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Level 1

0 points

iPhone photos WILL NOT delete

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a Mac user! I user Windows! Please do not post suggestions for MAC users, I am NOT a Mac user.

I've tried to do this on several occasions, never have I had any success. I'm at the point where I'd like to take a hammer to my phone just to remove my ****** photos from my phone.

I have an iPhone 4S. I am on iOS 7, not iOS 8.

I have 6.5 gigs of space being wasted by pictures I've taken with the iPhone camera, all of which are backed up on my computer. I can't do ANYTHING with my phone because there's less than 100 megabytes free.

I have tried the following with ZERO luck.

- Used the "Photos" app on the phone to remove each and every individual photo. My photo stream, albums, etc. are completely empty.

- Turned the phone off and on, twice, after deleting every photo manually.

- Syncing and re-syncing the phone with iTunes. The photos are still not there in my photos app or camera roll, as expected.

- Checking the box in the "Photos" section on iTunes and selecting an empty folder, then syncing. iTunes warned me all photos on the phone would be removed. I told it yes, do it. Still 6.5 gigs being used by "Photo Library" on my iPhone.

As I said, the photos are not there when I look in the Photos app or my Camera roll. Usage section of iPhone settings still reports 6.5 gigs used by "Photo Library." Nothing has worked. I'm extremely irritated with the blatant inability to manage data on my phone. Please, someone save my phone from a hammer. I like iPhone. I don't want to go back to an Android phone.

iPhone 4S, Windows 8

Posted on Jan 10, 2015 8:41 AM

Best reply

ManSinha

Level 6

12,171 points

Posted on Jan 10, 2015 8:56 AM

If you have all the data you want from the phone backed up - can you consider doing restore as new?

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25 replies

Ar7ific1al Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 1:18 PM in response to AKRBTN

I've come for a solution to my problem. There's nothing that says I have to like a proposed solution. And I don't like the proposed solution of restoring the phone to factory defaults. Do you have any other suggestions? I'm happy to hear it if you do. :/

Jan 11, 2015 1:34 PM in response to Ar7ific1al

Ar7ific1al wrote:

I don't consider a factory reset to be troubleshooting. Of course that'll fix the problem, because the entire phone will be wiped. What attitude is it you think I am giving? I simply said I refuse to resort to resetting the phone to its factory state, as all I wish to do is remove my photos from the phone so I can have some free space. If not accepting that as a solution is rude or something, then I'm sorry.

Chris suggested a restart or a reset. Neither of those are a factory reset.

And just like a computer, an iPhone may occasionally need a restore from backup (which is not the same as restoring to factory settings either) in order to clean up the way data is stored on the device.

Have you ever had to defragment a Windows computer? Same idea.

And yes, you should try the suggestions that are made, especially form those that have been clearly successful in helping a lot of other people (like ChrisJ4203). 33,350 points? That means that at least 3350 people have found his recommendations useful.

So, what do you think... maybe want to try some of his suggestions?

Ar7ific1al Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 1:51 PM in response to TJBUSMC1973

I appreciate the insight, but chris did say "restore as new." Is this not the same as a factory reset? Like I said before, clearly I'm missing something if it's different. But it wasn't explained to me how it's different.

I do have a backup from an earlier point (the same day I tried to delete all my photos). Wouldn't restoring from a backup put all the photos back? It was a complete, encrypted backup, which iTunes says backs up the entire device.

Jan 11, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Ar7ific1al

General > Reset All Settings does not work, just tried.

Ar7ific1al Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 2:17 PM in response to trippalexander

Here's a solution: use iExplore to delete the files from the phone yourself. I read about the program while searching for a solution on Google before I started this thread here. I thought surely there must be some way without wiping the phone or resorting to third-party software. So far, it seems these are the only two options.

Despite having manually deleted every single photo on the device, iTunes and iPhone's Usage settings still show 815 photos taking approximately 6.5 gigs of space. Camera Roll and Photos app both show empty. iExplore reveals all 815 photos present on the device, which I can delete from the device.

I do appreciate the help that was offered.

Jan 11, 2015 2:22 PM in response to Ar7ific1al

Thanks but i'm not sure what you meant by your 'third party' reference. iExplore is third party

Jan 11, 2015 2:24 PM in response to trippalexander

never mind. I misread your reply. I will try this.

Ar7ific1al Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 2:30 PM in response to trippalexander

Upon further investigation, it seems the free version of the software will not allow you to modify files. Bummer.

Ar7ific1al Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 2:57 PM in response to trippalexander

Upon further, further investigation, I was able to mount the phone as a disk and browse the files in Windows Explorer, then delete the photos like I was browsing a USB drive. Success!

EDIT: Scratch that. It won't delete the files. Windows goes through the process, but when it's done, they aren't actually removed - they stay there. This is becoming more trouble than it's worth. :/

EDIT 2: A quick Google search brought me to iFunBox. It's free. It works. Hallelujah, it works! My photos are finally gone.

MrPeer

Level 1

0 points

Jan 11, 2015 3:38 PM in response to Ar7ific1al

thx, that worked for me as well.

i used "ifunbox for Mac OS 1.5"

iPhone photos WILL NOT delete