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Level 1

120 points

How do I delete photos from iPhone while on the Mac?

Is there a way to delete/manage the iPhone photo library from the Mac (either, iTunes, iPhoto, or Aperture)?

I want to get rid of hundreds of old/misc photos on the phone but don't want to delete them all.

My idea app would allow me to sync them with an Aperture folder or similar and just delete them within Aperture and on the next sync, whip them off the iPhone.

I know Apple tends to have a history of not making deleting photos easy (see early versions of iPhoto) but I'm hoping it'll be a matter of one of their "simple 25-step procedures" to do it, vs not being able to do it other than one-by-one.

Thanks.

Posted on May 23, 2011 1:37 PM

Best reply

Bob Cozzi Author

Level 1

120 points

Posted on May 23, 2011 2:00 PM

I'm talking about from the iPhone using the Mac vs doing it one by one on the phone itself.

I think I found the answer in the Archives though... Although it didn't show up when I did a search before posted, it did show up once I wrote out the question.

The solution that works for me is:

Connect the iPhone
Open Spotlight and type in "Image Capture"
Launch Image Capture
Click on the iPhone icon in the left hand column.
The iPhone's camera roll appears.
Click each photo you want to delete
CMD Click on each subsequent photo
Click the Delete Icon at the bottom on the Window
Bam! The photos are deleted from your iPhone

View in context

30 replies

gp2015

Level 1

0 points

Aug 17, 2015 10:49 AM in response to East Coast Hiker

I have the same problem and there is no button or anything on the web that help you to solve this problem. The apple quality experience is declining rapidly. Sad to say! 😟 Not even start talking about the new music app! Looks like Samsung or Microsoft is design all these apple applications. *****! 😢😮

stanward

Level 1

8 points

Nov 11, 2015 9:25 AM in response to gp2015

In regard to the "delete" button. It is below the list of photos, it is a international "not" sign, or (dating myself) the "Ghostbusters" sign. See attached screenshot.

I have been using the Image Capture solution to remove photos from my iPhone for years. I synch my photos to Dropbox regularly via wifi and then from time-to-time I delete them all from my phone. They are all safe-and-sound in Dropbox, so no need for them taking up space on my iPhone.

I just had a problem with Image Capture, which brought me back to this thread, but then got it working. My problem was that I could not see any of the photos for my iPhone in Image Capture. While I was in Image Capture, I unplugged the USB cable from my phone and then plug it back in, and then all my photos appeared. I mention this in case anyone else runs into this.

Happy deleting.

Dec 4, 2015 12:36 PM in response to stanward

some @#$%!#$% removed this button!!!

great move!

prixxx

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 1:44 AM in response to Bob Cozzi

So crazy:

- second app needed to delete photos on iPhone

- drag and drop in iPhoto just after three years constant complaining from the community

iCloud features seems to overwhelmed the developer teams in Cupertino.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

May 30, 2016 1:50 AM in response to prixxx

You don't need a second app to delete from the Phone can do it from the phone. You might just find it convenient to use the other app.

Your second point makes no sense, sorry.

prixxx

Level 1

8 points

May 30, 2016 2:20 AM in response to Yer_Man

Sry i meant Photo on the MAC OS of course.

I want to delete photos from my iPhone via Photo. This doesnt work.

Drag and drop also in Photo on OS of course.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

May 30, 2016 9:36 AM in response to prixxx

It does if you delete them at time of importing, exactly as designed.

Of course what?

gbshukla

Level 1

8 points

Jul 5, 2017 6:25 PM in response to Bob Cozzi

There is no delete button in my case. Even the menus are disabled for 'Delete' in menubar as well as when I Right Clicks the photos.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,320 points

Jul 5, 2017 11:02 PM in response to gbshukla

In what app? On what OS?

imatjen

Level 1

8 points

Aug 18, 2017 8:07 PM in response to gbshukla

Same for me. I am unable to delete iPhone photos from my Mac. I want to delete specific photos and there is not a delete icon as the solution describes. Can someone help?