How To Delete All Google Photos

Are you ready to delete all your Google Photos forever? Whether you’re looking to switch to a different photo backup service or simply want to clear out some unwanted cloud clutter, deleting your photos from Google Photos can be a daunting task. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of securely and permanently deleting all your Google Photos while ensuring that you have a backup of your precious memories. So let’s get started!

Backup Your Google Photos

Before you embark on the journey of deleting all your Google Photos, it’s crucial to back up your images to ensure that you don’t lose any of your cherished memories. While deleting photos from Google Photos is a permanent action, having a backup will give you peace of mind. Here’s how you can backup your Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone or go to the Google Photos website on your computer.
2. Navigate to the settings menu and select “Backup & sync.”
3. Ensure that the backup and sync option is enabled.
4. Follow the instructions provided to back up your images to your preferred storage location, such as your PC or Mac.

Archive vs. Bin vs. Delete

Before we dive into the process of deleting your Google Photos, it’s important to understand the difference between the “Archive” and “Bin” features in Google Photos. These features serve different purposes, and only one will permanently delete your images from Google Photos.

• Archive: Archiving a photo in Google Photos allows you to reduce clutter in your main Google Photos library. When you archive a photo, it will disappear from the main thumbnail grid but will still be accessible. Archiving photos does not save storage space or erase your images. Archived images will continue to appear in search results and any albums they are featured in.
• Bin: The bin is where images go to be permanently deleted. When you delete a photo, it will move to the bin, which is the first step towards permanent deletion.

Deleting Individual Google Photos Images

If you want to delete individual images from Google Photos, the process is straightforward. Whether you’re using a web browser or the Google Photos app on your smartphone, follow these steps:

On Web Browser:

1. Open Google Photos on your web browser and navigate to the image you want to delete.
2. Click on the bin icon in the top right corner of the image.
3. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to remove the photo from your Google Account, synced devices, and places shared within Google Photos.
4. Click “Move to bin” to delete the image.

On Smartphone App:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone and find the image you want to delete in the thumbnail grid.
2. Tap on the image to open it, and you will see the bin icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Tap the bin icon, and a pop-up message will appear, confirming whether you want to move the photo to the bin.
4. Tap “Move to bin” to delete the image.

Once you have deleted the individual images, you can find them in the bin. To permanently delete them, you can either leave them in the bin for 60 days, after which they will be automatically deleted, or manually empty the bin. Here’s how:

On Web Browser:

1. Go to the Google Photos bin, which you can find in the main Google Photos menu on the left side of the screen.
2. At the top of the bin, you will see a message indicating that the items will be permanently deleted after 60 days.
3. If you want to immediately delete the images, click the “Empty bin” button in the top right corner.
4. A warning message will appear, confirming that all items in the bin will be permanently deleted.
5. Click “Empty bin” to permanently delete the selected images.

On Smartphone App:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your smartphone and go to the Library tab.
2. Tap the bin icon to access the bin.
3. You will see a message at the top stating that the items will be permanently deleted after 60 days.
4. To empty the bin, tap the three dots in the top right corner and select “Empty bin.”
5. A warning message will appear, confirming that all items in the bin will be permanently deleted.
6. Tap “Empty bin” to permanently delete the selected images.

If you only want to delete specific photos from the bin, you can select them individually and choose to permanently delete or restore them.

Deleting Multiple Google Photos Snaps

If you have a large number of photos to delete from your Google Photos library, deleting them one by one can be a time-consuming process. Luckily, Google Photos provides an option to delete images in bulk. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Start by selecting the images you want to delete. On the web, click the checkmark in the top left corner of the thumbnail to select an image. On the smartphone app, long-press on the image thumbnails to select them. Selected images will be highlighted with a blue border and checkmark.
2. To select a range of images on the web, use the shift key. Select the first image, then hold down the shift key and click the last image in the range. All the images between the first and last will be highlighted.
3. Once you have made your selection, look for the bin icon in the top right corner of the screen. Click or tap on the bin icon.
4. A confirmation message will appear, asking if you want to move the selected images to the bin.
5. Click “Move to bin” to delete the selected images.

