Photos keep re-appearing after deleting on iPhone

Deleting photos from your “Photos” app does not automatically delete them from your text messages in the “Messages” app, and vice versa. If you delete a photo from a conversation in “Messages”, it only removes it from that specific conversation. The original photo still remains in your “Photos” app. If you delete it from the “Photos” app, it can still exist within your message threads.

To completely delete a photo from your device, you need to:

1. Delete it from the “Photos” app.

2. Delete it from the conversation in the “Messages” app.

3. Delete it from the “Recently Deleted” album in your “Photos” app (photos remain there for 30 days after deletion, unless manually removed).

Remember, if you’ve set your messages to automatically delete after a certain period of time, the photo will also be deleted when the message thread is. To check this setting, go to “Settings” > “Messages” > “Keep Messages”, and see if you have it set to 30 days or 1 year. If not, you can change it to automatically delete older messages and their attachments.

Also, if you’re using iCloud Photos and Messages in iCloud, the photos may reappear due to syncing with iCloud. You would need to ensure the photo is deleted from these locations as well.

As always, ensure you really want to delete these photos as this process is not reversible.

I see, thanks for clarifying. That sounds like a syncing issue with your Messages app. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Check other devices: If you’re using iMessage on more than one device with the same Apple ID (like an iPad or Mac), the photos might be reappearing because they’re not being deleted from those other devices. Try deleting the photos from all your devices.

2. Restart your device: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor glitches. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn your device completely off. After the device turns off, press and hold the side button again until you see the Apple logo.

3. Update iOS: Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check.

4. Reset All Settings: As a last resort, you can reset all system settings on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Note that this will not delete your data, but it will reset system settings like Wi-Fi passwords and privacy permissions.

If none of the above steps work, it would be best to contact Apple Support for further assistance. This seems like an unusual issue that might require more advanced troubleshooting.

Didi_the_one Said:

“[…]when in iMessage I tap on the contact atop the conversation screen, and scroll down to the photo section, the deleted pictures and videos are back, occupying space in my icloud backup.[…]”

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Seems to be a bug. So,…

Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of this, if you don't report it to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: on when this issue began, and how you have troubleshoot it,, thus far.. Include the URL of this thread
4. Proceed from there as necessary

Try deleting the photo then turning your iMessage off then back on. This worked for me after having the same problem.

hwt1972 Said:

"Why do photos reappear in my messages after I've deleted them?"

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Troubleshooting iPhone and Photos:

A. View the Photos App:

Viewing these in the Photos app, is there a cloud with a down arrow on the photo? If so, then they are in iCloud Photos, and are not download to your iPhone.

B. Verify the iPhone's Storage:

See how much of you iPhone is taken up by photos. Go Here: Manage your Photo and Video Storage - Apple Support

Can I ask a follow up on Step 1? How do I delete them from all devices when they reappear instantly? Mine are obviously synching across my phone, ipad and Macbook. When I delete images from a message trail in my phone, they automatically reappear. I imagine if I go through the same steps on my ipad or Macbook it will also happen, so I don't get the opportunity to remove them from all three?

I have this same problem but in iPhotos… I delete photos (over and over and over) including deleting them from the recently deleted folder and they return. iCloud is not synced with iPhotos, so that shouldn’t be the issue. I suspect they are returning because they are part of the “memories” reels that are automatically created (and I hate)?? I don’t think I can delete the memory reels either… HELP! This is making me have no space left on my phone and I don’t actually want the photos here.

Glendarule Said:

“[…]Can I ask a follow up on Step 1? How do I delete them from all devices when they reappear instantly?[…]”

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Downloaded Photos:

Are they showing with a cloud? If so, then they have yet to be downloaded, and are not locally stored. If not, they downloaded somehow, which is a bit odd.

Same problem. None of the photos are in my photos yet they reappear in the message photos. I had to turn off messages in iCloud because it was eating my storage up

Oh and one more question: as I can go into messages and show 'all photos' connected to a particular message trail, can I also somehow select and delete them from that level or do I need to select them where they sit in a conversation (which is much slower!). Appreciate any advice

Mine too. I open an old message and click the address arrow. It brings up all the photos that have been sent in that message. I delete them all and they're gone. a week later they are all back.

What gives. I don't want to delete any photos that I've sent from my Photos library. I think this is why it's is always telling me my iCloud is full. frustrating.

I want to delete for good the pictures and the videos that I select in iMessage conversations. And in fact I tap on them and confirm deletion.

However, after a while that I deleted them, when in iMessage I tap on the contact atop the conversation screen, and scroll down to the photo section, the deleted pictures and videos are back, occupying space in my icloud backup.

How can I fix this very annoying thing?

I am having the same problem. Did you find a way to delete your photos permanently? My storage is full and my iPhone is not working!! I need to free up space but the phone is not deleting anything. I am frustrated.