Deleting files from iCloud removes them from your account and frees up storage space you can use for other things
When you delete a file from iCloud, it goes to your iCloud trash folder first — you have 30 days to recover it before it disappears permanently. The file stops taking up space in your iCloud account once you empty the trash. Deletion works the same way whether you delete from an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or the iCloud.com website, though the steps differ slightly depending on which device you use.
The key thing to understand is that deleting from iCloud does not automatically delete the file from your devices. If you have a document stored in iCloud Drive, for example, and you delete it from iCloud.com, the file may still exist on your Mac or iPhone unless you also delete it there. This separation exists because iCloud syncs files across your devices — deleting in one place does not always mean deleting everywhere.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted files sit in iCloud trash for 30 days before permanent removal, so you can recover them if you change your mind.
- Deleting a file from iCloud does not automatically delete it from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — you may need to delete it separately on each device.
- The fastest way to delete multiple files at once is through iCloud.com, where you can select several items and delete them in one action.
- Photos deleted from iCloud Photos go to a separate Recently Deleted album that also lasts 30 days before permanent removal.
How to delete files from iCloud.com on a computer
Open a web browser and go to iCloud.com. Sign in with your Apple ID and password. Click on iCloud Drive (or Photos, Mail, or whichever app contains the file you want to delete). Find the file or folder you want to remove.
Right-click on the file and select Delete from the menu that appears. On a Mac trackpad, you can also hold Control and click. The file moves to your iCloud trash when ready. If you want to delete multiple files at once, click on the first file, then hold Shift and click on the last file in a group to select them all, or hold Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) and click individual files. Once you have selected all the files you want, right-click and choose Delete.
To permanently remove files from iCloud, you need to empty the trash. Click on the trash folder in the sidebar, select all the files you want to remove permanently, and click Delete. You can also wait 30 days and iCloud will automatically delete everything in trash.
How to delete files from iCloud Drive on iPhone or iPad
Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap iCloud Drive at the top. Find the file or folder you want to delete and swipe left on it (or long-press and hold). A red Delete button appears — tap it. The file moves to iCloud trash.
To delete multiple files, tap Edit in the upper right corner of the screen. Tap each file you want to remove — a checkmark appears next to each one. Once you have selected all the files, tap Delete in the lower right corner. Confirm by tapping Delete again when the prompt appears.
To empty iCloud trash on your iPhone or iPad, open the Files app, scroll down to the bottom, and tap Trash. Tap Edit, then tap Select All, then tap Delete. Confirm the action. Everything in trash will be permanently removed.
How to delete photos from iCloud Photos
If you use iCloud Photos (formerly iCloud Photo Library), deleted photos go to a separate Recently Deleted album instead of your regular trash. Open the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Go to the Albums tab and scroll down to find Recently Deleted. Tap or click on it.
Select the photos you want to permanently remove. On iPhone or iPad, tap Select in the upper right, then tap each photo. On Mac, click the first photo, then hold Shift and click the last photo to select a range, or hold Command and click individual photos. Once selected, tap or click Delete to permanently remove them from iCloud Photos.
Photos in the Recently Deleted album stay there for 30 days. After 30 days, they are automatically and permanently deleted from iCloud. If you want to recover a photo you deleted by mistake, go back to Recently Deleted within 30 days and tap or click Recover.
How to delete mail and other iCloud content
For iCloud Mail, open Mail on your device or go to iCloud.com and click Mail. Find the email or folder you want to delete. On iPhone or iPad, swipe left on the email. On a computer, click the email and press Delete, or right-click and select Delete. Deleted emails go to the Trash folder.
To permanently remove emails, open the Trash folder, select the emails you want to remove, and delete them again. iCloud Mail keeps items in Trash for 30 days before automatic permanent deletion. For other iCloud apps like Contacts, Calendar, or Notes, the process is similar — find the item, delete it, and it goes to trash for 30 days before permanent removal.
Understanding the difference between local and iCloud deletion
When you delete a file from iCloud.com, it removes the file from your iCloud account but may not remove it from your devices. If you have iCloud Drive turned on for your Mac, for example, and you delete a document from iCloud.com, that document might still exist in your local iCloud Drive folder on your Mac. You would need to delete it separately there to remove it from your computer.
The same applies to photos. If you delete a photo from iCloud Photos on your iPhone, it removes the photo from iCloud but may leave a copy on your device if you have iCloud Photos turned off or if the photo was downloaded locally. To completely remove a file from everywhere, you may need to delete it from each device separately. Check your device settings to see whether iCloud syncing is turned on for the app you are using.
How to recover deleted files within 30 days
All iCloud apps keep deleted items in trash for 30 days. To recover something you deleted by mistake, go to the trash folder in the app where you deleted it. On iCloud.com, click the trash icon in the sidebar. On iPhone or iPad, open the app and look for a Trash or Recently Deleted folder. Select the file you want to recover and look for a Restore or Recover button.
Once you restore a file, it goes back to its original location. If you deleted a file from iCloud Drive, it returns to iCloud Drive. If you deleted an email, it returns to your inbox or the folder it came from. After 30 days, iCloud automatically deletes everything in trash permanently, and you cannot recover it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting from iCloud delete from my iPhone too?
Not automatically. Deleting a file from iCloud.com removes it from your iCloud account, but it may still exist on your iPhone if you have the file downloaded locally. To remove it from your iPhone, you need to delete it separately in the app where it is stored. Check whether iCloud syncing is turned on for that app in your iPhone settings.
Can I recover a file after 30 days?
No. Once the 30-day trash period ends, iCloud permanently deletes the file and you cannot recover it. If you think you might need a file later, do not delete it from iCloud — move it to a folder instead or turn off iCloud syncing for that app if you want to keep it only on your device.
What happens to my storage space when I delete a file?
Deleting a file frees up storage space when ready, even though the file sits in trash for 30 days. Once you empty trash or the 30 days pass, the space becomes fully available for new files. You can check how much iCloud storage you are using in your iCloud settings on any device.
How do I delete an entire folder from iCloud?
Right-click on the folder in iCloud Drive (on a computer) or long-press it (on iPhone or iPad) and select Delete. The entire folder and all files inside it move to trash. You can recover the whole folder within 30 days by going to trash and selecting Restore.
Can I delete files from iCloud without deleting them from my Mac?
Yes, but you need to turn off iCloud Drive syncing for that folder first. Go to System Settings on your Mac, click Apple ID, then iCloud, and turn off iCloud Drive. This stops syncing but keeps the files on your Mac. Then you can delete them from iCloud.com without affecting your local copies.