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Over the last several months, I have deleting redundant photos and photos of poor quality, spending countless hours on the process. I got rid of about 3000 altogether. Recently I discovered that everything I ever deleted has been restored! What a waste of time! Why did that happen? Can I fix it (quickly)?
iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14
Deleting Photos from a Photos Library
1 - regardless of where you are in the library, i.e. Photos, Memories, Favorites, People, Recents, Imports, albums or smart albums, select the photo(s) you want to delete and use the key combination of Command+Delete to move the photos to the Recently Deleted smart album. Without the Command key held down you'll be presented with a confirmation Yes/No window regarding the deletion.
2 - click on the Recently Deleted smart albums in the sidebar.
NOTE 1: If you're using Photos 1.2 or earlier use the File ➙ Show Recently Deleted menu option.
3 - in the Recently Deleted album you can opt to let the photo automatically delete after the 30 day waiting period is up, delete them immediately or restore them to the library.
NOTE 2: deleting a photo from an album, slideshow, book, etc., with the Delete key only deletes the photo from that item. There is no key combination that will delete a photo from a project and move it directly to the Recently Deleted smart album.
NOTE 3: deleting a photo from a Moment or Collection (the Photos window) or the All Photos window deletes ALL occurences of that photo in the library.
Deleting Photos from a Photos Library
1 - regardless of where you are in the library, i.e. Photos, Memories, Favorites, People, Recents, Imports, albums or smart albums, select the photo(s) you want to delete and use the key combination of Command+Delete to move the photos to the Recently Deleted smart album. Without the Command key held down you'll be presented with a confirmation Yes/No window regarding the deletion.
2 - click on the Recently Deleted smart albums in the sidebar.
NOTE 1: If you're using Photos 1.2 or earlier use the File ➙ Show Recently Deleted menu option.
3 - in the Recently Deleted album you can opt to let the photo automatically delete after the 30 day waiting period is up, delete them immediately or restore them to the library.
NOTE 2: deleting a photo from an album, slideshow, book, etc., with the Delete key only deletes the photo from that item. There is no key combination that will delete a photo from a project and move it directly to the Recently Deleted smart album.
NOTE 3: deleting a photo from a Moment or Collection (the Photos window) or the All Photos window deletes ALL occurences of that photo in the library.
Hi,
Did you delete them or just remove them from the album you were viewing?
If you are viewing photos in album view, pressing backspace removes from album whilst CMD-backspace will delete the photo.
If you in library view then backspace will delete the photos. Slightly confusing I know.
You'll know if the photo has been deleted as you'll be able to see it in the Recently Deleted folder.
If you are diligent in putting all of your photos in albums then if you create a smart album with the rule Photo 'Album is not any' then it will show you photos that are not in an album and hopefully will comprise most of the photos you thought you had deleted!
Deleting photos
