How to Mass Delete Photos on iPhone in 2026

If your iPhone constantly shows the “Storage Almost Full” warning, your photo library is probably the reason. Most people don’t realize how quickly screenshots, videos, memes, WhatsApp images, and duplicate photos pile up over time.

The good news is that Apple has made it much easier to mass delete photos on iPhone in recent iOS updates. Whether you want to clear thousands of pictures, remove videos, delete message attachments, or free up storage without touching iCloud, there are several fast ways to do it.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to delete multiple photos on iPhone without wasting hours selecting images one by one.

How to Delete Multiple Photos on iPhone Without Selecting One-by-One

Most users still tap photos individually, which becomes frustrating if you have thousands of images.

Thankfully, there’s a much faster hidden trick.

Use the Swipe-to-Select Gesture

Here’s how:

1. Open the Photos app
2. Tap “Select” in the top-right corner
3. Place your finger on one photo
4. Drag your finger across multiple photos
5. Keep swiping downward to continue selecting hundreds at once

Your iPhone will automatically keep selecting images while scrolling.

Honestly, this is probably the easiest method most people miss.

Once selected:

• Tap the trash icon
• Confirm deletion

You can remove hundreds or even thousands of photos in minutes this way.

How to Delete All Photos From iPhone at Once

Apple still doesn’t offer a simple “Delete All” button inside the Photos app, but you can get very close.

Fastest Method

Step 1: Open Photos App

Go to:

• Photos → Library

Step 2: Use “All Photos”

Tap “Select.”

Step 3: Swipe Across Entire Gallery

Drag across rows of photos while scrolling down quickly.

This allows you to select massive batches rapidly.

Step 4: Delete Selected Photos

Tap the trash icon.

Important: Empty Recently Deleted

A lot of people forget this part.

Deleted photos still stay inside:

• Albums → Recently Deleted

Until you permanently remove them, they continue occupying storage.

To completely erase everything:

1. Open Recently Deleted
2. Tap Select
3. Choose Delete All

Now your storage space becomes available immediately.

How to Mass Delete Photos From iPhone on Computer

If your iPhone contains years of photos, deleting them from a computer can actually be faster.

A mouse and keyboard make bulk management much easier.

On Windows PC

Connect Your iPhone

Use a USB cable and allow photo access.

Open File Explorer

Go to:

• Apple iPhone
• Internal Storage
• DCIM folder

Select Multiple Photos

Use:

• Ctrl + A for all photos
• Shift + Click for batches

Then simply delete them.

This method works well if your Photos app feels slow or laggy.

How to Bulk Delete Photos From iPhone Using Mac

Mac users have even better tools for photo cleanup.

Method Using Photos App

Connect Your iPhone

Use USB or wireless sync.

Open Photos App on Mac

Select your iPhone from the sidebar.

Select Large Groups

Use:

• Command + Click
• Shift + Click

Then delete photos in bulk.

Alternative: Image Capture

Many advanced users prefer Image Capture because it’s faster for huge libraries.

You can:

• select thousands of files
• delete instantly
• avoid Photos app syncing delays

This works especially well for creators who shoot lots of videos.

How to Delete All Photos From iPhone But Not iCloud

This is one of the most searched iPhone storage questions in 2026.

Many users want to free up iPhone storage without deleting memories from iCloud.

Here’s the Important Thing to Know

If iCloud Photos is enabled:

• deleting a photo from iPhone
• also deletes it from iCloud

To avoid this, you must disable syncing first.

Steps to Keep Photos in iCloud Only

Step 1: Open Settings

Go to:

• Settings
• Apple ID
• iCloud
• Photos

Step 2: Turn Off iCloud Photos

Disable syncing.

Step 3: Choose “Remove From iPhone”

Your iPhone removes local copies while keeping originals stored in iCloud.

This is one of the best ways to free up storage without losing memories.

How to Mass Delete Photos From iPhone Messages

Most people forget that the Messages app stores huge numbers of photos and videos.

Over time, attachments from:

• WhatsApp
• iMessage
• shared videos
• memes
• GIFs

can consume several gigabytes.

How to Delete Message Attachments

Open Settings

Go to:

• General
• iPhone Storage
• Messages

Review Attachments

You’ll see categories like:

• Photos
• Videos
• GIFs
• Stickers

Delete Large Files

Tap Edit and remove unnecessary attachments.

This can free up surprising amounts of space instantly.

How to Delete All Photos and Videos From iPhone at Once

Videos usually consume far more storage than photos.

A few 4K recordings can easily use several gigabytes.

Best Cleanup Method

Combine:

• photo deletion
• video cleanup
• Recently Deleted removal

for maximum storage recovery.

Go to:

• Settings
• General
• iPhone Storage

Your iPhone will automatically show:

• largest files
• unused media
• storage recommendations

Deleting videos first often creates the biggest improvement.

How to Delete Multiple Photos on iPhone 15

If you use an iPhone 15, the process is mostly the same, but newer iOS versions feel smoother and faster.

The swipe-select gesture works especially well on:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

The improved display responsiveness makes selecting huge groups of photos easier compared to older iPhones.

Best Ways to Keep iPhone Storage Clean

Once you clean your gallery, small habits make a huge difference.

Delete Screenshots Weekly

Screenshots quietly become storage killers.

Remove Duplicate Photos

Use:

• Photos → Albums → Duplicates

Back Up Old Videos

Move older videos to:

• Google Photos
• iCloud
• external storage

Empty Recently Deleted Often

Otherwise storage won’t fully recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete thousands of photos at once on iPhone?

Yes. Using the swipe-select method allows you to select massive numbers quickly.

Why isn’t my storage increasing after deleting photos?

You probably still have files inside Recently Deleted.

Can I recover deleted photos?

Yes, within 30 days unless permanently removed.

Is there a delete-all button on iPhone?

Apple still doesn’t provide a true one-tap delete-all option.

What consumes more storage: photos or videos?

Videos usually take far more space, especially 4K recordings.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning up your iPhone photo library may seem overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve been ignoring storage warnings for years. But once you learn the faster methods, deleting thousands of photos becomes surprisingly simple.

For most users, the combination of:

• swipe selection
• duplicate cleanup
• message attachment removal
• video deletion

is enough to free up a huge amount of storage.

And honestly, a cleaner photo library just makes your iPhone feel less chaotic and much easier to use every day.