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Delete multiple photos from iCloud

I use icloud photos with multiple devices, including an iPhone 4, an iPad, a Macbook pro and two PCs.

My icloud library is too large, containing many duplicates (same photo taken several times) and many photos I don't want to keep.

Deleting photos from the library using the icloud library is a slow, cumbersome process. I can only delete one at a time, each time taking 20 seconds or more, even with a high speed internet connection.

How can I select & delete several photos at once?


[Re-Titled by Host]

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Aug 27, 2016 9:56 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 6, 2017 12:33 PM

I just spent some time on the phone with Apple. They confirmed it: There is no way to select a lot of photos in the icloud on a Mac and delete them. You have to do it one by one. Grr. But there is one shorter workaround.


My trouble was I kept on getting notifications to upgrade my iphoto (i.e., pay more) because my icloud was full. All I wanted was "My Photo Stream" option on (in photos preferences on a Mac), so only the latest would appear on my devices. I wanted the remainder of the older photos just on my hard drive. But since they were already up there on icloud, I kept on getting the full message.


I found one workaround to save a little time getting older photos off the icloud.

1. Set your preferences in photos on your Mac, ipad, etc., to "My Photo Stream."

2. Then get on your iphone, and open photos. (This would not even work on my ipad either, so iphone's it). Try "albums" first. You should be able to "select," "select" again, then hit the trash sign. If not, look at "Collections," and try it again. It gets rid of groups of photos.

3. Check in Albums whether you have one called "Trash." Delete it too.

4. Complain to Apple.

99 replies

Jul 22, 2018 7:40 AM in response to mikeinsm

frustrating and quite likely -

i don't want to store in the iCloud and never did - yet in the course of moving libraries with apple representatives i accidentally had photos put into iCloud. Never wanted and yet i have a major task to delete them ... and why can't this be done in one move. i spoke with an agent about cleaning my library back in 2016 and 2017 - - i'm finally dealing with in 2018. Wish it would be easier.

Aug 29, 2018 10:42 AM in response to rhwolfson

I had this problem as well. I find it very strange you can only select one photo at the time in iCloud.

So, I went to a Windows 10 PC, through the Chrome browser I accessed iCloud, and was not able to select multiple photos at the same time to delete or download. I tried to press and hold the Control key, the Shift key, but that didn't work. However, when I press and hold the ALT key while selecting, I can select multiple photos. I have to click one by one though while holding the ALT Key. I didn't find out in Windows how to select a whole range at once. Anyhow, if this works on windows with ALT, than probably on Mac OS using Safari something similar can be done. I'll try tonight at home. Good Luck! Gerrit

Oct 3, 2018 9:07 AM in response to rhwolfson

You can bulk delete all photos using your iphone. Just go to settings / icloud storage / manage storage and delete / disable icloud photos from there.


If you want to save your photos first, sync to google photos, which has no storage limits.

1 Install icloud for PC

2 Download all your icloud photos (reboot if the sync doesn't work at first, icloud on pc is super buggy)

3 Install Google Drive, go into preferences, and choose to backup and sync your Pictures directory (that's where icloud photos stored stuff)

4 When Google drive is done uploading, you can do the bulk delete from icloud as described above

5 If you like, you can then turn icloud photos back on. When you hit 5 GB again, just rinse and repeat the above process.

Nov 10, 2018 2:21 PM in response to Pitredbull

A friend of mine works at Apple. She says they removed the option to select multiple photos in bulk (using SHIFT) so that deleting files would be too cumbersome and people would be forced to buy more iCloud storage.


It's sickening manipulation.


No wonder Apple is the wealthiest company in the world.


I can't wait to offload all of my Apple gear and switch to Android.


They think we must be helpless, weak minded weasels ripe for manipulation or something.

Nov 11, 2018 7:27 AM in response to Gold333

Yes Apple does indeed have nasty surprises in i0S which people are complaining about bitterly. However it’s nothing compared to Android/Google which is actively in business selling any user data to those it can. Google is in trouble with the E.U over this ,especially the new G.D.R.P privacy laws which Google‘s practices are in direct violation of.

Aug 28, 2016 4:23 PM in response to rhwolfson

Hello rhwolfson,


Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities!


It sounds like you want to be able to remove multiple pictures from iCloud Photo Library at the same time. I will do my best to help find a solution for you.


The easiest way to remove multiple photos is to sign into iCloud.com on one of the computers you listed. Once signed in, click on the photos icon. When you are in the "Moments" view, you should see "Select Photos" in the upper right of the browser window. Click "Select Photos". You should now be able to select multiple photos, and then click the "Delete" button that appears. This should allow you to remove multiple photos at one time.


Have a great day!

Delete multiple photos from iCloud

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