Managing digital storage is essential in today’s world, where our devices and services overflow with photos, videos, and other media. Google Photos offers a great solution for backing up and organizing pictures, but sometimes, users may want to start fresh or delete everything at once to free up space or disengage from the platform.
TLDR: If you want to delete all your photos from Google Photos at once, the process must be done using the web browser for quicker bulk selection. Select photos using the “Shift + Click” method to highlight large quantities, then move them to the Trash and permanently delete them after 30 days. You can’t delete everything from the mobile app with one click. Ensure you’ve backed up what you want to keep before proceeding.
Why Delete All Photos from Google Photos?
There can be multiple reasons why you’d want to wipe your Google Photos account clean:
- Running out of Google storage space and don’t want to pay for more.
- Shifting to another cloud storage service and want to avoid duplication.
- Decluttering your digital life as part of a broader organization effort.
- Closing or changing Google accounts and ensuring no residual data remains.
Regardless of your motivation, the process has a few steps—and also a few considerations to keep in mind before clicking that delete button.
Important Considerations Before Deleting
Before erasing anything permanently, it’s essential to think through what this action entails and how to be prepared. Here are a few pre-deletion tips:
- Backup First: If there are photos or videos you’d prefer to keep, download them to your computer or an external drive before deletion.
- Understand the Trash Folder: When you delete items from Google Photos, they’re initially moved to the Trash and are permanently erased after 30 days.
- No “Delete All” Button: Unfortunately, Google Photos doesn’t offer a single-click “Delete All” feature. You’ll need to use manual selection—but you can speed things up with a little trick.
Step-by-Step Guide: Deleting All Photos at Once (Using a Desktop Browser)
The easiest and most effective way to delete all photos at once from Google Photos is through the desktop browser. Here’s how to do it:
1. Go to Google Photos on a Desktop
Visit photos.google.com and log in with the Google account that contains the photos you wish to delete.
2. Switch to “Photos” View
Click on the “Photos” tab on the left-hand side to view all your media content chronologically, which includes uploads, backups, and synced images.
3. Use Shift + Click to Select All
This is the fastest method to select large groups of photos:
- Click on the first image in your photo library.
- Scroll down as far as you want to select.
- Hold down Shift and click on the final image. All photos between the two will be highlighted.
You can continue to repeat this method to select thousands of photos at a time.
4. Move Selected Photos to Trash
Once selected, click the trash icon at the top right of the screen. Confirm your action when prompted.
5. Empty the Trash
Items sit in the Trash for 30 days. To delete them permanently right away:
- Click on “Trash” in the left-hand menu.
- Select “Empty Trash” at the top right corner.
This will permanently delete all the photos and free up your Google storage immediately.
Using Google Takeout for Backup (Optional Step)
If you want to safeguard your images before deleting them, Google Takeout is an excellent tool. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Visit Google Takeout.
- Select only Google Photos from the list of exportable services.
- Choose your export format and quality.
- Download the files once the export is complete (you’ll receive a downloadable link by email).
This way, you retain full control over your photo history even after wiping your Google Photos account.
Can You Delete All Photos on Mobile?
While Google Photos has excellent mobile apps for Android and iPhone, deleting all photos from the mobile app is not feasible in one shot. Here’s why:
- No bulk select: While you can select multiple images, there’s no shortcut for selecting thousands at once.
- Time-consuming swipe: You would need to manually select each photo or event grouping, which can take hours or even days if you have a vast photo library.
If all you have is your phone and you must start deleting, try syncing it with a computer or using a desktop browser on your mobile device to use the same “Shift + Click” method mentioned earlier.
What Happens When You Delete All Photos?
After you remove all your images from Google Photos:
- Your Google Drive storage will be freed up—Google Photos shares storage space with Drive and Gmail.
- Any shared albums or links will no longer function.
- If your device is set to sync with Google Photos, future images may still upload unless syncing is disabled.
To deactivate future auto-uploads:
- Open the Google Photos app on your mobile device.
- Go to Settings > Back up & sync.
- Turn off the backup feature entirely.
Tips for Better Photo Management Moving Forward
Once your photo library is clean, consider these habits to keep things tidy:
- Regularly clean your albums to avoid unnecessary accumulation.
- Only keep photos that are meaningful, relevant, or high quality.
- Use albums, favorites, and tags to organize important images if you plan to build your photo library anew.
- Schedule a quarterly review of your Google Photos account.
Final Thoughts
Although deleting all your photos from Google Photos isn’t as easy as clicking a single “Delete All” button, following the right steps will help you achieve a fresh start with minimal hassle. Always remember to back up anything valuable before deleting, and consider making photo reviews a regular part of your digital hygiene routine.
Whether you’re clearing space, switching services, or simply wiping the slate clean, a well-organized photo storage plan can keep your digital life clutter-free and under control.
