can't delete photos from mac

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Level 1

9 points

can't delete photos from mac

I recently upgraded to a new MacBook Pro with the M1 Chip and Big Sur. I can't delete photos from the photo app. Every time I select a photo or series of photos and delete, it goes through the process but doesn't delete the photo (and no "recently deleted" folder is visible). The photo still show in the library and my photo stream. No photos imported from my iPhone or iPad (all running the latest iOS software) can be deleted from my Mac. Even photos I deleted from my devices show up on my Mac and can't be deleted. I reinstalled MacOS, restarted my computer in Safe Mode, and repaired the photos library. Nothing worked. I don't know if there's a problem with the Photos app or if photos imported from my iPhone and iPad can't be deleted on my Mac but this is going to be a problem down the line. I contacted Apple for support and they can't seem to figure out what's going on. I don't know f this a glitch in the system or what but I need help.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.1

Posted on Jan 18, 2021 5:18 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

steve626

Level 6

9,977 points

Jan 18, 2021 9:12 PM in response to bamarina

Have a look at Photos Help (choose Help from within the Photos App), search for "delete." Deleting images is more complicated than it used to be, note that in some instances COMMAND-Delete is what you need, not just the Delete key:

Delete photos and videos

In the Photos app on your Mac, select the items you want to delete.
Do one of the following:

- Delete selected photos and videos in Days view: Press Delete, then click Delete. The selected items are deleted from your library and placed in the Recently Deleted album.
- Delete photos and videos from an album, but not from your library: Press Delete. The selected items are deleted from the album only and remain your library.
- Delete photos and videos from a Smart Album (for example, Last Import, Favorites, or Videos): Press Command-Delete. The selected items are deleted from your library and placed in the Recently Deleted album.
- Delete photos and videos and then permanently remove them from the Recently Deleted album: Press Command-Delete, then open the Recently Deleted album. Select the items you want to delete permanently, click Delete, then click OK.

If your Library is not behaving as it should, make a safe copy of it and then try to repair the original as described here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204967

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Answer 2

bamarina Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 19, 2021 8:30 AM in response to steve626

Thanks but as I explained in my post, I tried all that and it didn't work.

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Answer 3

bamarina Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 19, 2021 8:36 AM in response to TonyCollinet

I'm trying to delete them from the Library and the My Photo Stream. My photo library is located on the hard drive and it's the system drive. My permissions say "read and write".

Any photo I take on my iPhone or iPad shows up on my computer, even the photos I delete on either device.

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Answer 4

Jan 19, 2021 12:23 AM in response to bamarina

Are you trying to delete them from an album view, or the all photos view?

Deleting from an album view normally only removes them from the album.

Where is your library stored? On the system drive, or an external drive?

If you click on the library, and open the info pane (CMD-I) what does it shown in the permissions section at the bottom?

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can't delete photos from mac

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