Delete All Google Photos From Any Device

Deleting photos from Google Photos removes them from your Google Photos library and, when syncing is active, may also remove them from connected devices. Before you start, decide whether you want to erase cloud copies, copies stored on a phone or computer, or both; make a separate backup of anything you may want to keep.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Google Account that contains the photos.
A phone, tablet, or computer with the Google Photos app or a web browser.
A reliable internet connection for deleting items from the cloud.
Optional: enough storage elsewhere to back up photos you want to preserve.

Step-by-Step

Check which account and library you are using. Open Google Photos and tap or click your profile picture. Confirm the email address is the account whose photos you intend to delete. If you have multiple accounts, repeat the check before removing anything from each one.
Understand the effect of syncing. Google Photos is a cloud library, not simply a folder on one device. Deleting backed-up items in the app or on the website can remove them from the Google Photos library on other devices using that account. On a phone, deletion may also remove the local copy, depending on the item and the app’s behavior. Do not assume that deleting in Google Photos only affects one device.
Make and verify a separate backup, if needed. Download or export the photos you want to keep before deleting them. Open a few files from the backup location to confirm they are complete and usable. A copy in another folder that is still synchronized with Google Photos may not be a safe backup.
Use a computer for bulk selection. In a browser, go to photos.google.com and sign in. Open the Photos view. Click the selection circle on the first photo, then hold Shift and click a later photo to select a range. You can also select items in batches by clicking their circles. Google Photos may load items as you scroll, so work through the library in manageable groups rather than assuming one selection covers photos that have not loaded.
Delete the selected items. Click the trash or Delete control and confirm when prompted. Check the selection count and date range before confirming. Continue selecting and deleting batches until you have covered the library. If you also want to remove items in other sections, inspect Albums, Archive, and any other relevant views; an archived photo is still in your account and is not deleted just because it is absent from the main Photos view.
On a phone or tablet, select in batches. Open the Google Photos app, confirm the account, and press and hold a photo to start selecting. Tap additional items or select a range where the interface allows, then tap the trash icon and confirm. Repeat through the library. A computer is often easier for a large collection, but the same account and deletion effects apply.
Check the Trash (or Bin) before emptying it. Deleted backed-up photos normally go to Trash, where they remain for a limited period before permanent deletion; items that were not backed up may have a shorter recovery period. The app shows the applicable status. Open Trash and review its contents carefully. If you are certain, use the option to empty Trash and confirm. Emptying it permanently deletes those items and cannot normally be undone.
Remove device-only copies separately if necessary. Deleting cloud items does not guarantee that every downloaded or manually copied file on every device is gone. Use the device’s Files, Gallery, or Photos app to inspect local folders, downloads, memory cards, and other storage locations. Delete those copies only if you want them removed, and check any separate device backup before erasing it.
Verify the result. Refresh Google Photos on the web and check the main library and Trash. Open the app on your other devices while connected to the internet and confirm the changes have synced. If a photo remains, check that you are viewing the right account and that it was not merely archived or stored in a separate local folder.

Common Mistakes

Deleting before backing up. Once Trash is emptied, recovery is generally not available. Verify important copies first.
Confusing “Free up space” with deletion. This feature is intended to remove eligible local copies from a device while keeping backed-up photos in Google Photos. It does not erase the cloud library.
Assuming one device is isolated. A deletion made in a synced Google Photos library can affect the same account on other devices.
Forgetting Trash. Items in Trash may still be recoverable and have not yet been permanently removed. Emptying it is a separate, irreversible action.
Missing items outside the main view. Archives, device folders, shared content, and files in other accounts may not be included in the selection you made.

Tips

Delete in date-based batches and check the selection before each confirmation. This makes it easier to spot a wrong account or accidental range selection.
If you want to stop future uploads rather than delete existing photos, turn off Backup in Google Photos settings on each device that uploads to the account.
Check shared albums and partner sharing separately. Removing a photo from your library does not necessarily erase copies another person has already downloaded or saved.
Allow time for devices to sync. Keep them online and reopen Google Photos before concluding that an item failed to delete.
For a complete account cleanup, also review other storage locations and services where you may have copied or uploaded the same files.

Troubleshooting

Photos are still visible: Refresh the page or close and reopen the app. Confirm the account, check whether the items are archived, and see if the device is offline. If the files are in a phone’s local Gallery or Files app, they may be local copies rather than cloud items.

Bulk selection is difficult: Select smaller groups, scroll to load more photos, and use a computer browser. Avoid selecting across a range until you have checked the first and last dates, since a range can include every item between them.

Deletion does not sync: Check the internet connection and account shown in the profile menu. Update or restart the app if needed, then check photos.google.com. A device using another account will not necessarily reflect changes to this library.

You deleted something by mistake: Open Trash promptly, select the item, and choose Restore if that option is available. If Trash has been emptied or the retention period has passed, the item may not be recoverable. Check a separate backup as well.

Storage has not changed: Google storage figures can take time to update, and deleting photos does not remove unrelated files from Drive or Gmail. Review storage usage in your Google Account and allow time for its totals to refresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete all Google Photos at once?
Google Photos may not offer a single “delete everything” control for every account or interface. Use a computer to select and delete the library in manageable batches, then review Trash.

Will deleting photos from Google Photos remove them from my phone?
It can, particularly when the phone is synced with the same account. The result can vary for local-only files, so back up first and inspect device storage separately.

Does turning off Backup delete photos already uploaded?
No. Turning off Backup stops or pauses future uploads from that device; it does not delete photos already in the Google Photos library.

How do I permanently delete photos?
Delete them from the library, then open Trash and choose Empty Trash after checking its contents. Permanent deletion is generally irreversible.

Can I delete cloud photos but keep copies on my device?
Back up the files outside Google Photos first and verify the copies. Because synced deletion can affect local items, do not rely on the phone’s current Google Photos view as your only backup.

Will other people lose photos I shared with them?
They may retain copies they downloaded or saved. Removing a photo from your account cannot reliably erase another person’s independent copy.

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

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