How to Select All Photos on iPhone

To select all photos on an iPhone at once, open the Photos app, tap Select in the top-right corner, then tap the last photo in your grid while holding the Shift key on a connected keyboardâ€”or on a touchscreen, tap the first photo, then drag your finger diagonally across the grid to the last photo. This selects every photo in between, letting you delete, share, or move them in bulk. Below, we break down every method, including hidden tricks for large libraries and common pitfalls.

Why Selecting All Photos Isn’t Always Obvious

Apple’s Photos app doesn’t have a single “Select All” button like you’d find in a file manager. Instead, it relies on gestures and keyboard shortcuts that vary by iOS version and device type. On iPhones without a keyboard, the fastest way is to swipe across thumbnails in Select mode. On iPads with a Magic Keyboard or a Mac, you can use Shift+click or Command+A. This design choice reduces accidental mass selections, but it confuses many users who expect a one-tap solution.

Method 1: Select All in the Photos Grid (iPhone and iPad)

Here’s the step-by-step for the most common scenarioâ€”selecting every photo in a folder, album, or the entire Library:

Open the Photos app and navigate to the album or view (e.g., Recents, Favorites, or a custom album).
Tap Select in the top-right corner. A blue circle appears on each thumbnail.
To select all visible photos: tap the first photo, then drag your finger diagonally across the grid to the last photo. A line will trace your finger, and every thumbnail it passes over gets selected. For a long list, drag to the bottom-right corner of the last row.
If you want to select every photo in the album (not just what’s on screen), scroll to the very bottom, then use the same drag gesture from the top-left to the bottom-right. This works because the grid continues to load as you scroll.

This drag method is the closest thing to “select all” on a touchscreen. It selects every photo between your start and end points, inclusive.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard (iPad with Magic Keyboard or Mac)

If you’re using an iPad with a connected keyboard or the Photos app on a Mac, the process is much faster:

Shift+Click: Click the first photo, hold Shift, then click the last photo. This selects a contiguous range.
Command+A: Press Command+A to select every photo in the current view (album, folder, or search results). On an iPad with a keyboard, this works in the Photos app too.

On a Mac, you can also use Edit > Select All from the menu bar. This is the only true “select all” shortcut Apple provides.

Method 3: Select All in Specific Albums or Searches

The drag method works in any grid, including:

Albums (e.g., “Recents,” “Favorites,” or your own created albums).
Search results (type a keyword like “beach” and then select all matching photos).
People & Places sections.

Note: In the “Library” tab, the default view is “All Photos” which includes every photo on your device. The drag method selects all of them, but be carefulâ€”deleting them will remove them from iCloud if you have iCloud Photos enabled.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Users often run into these issues when trying to select all:

Accidental selection: The drag gesture can be finicky. If you lift your finger too early, you’ll only select a few. Try to keep your finger moving steadily.
Not all photos selected: The drag method only selects what’s on screen. If you want all photos in an album, you must scroll to the bottom first, then drag from top to bottom. Even then, the selection may stop if the app lags with thousands of photos.
Deleting by mistake: When you select all and hit delete, you’ll get a confirmation. On iOS 16 and later, you can undo with a shake or by tapping “Undo” in the top-left.
iCloud sync: Deleting photos on one device deletes them everywhere if iCloud Photos is on. Consider using “Recently Deleted” as a safety netâ€”it holds photos for 30 days.

Alternatives: Using Third-Party Apps or iCloud

If the built-in methods feel clunky, third-party apps like Google Photos or Slidebox offer a “Select All” button. However, these apps may not have full access to your library unless you grant it. Another alternative is to use iCloud.com on a computer: log in, go to Photos, press Command+A (or Ctrl+A on Windows) to select all, then download or delete. This is especially useful for managing a huge library without touching your phone.

Costs and Safety Considerations

Selecting all photos is free and built into iOS. The only “cost” is the risk of accidental deletion. To stay safe:

Before mass-deleting, make sure you have a backup (iCloud, computer, or external drive).
Use the “Recently Deleted” album as a temporary trashâ€”photos stay there for 30 days.
If you’re selecting all to share, be aware that AirDrop or Messages may compress images. For full resolution, use iCloud Link or transfer via USB.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I select all photos on iPhone without a keyboard?

Use the drag method: tap Select, then drag your finger from the first photo to the last. This selects everything in between. It works on any iPhone with iOS 15 or later.

Is there a “Select All” button in the Photos app?

No, Apple doesn’t provide a literal “Select All” button on iPhone. The closest is the drag gesture or using a keyboard shortcut (Command+A) on iPad with a keyboard or Mac.

Can I select all photos in a specific album at once?

Yes, navigate to the album, tap Select, then drag from the top-left to the bottom-right of the grid. Make sure you scroll to the bottom first if the album has more photos than fit on one screen.

Why doesn’t dragging select all my photos?

The drag gesture only selects what’s visible on the screen at the moment you finish the drag. If you don’t scroll to the bottom first, you’ll only select the visible ones. Also, if you lift your finger early, the selection stops.

Will selecting all and deleting free up iCloud storage?

Yes, if you delete photos from the Photos app with iCloud Photos enabled, they’re removed from iCloud and all your devices. However, they remain in “Recently Deleted” for 30 days, so storage isn’t freed immediately unless you delete them from there too.

Can I select all photos to transfer to a computer?

Yes, select all using the drag method, then tap the Share button and choose “Save to Files” or use AirDrop. For a full transfer, connecting your iPhone to a computer and importing via the Photos app on Mac or Windows is more reliable.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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