Running out of storage space on your iPad can be frustrating. Photos often take up the most room on your device. When your iPad keeps warning you about low storage, it's time to take action.
You can delete all photos from your iPad using the Photos app by selecting all images at once or through your device settings.
This process will quickly free up valuable storage space. The key is doing it the right way so you don't lose anything important.
This guide covers safe deletion methods, backup tips, and troubleshooting steps. You'll learn multiple approaches to completely clear your photo library.
Ready to reclaim your iPad's storage space?
Quick Insights 💡:
- Open Photos > Library > Select > Drag finger to select all > Delete
- Use Recently Deleted to remove them permanently
- Disable iCloud Photos if you don’t want deleted images restored
- Connect the iPad to Mac/PC for faster bulk deletion
- Use third-party apps or storage tools for extra speed
Also Read: How to Print from iPad: The Easy Guide to Wireless Printing
Why Delete All Photos from iPad?
There are several good reasons to delete all photos from your iPad. Each situation has its own benefits for your device and daily use.
- Free up storage space is the most common reason. Photos and videos take up a lot of room on your iPad. When your storage space becomes full, your device runs more slowly, and you can't download new apps or take more pictures.
- Removing duplicates and clutter helps organize your device. Over time, you may have saved the same photos multiple times or kept blurry pictures that you no longer need. Clearing everything gives you a fresh start.
- Preparing an iPad for resale or transfer is important for privacy. You don't want your personal photos ending up with someone else. Deleting all images protects your private memories and information.
- Resetting the device without a full factory reset gives you more control. Sometimes you want to keep your apps and settings, but just remove all photos. This saves time compared to setting up everything again.
Key points to remember:
- Deleted photos go to the Recently Deleted album first
- They stay there for 30 days before permanent deletion
- iCloud Photos will sync deletions across all your devices
- You can always restore photos from backups if needed
Your iPad will work better with more free space. You'll also have peace of mind knowing that your photos are organized and safely stored when needed.
Also Read: Top 15+ iPad For Photo Editing Apps to Enhance Your Images
Tips Before Deleting All Photos from iPad
✅ Back up your important pictures first. You can save them to iCloud, Google Photos, or an external drive. This keeps your memories safe before you delete anything.
✅ Check your shared albums carefully. Photos in shared albums might not delete automatically when you remove other pictures. You may need to leave these albums or remove photos separately.
✅ Remember that iCloud sync affects deletion. If your iPad syncs with iCloud Photos, deleting pictures from your iPad will also remove them from iCloud. This means they disappear from all your connected devices.
Here are the key backup options:
- iCloud Photos - Automatically saves to Apple's cloud storage
- Google Photos - Free option with good storage space
- External drive - Physical backup you control
- Computer transfer - Copy files to your Mac or PC
✅ Double-check what you want to keep. Take another look through your photos before deleting everything. Some pictures might be more important than you first thought.
✅ Know about the Recently Deleted folder. When you delete photos, they are first sent to this folder. They remain there for 30 days before being permanently deleted. You can recover them during this time if needed.
✅ Check your available storage. See how much space you will gain by deleting all photos. This helps you decide if it's worth the effort.
Also Read: How to Delete an App on iPad: Easy Methods for Every iPad User
How to Delete All Photos from iPad – Step-by-Step
Deleting all photos from your iPad can be done through the built-in Photos app, permanently removing them from the Recently Deleted folder, turning off iCloud Photos, using a computer, or utilizing third-party apps.
Each method offers different benefits depending on your storage needs and sync preferences.
Method 1 – Delete Directly in the Photos App
Open the Photos app on your iPad. Tap on Library at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Select in the top right corner. You can now choose photos to delete.
To select all photos quickly, drag your finger across the screen. This will display multiple images simultaneously.
You can also tap Select All if it appears, or manually tap each photo you want to delete. Selected photos will have a blue checkmark.
Once you have selected all the photos you want to remove, tap the Trash icon at the bottom right.
Confirm the deletion by tapping Delete Photos. The photos will move to the Recently Deleted folder.
Method 2 – Permanently Remove from Recently Deleted
After deleting photos using Method 1, they stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days. Go to the Albums tab in the Photos app.
Scroll down and find Recently Deleted. Tap on it to open the folder.
Tap Select in the top right corner. Then tap Delete All in the bottom left.
Confirm by tapping Delete Photos. This removes all photos permanently from your iPad.
This step is important because photos in Recently Deleted still take up storage space. Only after this step will you free up storage on your device.
Method 3 – Turn Off iCloud Photos
Open Settings on your iPad. Tap on your Apple ID at the top of the screen.
Select iCloud, then tap Photos. Toggle off iCloud Photos by tapping the switch.
You will see two options:
- Remove from iPad - deletes photos from the device but keeps them in iCloud
- Download Photos & Videos - keeps photos on iPad but stops syncing
Select 'Remove from iPad' if you want to delete all photos from your device. This method works well if you want to keep photos in iCloud but free up storage space on your iPad.
