Previously synced photos not deleting

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Level 1

6 points

Previously synced photos not deleting

I synced photos on my iPhone with photos from my computer on an old Photos library (now only on an external hard drive) and now that I've had a new library it won't let me delete these photos in iTunes even if I click and unclick sync photos and click remove photos as in the instructions below:

To delete synced photos and videos from your device

In iTunes, click the Device button in the upper right corner. (If viewing the iTunes Store, click the Library button in the upper-right corner first.)

Click the Photos tab in the resulting window.

Choose "Selected albums" and deselect the albums or collections you want to delete.

Note: To delete all synced photos, deselect "Sync Photos from" and, when asked, click "Remove photos."

Click Apply.

I've also tried going into image capture and deleting the photos manually there as well but they do not show up here.

Is there anything else I should try?

iPhone 6, iOS 11.2.1

Posted on Jan 5, 2018 6:59 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,519 points

Jan 5, 2018 7:16 AM in response to Jgorneau

You cannot delete the synced photos on the device or using Image Capture.

Followhe instructions you quoted:

To delete synced photos and videos from your device

In iTunes, click the Device button in the upper right corner. (If viewing the iTunes Store, click the Library button in the upper-right corner first.)

Click the Photos tab in the resulting window.

Choose "Selected albums" and deselect the albums or collections you want to delete.
Note: To delete all synced photos, deselect "Sync Photos from" and, when asked, click "Remove photos."

Click Apply.

But after you followed all steps and clicked "Apply", you have to let the next iTunes sync go through. Only syncing again will remove the synced photos.

A quick and dirty way is to enable iCloud Photo Library on the iPhone. Turning on iCloud Photo Library will delete all iTunes synced photos. Disable iCloud Photo Library again, once the iTunes synced photos have been removed.

If you edited a synced photo, the edited version will have been saved to the camera roll and the next iTunes sync will not remove it. Delete them on the iPhone, if there are photos left on the iPhone after syncing.

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Answer 2

Jgorneau Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 5, 2018 7:22 AM in response to léonie

I've fully followed the instructions I quoted multiple times and it did not work, as the sync would keep failing. However enabling iCloud Photo Library momentarily did delete the photos. Thank yoU!

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,519 points

Jan 5, 2018 7:26 AM in response to Jgorneau

Great, that iCloud Photo Library could clean your iPhone 🙂

You're welcome.

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