I want to remove all my pictures from both my iPhone and my iPad.
I sync both devices to my Mac via the Photos app.
I use iTunes to sync my devices, I remove (uncheck) the Sync Photos box to un-sync my photos....
and I STILL have photos on both devices.
How do I remove all Photos from the iPhone and from the iPad?
macOS = 10.14.3
iTunes = 12.9.25
IOs = 12.1.4
Photos = 4.0
iPhone X
I use iTunes to sync my devices, I remove (uncheck) the Sync Photos box to un-sync my photos....
and I STILL have photos on both devices.
Did you uncheck the "sync photos" as described here? In the second part of the document: Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all of your devices - Apple Support
Stop syncing some albums
Stop syncing all photos
This procedure should remove all photos you synced to the device with iTunes, but all photos taken with the device, or edited, or saved to the camera roll in any way will remain. Have all photos on your devices been synced to the devices with iTunes?
You have checke "iCloud Photos", Did you also check My Photo Stream?
I use iTunes to sync my devices, I remove (uncheck) the Sync Photos box to un-sync my photos....
and I STILL have photos on both devices.
Did you uncheck the "sync photos" as described here? In the second part of the document: Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all of your devices - Apple Support
Stop syncing some albums
Stop syncing all photos
This procedure should remove all photos you synced to the device with iTunes, but all photos taken with the device, or edited, or saved to the camera roll in any way will remain. Have all photos on your devices been synced to the devices with iTunes?
You have checke "iCloud Photos", Did you also check My Photo Stream?
Greetings Gmoney5399,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. It seems like you want to remove phots from all of the devices. If they are still appearing on all devices it may be that iCloud Photos is enabled. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, then turn off iCloud Photos. Also, see the section called "How do I delete photos and videos from a device using iCloud Photos?"
Please don't hesitate to let us know if the steps resolved your issue or if you need additional assistance.
Take care.
No, the prompt to remove photos did not appear (because I don't have any new photos). I sync on a regular basis and I do check that box to remove photos. At this current moment I have no un-synced photos.
I am not sure what you mean: "there are probably no longer any iTunes synced photos"
All my photos should be synced thru iTunes. I never (ever) use iCloud Photos or Photo Stream.
Not sure how to test if the remaining photos are really photos synced with iTunes...I tired to do what you mentioned...but I don't understand so I did not get any results I can share and probably didn't do it correctly.
Is there a way to reset iTunes and have it verify all photos are in the library and have it ask if I want to remove all photos that have been synced?
I really do know how iCloud Photos works or how Photo Stream works. When it first came out in made a mess of all my pictures. Have NEVER used it since. I would rather stay away from this method.
Any video that would walk someone thru this particular issue and give the "proper" way to fix instead of me guessing?
Thanks for all your help!!
I have done ALL the steps described above regarding "Stop syncing all phots".
Yes, all photos taken with my device have been synced with iTunes. Now I want to remove All photos but it will not.
Please see attached screen shot of my iTunes...I've unchecked the box for "Sync Photos" and I still have over 2500 photos on my iPhone! How do I remove these? that is my question.
I never use iCloud Photos. I still double checked to be sure. iCloud Photos is off on both of my devices that I am having the problem with.
Yes, I have checked iCloud Phots and My Photo Steam. I do not use them. Please see attached screen shot of my iPhone.
After you unchecked "Sync Photos", did the prompt appear to "Remove Photos"? If not, there are probably no longer any iTunes synced photos.
Have you tested, if the remaining photos are really photos synced with iTunes? If you edit a photo, the photo will be copied to the camera roll.
These saved copies will not be removed by the iTunes sync.
A brute force method to get rid of all iTunes synced photos would be to turn on iCloud Photos, just for a short moment. iCloud Photos is not compatible with iTunes Photo Sync and will erase all photos synced by iTunes to the iPad or iPhone. Once they are gone, disable iCloud Photos again. Only photos stored locally on the iPhone will remain. You should be able to delete them directly on the device.
Sync and Remove ALL photos from IOs device