Method 4 – Delete Photos Using Mac or PC
Connect your iPad to your computer using a USB cable. Ensure your iPad is unlocked and tap 'Trust' when prompted.
On Mac: Open Finder and select your iPad from the sidebar. Go to the Files tab and find the photos folder.
You can also use the Photos app on Mac. Import photos first, then delete them from your iPad through the app.
On Windows: Open File Explorer and find your iPad under devices. Navigate to the photos folder and select all photos.
Press Delete to remove them. This method lets you delete multiple photos quickly without using the iPad's touchscreen.
Method 5 – Use Third-Party Apps for Bulk Deletion
Download apps like Gemini Photos or Cleaner from the App Store. These apps are designed to help manage large photo libraries.
Gemini Photos can find and delete similar photos, blurry images, and screenshots. It makes bulk deletion faster than the built-in Photos app.
Cleaner helps identify photos that take up the most space. It shows file sizes and lets you delete multiple photos with one tap.
These apps are helpful if you have thousands of photos. They offer features like:
- Finding duplicate photos
- Sorting by file size
- Deleting by date range
- Identifying blurry or poor quality images
Most third-party apps require permission to access your photos. Always read reviews and choose trusted apps from the App Store.
Also Read: How to Update iPad: A Guide for the Latest iPadOS
Troubleshooting: What to Do If You Can't Select All
Sometimes the select all feature doesn't work as expected. Your iPad might also freeze when trying to delete too many photos at once.
Why Don't I See a "Select All" Button?
The "Select All" button only shows up in certain views. If you're looking at your photos in "Years," "Months," or "Days" view, you won't see this option.
You need to switch to the "All Photos" view first. This shows your pictures as a single grid of images. Once you're in this view, the "Select All" option will appear.
Here's how to get to the correct view:
- Open the Photos app
- Tap on "Library" at the bottom
- Look for "All Photos" and tap it
- Make sure you see all your photos in one long grid
- Now tap "Select" in the top right corner
- The "Select All" option should appear
If you still don't see it, try closing the Photos app completely and reopening it.
What If My iPad Freezes During Mass Deletion?
Deleting thousands of photos at once puts a lot of stress on your iPad. The system might freeze or become very slow when processing so many items.
If your iPad stops responding, you need to force restart it. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo appear.
After your iPad restarts, try a different approach:
- Delete photos in smaller batches of 500-1000 at a time
- Wait a few seconds between each batch
- Check your available storage space first
- Close other apps before starting the deletion process
This method takes longer but prevents your iPad from freezing again.
Conclusion
Knowing how to delete all photos from an iPad is a powerful way to take control of your device's storage and performance.
We've covered the essential methods: from the quick "Select All" deletion to the more nuanced approach of keeping your photos safe on iCloud while removing them from your device.
Remember, the golden rule is always to back up your photos first and understand your iCloud Photos settings to avoid any accidental losses.
Now that you've freed up all that valuable space, why not give your sleek, clean iPad the protection it deserves?
Check out our collections of stylish and functional cases to keep your device safe:
FAQs: How to Delete All Photos from iPad
These questions cover the main steps for selecting and deleting photos on iPad. They also explain how to manage storage space and keep photos in some places while removing them from others.
How do I select all photos from my iPad?
Open the Photos app and tap "Select" in the top right corner. Tap the first photo in your library.
Hold down and drag your finger across multiple photos to select them quickly. You can also tap individual photos one by one.
To select everything at once, use the "Select All" option if available. Some iOS versions show this when you start selecting photos.
How do you delete all your photos at once?
After selecting all photos, tap the trash can icon at the bottom of the screen. Confirm you want to delete the photos.
The deleted photos move to the "Recently Deleted" folder first. They stay there for 30 days before permanent deletion.
To delete them right away, go to the Recently Deleted folder. Tap "Select" then "Delete All" to remove them permanently.
How to clear iPad photo storage?
Delete photos from your main photo library and the Recently Deleted folder. This frees up the most storage space.
Check for photos in other albums like Screenshots or Downloads. Delete these separately if needed.
Turn off iCloud Photos sync if you want to remove cloud storage photos from your device only. Go to Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos and toggle it off.
How do I delete my entire photo library on my iPhone?
The steps work the same way on iPhone as iPad. Open Photos, tap Select, choose all photos, then delete them.
Remember to empty the Recently Deleted folder to free up storage completely. Photos in this folder still take up space on your device.
Back up important photos before deleting everything. Once you empty the Recently Deleted folder, you cannot get those photos back.
How can I delete photos from my iPad but keep them on my computer?
Turn off iCloud Photos before deleting if you use cloud sync. This prevents deletion from spreading to other devices.
Make sure your computer has all the photos saved locally first. Check your photo backup is complete and up to date.
Delete the photos from your iPad after confirming they are safe on your computer. The photos will stay on your computer and be removed only from the iPad.
