Delete a photo permanently in three steps
Open Google Photos on your phone or computer, find the photo you want to remove, tap or click it once to select it, then tap the trash icon (usually at the bottom or top of the screen). The photo moves to your Trash folder. After 60 days, Google deletes it permanently. If you want it gone right now instead of waiting, open Trash, select the photo again, and tap "Delete forever" — it will be removed when ready and cannot be recovered.
The process is the same whether you took the photo on your phone, uploaded it from your computer, or received it from someone else. Google Photos stores everything in one place, so deleting from the app deletes it from all your devices.
One important detail: if you backed up a photo from your phone's camera roll, deleting it from Google Photos does not delete it from your phone itself. The two are separate. You may need to delete it from both places if you want it completely gone.
Key Takeaways
- Deleted photos go to Trash for 60 days before Google removes them permanently, giving you time to change your mind.
- Tapping "Delete forever" removes a photo when ready without waiting the 60 days.
- Deleting from Google Photos does not delete the original file from your phone or computer unless you delete it there separately.
- You can select multiple photos at once and delete them together, which is faster than deleting one at a time.
- Shared photos and albums work differently — deleting your copy does not delete it from other people's accounts.
Delete multiple photos at once
If you need to remove several photos, selecting them one by one takes time. Instead, tap and hold the first photo until it shows a checkmark, then tap the other photos you want to delete. A number appears showing how many are selected. Once you have chosen all of them, tap the trash icon. They all move to Trash together.
On a computer, click the first photo, hold Shift, and click the last photo in a group to select everything between them. Or hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click individual photos to pick and choose. Then click the trash icon at the top.
This method works for clearing out duplicates, blurry shots, or old screenshots you no longer need. You can also use Google Photos' search and filter tools to find photos by date, location, or type, then select and delete them in bulk.
Recover a deleted photo from Trash
If you delete a photo by mistake, you have 60 days to get it back. Open Google Photos, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and select "Trash." Find the photo you want to restore, tap it, then tap "Restore." It goes back to your library in the same albums and collections it was in before.
After 60 days, the photo is gone permanently and cannot be restored. Google does not send a warning when the 60-day window is about to close, so if you think you might want a photo back, restore it sooner rather than later.
If you tapped "Delete forever" instead of just moving it to Trash, the photo is removed when ready and cannot be recovered at all. This is why the regular delete (which sends it to Trash first) is usually safer — it gives you a chance to reconsider.
What happens to photos in shared albums
When you delete a photo from a shared album, it disappears from your view but may still appear for other people in the album. The photo is only removed from their accounts if they delete it themselves. This is different from deleting a photo you own — when you delete your own photo, only your copy is affected.
If you are the owner of a shared album and you delete a photo, it is removed from the album for everyone. People who were viewing it will no longer see it, but they may have already downloaded or saved a copy on their own devices.
If someone else shared a photo with you and you want to remove it from your library, deleting it only affects your account. The original owner still has it, and other people in the share may still see it.
Understand the difference between deleting and removing from backup
Google Photos has a backup feature that automatically saves photos from your phone's camera roll. If you delete a photo from Google Photos, the backup setting does not automatically delete it from your phone. You need to delete it separately from your phone's camera app or gallery.
The opposite is also true: if you delete a photo from your phone, it does not automatically disappear from Google Photos unless you have a setting that removes backed-up photos when you delete the original. Check your backup settings to see how this works on your device.
This separation can be confusing, but it is actually protective — it means you cannot accidentally lose a photo by deleting it in one place. You have to delete it in both places if you want it completely gone.
Delete photos on different devices
Google Photos syncs across all your devices, so a photo deleted on your phone is also deleted from the web version and any other device where you are signed in. You do not need to delete the same photo multiple times.
On a phone, open the Google Photos app, select the photo, and tap the trash icon. On a computer, go to photos.google.com, click the photo, and click the trash icon. On a tablet, the process is the same as a phone. The deletion happens when ready across all devices.
If you are signed into multiple Google accounts, remember that each account has its own separate Google Photos library. Deleting a photo from one account does not affect the other. Make sure you are signed into the correct account before you delete.
Prevent accidental deletion with archive instead
If you want to hide a photo without deleting it, use the archive feature instead. Open the photo, tap the archive icon (usually a box or folder symbol), and the photo moves out of your main library. It is still in your account and can be searched, but it does not clutter your everyday view.
Archived photos are useful for keeping screenshots, receipts, or reference images that you do not want to see every day but might need later. They are not deleted, so you can bring them back to your main library anytime by opening Archive and tapping the unarchive icon.
This is a good middle ground between keeping everything and deleting. You get a cleaner library without losing anything permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a photo after I tap "Delete forever"?
No. "Delete forever" removes the photo when ready and permanently. It does not go to Trash first. If you want a safety window, use the regular delete option instead, which sends the photo to Trash for 60 days.
Does deleting from Google Photos delete it from my phone?
Not automatically. Deleting from Google Photos only removes it from your Google account. If you want it off your phone too, you need to delete it from your phone's camera app or gallery separately. Check your backup settings to see how the two are connected on your device.
What if I delete a photo someone shared with me?
It only removes it from your library. The person who shared it still has it in their account, and other people in the share may still see it. Deleting a shared photo does not affect anyone else's copy.
How long do photos stay in Trash before they are gone?
Google keeps deleted photos in Trash for 60 days. After that, they are permanently removed and cannot be recovered. If you want a photo gone sooner, you can tap "Delete forever" from the Trash folder.
Is there a way to delete photos without losing them completely?
Yes, use the archive feature. Archived photos are hidden from your main library but stay in your account and can be searched. You can unarchive them anytime to bring them back to your library.