Remember, the deleted images will remain in the bin for 60 days before they are permanently deleted. If you want to immediately free up storage space, you can manually empty the bin following the same steps as mentioned earlier.

Deleting Photos from Google Photos Albums

If you have organized your photos into albums in Google Photos, you can delete specific photos from within the albums. However, the process is slightly different from deleting individual photos. Here’s how you can delete photos from albums:

On Web Browser:

1. Open the Google Photos album that contains the photo you want to delete.
2. Open the photo within the album and click the three dots in the top right corner.
3. From the drop-down list, select “Move to bin” to delete the photo.

On Smartphone App:

1. Open the Google Photos album that contains the photo you want to delete.
2. Open the photo within the album and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
3. Scroll across the toolbar until you see “Move to Bin” accompanied by a bin icon.
4. Tap “Move to Bin” to delete the photo.

You can also delete multiple photos from albums using the same method mentioned earlier. Select the photos you want to delete, and then click or tap on the bin icon to move them to the bin.

Deleting All Your Google Photos at Once

Deleting your entire Google Photos library is not as simple as clicking a single button. However, with the right technique, you can delete all your photos in one go. Here’s how:

1. Open Google Photos on a web browser using your computer.
2. Select the first image in your library by left-clicking on it.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the thumbnail grid until you reach the oldest image in your collection.
4. Hold down the shift key and left-click on the last visible image to select all the images in between.
5. If the selection doesn’t highlight the desired images, scroll up and repeat the process until you have a good amount of images selected.
6. Once you have selected the desired images, click the bin icon in the top right corner to move them to the bin for deletion.
7. Depending on the number of images selected, it may take some time for Google to process the deletion request.

Keep in mind that the archive feature in Google Photos will not include the selected images from the main photos grid. If you want to delete everything, you also need to check your archive and move any items from there to the bin for permanent deletion.

Deleting Your Google Photos Account

If you find deleting individual photos or the entire Google Photos library too cumbersome, there are alternatives. One option is to leave your Google Photos account inactive for two years. After this period of inactivity, Google will automatically remove all the content, including your photos, from your account.

Another option is to delete your entire Google account. This is a more drastic measure, but it will permanently erase all your data, including Google Photos. To delete your Google account, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the “Data & personalization” tab in your Google account settings.
2. Scroll down to the section labeled “Download, delete or make a plan for your data.”
3. Click on the option labeled “Delete a service or your account.”
4. Select “Delete your account” and follow the instructions provided.
5. Be sure to download your data if needed and carefully read and confirm the deletion messages.

Deleting your Google account will not only delete your Google Photos but also other Google services associated with your account, such as Gmail. If you only use your Google account for photo backups and cloud storage, this may be a viable option to achieve complete deletion.

Additional FAQ

Here are some additional frequently asked questions related to Google Photos deletion:

How to Undelete Google Photos?

If you accidentally delete a photo and want to recover it, you can access the trash folder in Google Photos. Deleted photos remain in the trash folder for 60 days before they are permanently deleted. To undelete a photo, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Photos app or go to the Google Photos website.
2. Find the photo you want to recover in the trash folder.
3. Tap or click on the photo to open it.
4. Click the “Restore” button to move the photo back to your Google Photos library.

Are My Google Photos Permanently Deleted After Deleting?

Deleted Google Photos are initially moved to the trash folder, where they remain for 60 days. During this time, you can still recover the photos if needed. After the 60-day period, the photos are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. It’s important to note that deleting photos from Google Photos also deletes them from any synced devices.

Final Thoughts

Deleting all your Google Photos can be a time-consuming process, but with the right approach, it is possible to permanently remove your images. Remember to back up your photos before deletion to ensure you have a copy saved elsewhere. Whether you choose to delete individual photos, delete in bulk, or delete your entire Google Photos library, always double-check your selection and be cautious to avoid deleting any cherished memories accidentally.