How to Delete All Photos from iPhone 16: Step-by-Step Guide

If your iPhone 16 is packed with screenshots, duplicate shots, old downloads, or a photo library you no longer need, deleting everything can free up a lot of storage fast. Maybe you are preparing to sell the phone, starting fresh, or just tired of scrolling through thousands of images. Either way, the process is straightforward once you know where to tap.

This guide walks you through the fastest and safest ways to delete all photos from an iPhone 16, including how to remove them from the Photos app, clear the Recently Deleted folder, and handle iCloud Photos if it is turned on. The whole process is quick, but there are a few details that matter if you want the photos gone for good. Follow the steps below and you will have a clean photo library in minutes.

Quick Summary

• Open the Photos app, go to All Photos, tap Select, choose all photos, then tap the Trash icon.
• Go to Albums > Recently Deleted and delete them again to permanently remove them.
• If iCloud Photos is enabled, deleting on your iPhone may also delete photos from other synced Apple devices.

Tutorial – How to Delete All Photos from iPhone 16

The steps below will remove all photos and videos from your iPhone 16’s photo library and permanently delete them from the device. If iCloud Photos is enabled, it can also affect your iCloud photo library, so it is important to check your sync settings first.

Step 1: Open the Photos app and check whether iCloud Photos is enabled

Open Settings, tap your Apple Account name, then tap iCloud and Photos to see whether Sync this iPhone is on.

You should see a toggle for Sync this iPhone. If it is enabled, your photos are synced with iCloud, so deleting them on your iPhone may remove them from every device that uses the same Apple Account.

Step 2: Decide whether you want to keep a backup

Before deleting anything, make sure the photos are backed up if you still want them later.

You can back them up to iCloud, Google Photos, a computer, or an external drive. This step is important because once you empty Recently Deleted, the photos are much harder to recover.

Step 3: Open the Photos app and go to your library

Launch the Photos app, then tap Library and make sure you are viewing All Photos.

This is the main view where your entire photo and video collection appears in one place. You should see a grid of thumbnails, usually with the newest items near the bottom.

Step 4: Tap Select, then select all photos

Tap Select in the top-right corner. Then drag your finger across the photos to select them quickly, or tap each group until everything is highlighted.

When a photo is selected, it gets a blue checkmark. If you have a large library, dragging across rows is usually the fastest way to highlight many photos at once.

Step 5: Tap the Trash icon to delete the selected photos

After all photos are selected, tap the Trash icon, then confirm by tapping Delete Photos.

Your photos are not fully gone yet. They move to the Recently Deleted album first, which gives you a grace period in case you change your mind.

Step 6: Empty the Recently Deleted album

Go to Albums, scroll down to Utilities, and tap Recently Deleted. Tap Select, then choose Delete All, or delete items individually if needed.

This is the key step that permanently removes the photos from your iPhone 16. Until you clear Recently Deleted, the photos still take up space and can usually be restored.

Step 7: Confirm the photo library is empty

Return to Photos and check Library again.

You should now see either a blank library or only the items you have chosen to keep. If iCloud Photos is on, the change may also sync across your other Apple devices after a short delay.

Alternative Methods and Edge Cases

If you want to delete photos without deleting them from iCloud

Turn off Sync this iPhone first in Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Photos.

This can prevent changes from syncing, but be careful. Apple’s sync behavior can be confusing, and if the photos already live in iCloud, turning off sync does not always mean the cloud copy remains untouched. Check your iCloud.com library before deleting anything.

If you only want to delete photos from one album

Open the album, tap Select, choose the photos, then tap the Trash icon.

Keep in mind that albums in iPhone Photos are primarily for organization. Deleting a photo from an album usually removes it from the main library as well, not just from that album.

If you want to delete photos from your iPhone but keep them on a computer

Import them to your Mac or PC first using Photos, Image Capture, File Explorer, or the Photos app on Windows.

Once the files are safely copied, you can delete them from the iPhone 16 using the steps above. This is a smart move if you are trying to free storage but still want local backups.

If your photos are coming from shared albums

Shared Album photos may need to be removed inside the shared album itself, depending on who uploaded them.

Open the shared album, delete any items you own if needed, and remember that shared content may behave differently than in your main photo library.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will deleting photos from my iPhone 16 also delete them from iCloud?

Yes, if iCloud Photos is turned on, deleting photos on your iPhone usually removes them from iCloud and from your other synced Apple devices.

How do I permanently delete photos, not just hide them?

Delete the photos from Photos, then go to Recently Deleted and remove them there too. That second step is what makes the deletion permanent.

Can I recover photos after deleting them?

Yes, but only until you empty Recently Deleted. After that, recovery is much harder unless you have a backup.

Does deleting photos also delete videos?

Yes. Videos in the Photos app are handled the same way as photos, so they are deleted together if you select them.

Is there a way to delete all photos at once?

Yes. In Photos > Library > All Photos, tap Select and then choose all items before tapping the Trash icon. For very large libraries, this can take a little time.

What if I only want to free up space, not erase everything?

Use Optimize iPhone Storage in Settings > Photos, or delete only large videos and duplicates first. That is often a better option if you are not ready for a full wipe.

Tips

• Check Recently Deleted after every major cleanup. It still counts toward storage until you empty it.
• If you use iCloud Photos, delete carefully. Changes can sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Back up first if any photos matter. A backup takes a few minutes and can save you from losing something important.
• Large libraries are easier to manage in batches. You do not have to delete everything in one sitting.
• If storage is the main problem, deleting videos often gives you the biggest payoff fastest.
• After clearing photos, restart your iPhone if storage does not update right away. iOS sometimes needs a moment to recalculate space.

Troubleshooting

• If Select is hard to use on a huge library, try selecting in smaller chunks by month or by recent date range.
• If photos keep reappearing, check whether iCloud Photos is still syncing. Make sure all connected devices are not restoring them.
• If Recently Deleted will not clear, restart your iPhone and try again. A temporary iOS glitch can block the deletion process.
• If the Trash icon is missing, make sure you are in the Library view, not inside a system album with limited actions.
• If storage does not drop after deletion, wait a few minutes and then check Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The system may still be updating.
• If you accidentally deleted something, go to Recently Deleted right away and restore it before the retention period expires.

Conclusion

Deleting all photos from an iPhone 16 is simple once you know the full process. The main steps are to remove the images from Photos, then empty Recently Deleted so they are permanently gone.

If iCloud Photos is enabled, take an extra moment to check your sync settings before you delete. That one check can prevent unwanted surprises on your other Apple devices. Once you follow the steps above, your iPhone 16 should have a clean, empty photo library and more free storage.