You can delete photos from Google Photos in three ways: one photo at a time, multiple photos at once, or your entire library
Google Photos stores images in the cloud, which means deleting them there removes them from all your devices where Google Photos is installed. The method you use depends on how many photos you want to remove and whether you want to keep them anywhere else first.
Before you delete anything, understand that moving photos to Trash in Google Photos gives you 60 days to change your mind. After 60 days, Google permanently deletes them. If you delete photos that are also backed up to your computer or phone's local storage, those copies remain on those devices — deleting from Google Photos does not touch files stored elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted photos sit in Google Photos Trash for 60 days before permanent removal, so you have time to recover them if you change your mind.
- Deleting a photo from Google Photos does not delete it from your phone or computer unless you specifically delete the local file there too.
- You can delete one photo, select multiple photos to delete together, or use search and filter tools to find and remove specific groups of photos.
- If you want to keep a copy before deleting, download the photo to your computer or phone first — Google Takeout lets you download your entire library at once.
Delete a single photo from Google Photos
Open Google Photos on your phone, tablet, or computer. Find the photo you want to delete and tap or click it to open it in full view. Look for the trash or delete icon — on phones it is usually a trash can at the bottom of the screen, and on computers it is in the toolbar at the top.
Tap or click the trash icon. The photo moves to Trash immediately. You will see a confirmation message. That is all there is to it for a single photo.
Delete multiple photos at once
If you want to remove several photos in one action, use the selection tool. In Google Photos, tap and hold on the first photo you want to delete (on a phone) or click the checkbox next to it (on a computer). Additional checkboxes appear next to nearby photos. Tap or click each photo you want to include in the deletion.
Once you have selected all the photos you want to remove, tap or click the trash icon. All selected photos move to Trash together. This is faster than deleting them one by one, especially if you are removing dozens of photos.
Use search and filters to find photos to delete
Google Photos has built-in search and filter tools that help you find specific groups of photos without scrolling through your entire library. You can search by date, location, or type of photo — for example, you can search for "screenshots" or "blurry" to find and delete those categories.
Open Google Photos and tap or click the search bar at the top. Type what you are looking for: a date range like "2022", a location like "beach", or a photo type like "screenshot". Google Photos shows matching results. Select the photos you want to delete using the method above, then tap or click the trash icon.
The filter tool works similarly. On a phone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see filter options like "Screenshots", "Blurry", or "Favorites". On a computer, look for the filter icon (usually a funnel shape) near the search bar. Tap or click a filter to show only photos matching that category, then select and delete the ones you want to remove.
Download photos before deleting them
If you want to keep a copy of photos somewhere else before removing them from Google Photos, download them first. On a phone, open the photo, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Download". The photo saves to your phone's local storage. On a computer, right-click the photo and select "Download".
For your entire library, use Google Takeout. Go to takeout.google.com, select Google Photos, and choose the file format and storage size you want. Google creates a download link, usually within a few hours. You can then download your entire photo library as a backup before deleting anything from Google Photos.
Empty your Google Photos Trash
Photos you delete sit in Trash for 60 days. During that time, you can recover them. To see your Trash, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in Google Photos and select "Trash". You will see all photos you have deleted in the last 60 days.
If you want to permanently delete photos before the 60 days are up, open Trash, select the photos you want to remove permanently, and tap or click "Delete forever". If you want to recover a photo from Trash, select it and tap or click "Restore". Restored photos return to your main library.
After 60 days, Google automatically and permanently deletes everything in your Trash. You do not need to do anything — it happens on its own.
What happens to photos on your phone or computer
Deleting a photo from Google Photos does not delete the original file from your phone or computer. Google Photos is a cloud backup service, not your only copy. If you delete a photo from Google Photos but the original file is still on your phone, the photo remains on your phone.
To remove a photo completely, you need to delete it in two places: once from Google Photos (which removes the cloud copy) and once from your phone or computer's file storage (which removes the local copy). If you only delete it from Google Photos, you still have the original file on your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a photo after I delete it from Google Photos?
Yes, for 60 days. Open Google Photos, tap the menu, and select Trash. Find the photo you want to recover and tap "Restore". It returns to your main library. After 60 days, Google permanently deletes everything in Trash and recovery is no longer possible.
Does deleting a photo from Google Photos delete it from my phone?
No. Google Photos is a separate backup in the cloud. Deleting from Google Photos only removes the cloud copy. The original file stays on your phone unless you delete it there separately. Check your phone's Photos app or file manager to see if the original is still there.
How do I delete all my photos from Google Photos at once?
There is no single button to delete your entire library. Use Google Takeout to download everything first as a backup, then use search filters to find large groups of photos by year or date. Select them in batches and delete. Alternatively, you can delete your Google account entirely, which removes all associated data including Google Photos.
What if I want to keep photos on my phone but remove them from Google Photos?
Delete them only from Google Photos, not from your phone. Open Google Photos, find the photo, tap the trash icon, and confirm. The cloud copy is gone, but the original file remains on your phone in your phone's Photos app or file manager.
Can I delete photos from Google Photos on my computer?
Yes. Go to photos.google.com in your web browser, find the photo you want to delete, click it to open it, and look for the trash icon in the toolbar at the top. Click it to move the photo to Trash. The process is the same as on a phone.