then the capacity taken up by your photos will reduce.

     

    If you're not using iCloud Photo Library, and are still using "Camera Roll" as a local storage only, then deleting photos from this album has to be done one at a time unfortunately (hence the recommendation to disposition your photos frequently and not leave them in Camera Roll).  Other than deleting one at a time, you could restore your iPhone as new and not load your backup ... as harsh as that sounds, it may be a faster option for you.  Of course you'll have to re-do all your settings and lose some data like recent messages, call history, app data, etc.

  • by Bonnie42,

    Bonnie42 Bonnie42 Sep 3, 2015 5:04 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 3, 2015 5:04 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

    OK,  Thx.

     

    So why did the Bridge Street, HSV, Apple genius say that iTunes can delete pictures on my phone as if that were still and option?

     

    I'll double check on iCloud having been disconnected last month. 

     

    I'm still curious why Apple Support Communities thought this was a new question. 

  • by rockmyplimsoul,

    rockmyplimsoul rockmyplimsoul Sep 3, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Bonnie42
    Level 5 (7,126 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 3, 2015 7:44 AM in response to Bonnie42

    iTunes can delete photos from your iPhone, but only the ones that you synced to it from your computer (i.e. via iTunes).  iTunes cannot delete photos that you've taken with your iPhone (unless you synced them from your computer) nor can it delete your iCloud photos.  Perhaps the people you were speaking to did not understand that distinction.

  • by aburles,

    aburles aburles Oct 20, 2015 12:31 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 20, 2015 12:31 AM in response to rockmyplimsoul

    What a shambles.

     

    It used to be so simple, log into iTunes, delete the photos or albums you don't want any more, done!

     

    Now my iPhone tells me to free up storage space and nothing will delete, same on my iPad. Or I have to do them individually (not all of them of course, some can be selected but there is no trash to send them to!).

     

    Come on Apple - KISS.. 

  • by Huelani,

    Huelani Huelani May 17, 2016 12:41 AM in response to aburles
    Level 1 (9 points)
    May 17, 2016 12:41 AM in response to aburles

    This is ridiculous I have over 2000 photos to delete individually. Apple is wasting so much of my time and the battery life on the phone is horrible. Time to get a Samsung.