Jumin4

Q: permanently delete from ALL devices!

re. Mac Photos ... which is primary Photos library? Photos or All Photos? Want to permanently delete selected photos from ALL devices! Have zillions of multi duplicates!!!

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 3:04 PM

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Q: permanently delete from ALL devices!

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 3, 2016 3:42 PM in response to Jumin4
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 3, 2016 3:42 PM in response to Jumin4

    neither - all photos are in the library - you can view then in several ways including last import, All Photos, Photos, special system albums like selfies, etc., user albums, smart albums among others

     

    If you select one or more photos in any of these views and  hold down the command key and press the delete key the selected photos will be moved to the recently deleted album where they will be deleted in 30 days or when you delete them there

     

    as to other devices - if you are using iCloud Photo Library then all changes made on any device including additions, deletions and edits are made everyplace (the sync does take some time) - if you are not using ICPL then you must delete directly on each device

     

    And for finding duplicates I suggest you use one of the tested, safe duplicate elimination programs - DO NOT USE malwear like CleanMyMac, MacKeeper or other destructive programs like them

     

    The safe programs are:

    PowerPhotos

    Duplicate Annihilator for PHotos

    Photosweeper for Photos

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 3, 2016 11:32 PM in response to Jumin4
    Level 10 (105,518 points)
    iLife
    Sep 3, 2016 11:32 PM in response to Jumin4

    Want to permanently delete selected photos from ALL devices! Have zillions of multi duplicates!!!

    Are you sure you are having duplicates?  Photos may be showing the same photo in several albums or smart album.  The albums are just referencing the photos imported the Photos library without creating duplicates.

    A photo is only a duplicate, if you are seeing it more than once in the Moments or the All Photos album. Photos may be hidden from the moments, so check the "Hidden Photos" album as well.

     

    To check for potential duplicates manually, I'd scroll through the moments. Exact duplicates will appear side-by-side in the moments and are easy to spot, because the moments are sorted by the capture date.