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how do i delete my camera roll to free up usage space

How do I delete my camera roll on my iPad in order to free up usage space?

iPad

Posted on Apr 20, 2013 3:12 PM

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37 replies

Nov 6, 2013 6:06 PM in response to cooknaris

This iExplorer tricked worked for me too. unreal. been dealing with this nonsense forever. it opened up 14GB of space. I can't even believe how many photos were secretly stuck in my phone with me not being able to get rid of them.


follow steps above me and you should be good to go.



one last thing..There is some OTHER usage that is saying I have 9GB of messages saved. does anyone know what that is referring to and how to get rid of some of that. I deleted a ton of texts but it has to be something else. maybe emails that have been cached???

Dec 22, 2013 12:05 AM in response to chs71

I'm having this problem now, I was importing a video and my ipad crashed midway through. Seems like the space has been taken up without the video appearing in my camera roll and now it says photos and videos take up 4gbs with 56 photos!


I'm travelling at the moment and don't have a computer...am I going to have to deal with this until I'm home and have access to my iMac again before I can clear out these dead photos? So frustrating!

Dec 31, 2013 2:51 AM in response to chs71

I resolved the backup problem and the Camera Roll emptying by turning off the Camera Roll backup in the Usage / Manage Storage section. After you turn off the camera roll back-up complete a backup and turn it back on. It works!

Now my camera roll's is empty and it does not show 4.9 GB of used space even when I had no pictures in it.

Dec 5, 2014 6:09 AM in response to cooknaris

The steps described by cooknaris, above, worked perfectly for me, with one tweak. I found the /Media/DCIM directory he describes, and it did contain two subdirectories (100APPLE and 101APPLE), but they were already empty. I ultimately located the offending files in /Media/PhotoData/Metadata/DCIM. Thanks to all!


(P.S. I have an iPhone 4 with iOS 7.0.4)

Sep 17, 2015 3:56 PM in response to cooknaris

I must be totally off in the woods or I'm unable to correctly use an iPad (not). NONE of the suggestions in here works for me. I am on an iPad2 (i know ancient), running iOS 8.4.1. I. I can't believe that there isn't a simple function somewhere where you hit 'Select All' or easily select many then Delete..... Here is what I've tried:


Since an update earlier this year, the iPhoto app is gone and only the Photos app is left. In the Photos app, except for the technique of tapping each photo to delete then delete, there appears to be NO option to select and delete photos in mass.


If I go to Settings > General > Usage > Manage Storage > Photos & Camera, there is no response to swipe, tap or hold that would allow me to delete the data.


If I go to Settings > Photos & Camera, again no options to delete anything.


I am connecting my iPad to a PC running Windows 7 Pro. In iTunes, I can't find any option that allows me to manipulate or even upload the Camera Roll.


In Windows Explorer I see the iPad devices. The folders are: Internal Storage > DCIM > then many folders with random strings for filenames such as: 807CIQGG, 807DODTU, 8110MTDG.... I can view the contents and it appears to be import groups, but have no ability to manipulate the folders or files. I can't even view any type of security or any other properties of the folders or files. So deleting them here is out.


I installed the lastest iExplorer by Macroplant LLC from iTunes on the iPad. This app has a feature to 'Import from Camera Roll', but no options I can find to delete them from Camera Roll. Or in mass from iExplorer. I shouldn't need to and I will resist the need to purchase an app to accomplish this fundamental function..


What have I overlooked.....?

Frustrated...


John

how do i delete my camera roll to free up usage space

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