Deleting photos from iPhone USING A PC

Question

Level 1

9 points

Deleting photos from iPhone USING A PC

I've read every support article on the topic plus outside websites - no answers that work yet.

I attach my iPhone11 Pro to my PC. I can view all the photos on my phone using Windows Explorer. I can copy photos from the phone to my PC photo library no problem.

However, I am trying to CUT and paste. I do NOT want the photos on my phone any more. When I cut and paste, it appears to work, and the photos are removed from the directory as I'm viewing it on my PC. But give it a minute or two to refresh, and when I navigate back to that DCIM (apple) folders the photos are there again. On the phone.

How do I permanently delete them from the phone? I can't do it from the phone directly, I need the very large screen as I sort and delete as I go (and there's 25,000 photos to get through).

Note: I have turned OFF "iCloud Photos" in settings, which is advice another site gave me. Didn't work.

Thanks for your assistance, it's driving me mad (spent 3 hours of work this afternoon thinking they were deleted, but they're all back again).

iPhone 11 Pro, iOS 13

Posted on Sep 4, 2020 1:41 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Siabh

Level 5

7,310 points

Sep 4, 2020 4:40 AM in response to Kinash33

Dear Kinash33,

To confirm what you're asking: a way to view an iPhone photo in full size (not thumbnail size) while it is connected to a computer, and then delete the photo from the iPhone itself through the computer, without first importing it.

I do not know about any PC apps which are able to delete on-the-fly from the iPhone itself without first importing it!

Instead of Windows Explorer, have you tried Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, which might treat your iPhone as another camera-device allowing you to delete from there?

I have tried on all native Mac apps - Image Capture, Photos and (erstwhile) iPhoto.

None of these apps give an option to view the photo in a size other than a (large) thumbnail, prior to importing it into the Mac.

Only Image Capture allows you to delete without first importing.

What I can say, though, is that if you were using iCloud and had all your 25000+ photos uploaded on iCloud, then you could view your photos on your PC through a web-browser on iCloud.com, and also delete/manage them there. As you know, photos deleted from iCloud.com would also be deleted on any device (iPhone) connected to iCloud.

I am hoping some other users have a way, or know of an app, which accomplishes what you're asking. And reply to this query.

Also, I think, you've stumbled on a feature that iOS/Mac and PC should have - to be able to view a photo in full size on a computer screen, prior to importing it.

Apple might, for security reasons, want to prevent giving access to an external app to delete/modify what's on the iPhone but to be able to view the photo on an external screen in full size should be okay! Deleting could still happen through the iPhone.

You could suggest to Apple here: Product Feedback - Apple

Reply

Answer 2

Kinash33 Author

Level 1

9 points

Sep 6, 2020 4:44 PM in response to Siabh

Thank you for your detailed response, lots of information in there. As I suspected, there's currently not an option available for what I need to do. I've avoided paying for iCloud storage as I already have storage and backup options set up, its just another layer of expense. May have to investigate it further.

Thanks again, have a great day!

Reply

Answer 3

Siabh

Level 5

7,310 points

Sep 7, 2020 2:59 AM in response to Kinash33

You're welcome!!!

If you do find out something which works or have discovered relatable information, please reply to this.

Good Luck!

Reply

Deleting photos from iPhone USING A PC

Similar questions