Free up space on your device
You can use Google Photos to save space on your device when you delete photos that are safely backed up. Before you use this feature, you must ensure that you've already backed up your photos properly. Learn how to back up photos.
Before you get started
Download and install the Google Photos app.
Photos and videos older than 30 days can be deleted, but they’ll still be backed up in your Google Photos library.
Important: Before you delete your photos, make sure that they're backed up. Learn how to back up photos.
Free up space on your iPhone or iPad
Important: This feature deletes photos from your device.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app 👁 Photos
. - Sign in to your Google Account.
- Tap your account profile photo or initial 👁 and then
Free up space on this device. - If you're ready to free up space on your device, tap Delete [x] items from this device 👁 and then
Delete. - Open the iPhone or iPad Photos app (not the Google Photos app).
- Tap Recently Deleted and delete those same photos and videos.
- To see your photos and videos, including ones you deleted from your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app 👁 Photos
.
For backed-up photos and videos, use Photos’ storage management tool to surface items that you might want to delete, like blurry photos, screenshots, and large videos. Learn how to manage your storage.
Delete similar photos
When you’re out of storage, you can remove nearly identical images and keep the best version of each shot. You can clean up storage space and manage your account space effectively.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Photos app 👁 Photos
.- If you’re out of storage, you’re prompted to “Clean up your similar photos to free up space."
- To find your clean up suggestions, tap Review similar photos.
- On the “Similar photos” page, review the groups of similar photos.
- The app automatically selects photos to delete and keeps the best shot. You can change these selections to keep the photos you like.
- To delete the selected photos, tap Delete [number] similar photos.
- To confirm, tap Move to trash.
Tip: When you’re out of storage for 60 days or more, you can access the similar photos feature through the page that appears when you open the Google Photos app.
What happens when you remove photos & videos from your phone
If you remove copies of photos and videos on your phone, they're now deleted but, you still can:
- See your photos and videos, including the ones you just removed, in the Google Photos app and photos.google.com.
- Edit, share, delete, and manage anything in your Google Photos library.
You won't be able to see photos and videos you removed if:
- You use the Apple Photos app.
- You're offline.
- You're not signed in to the Google Photos app 👁 Photos
.
Recover deleted photos
Important: These steps may vary depending on your device. For more help, contact your device manufacturer.
If you deleted an item and want it back, check your Recently Deleted album to see if it’s there.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Photos app.
- Open the Recently Deleted album.
- Select the photo or photos that you want to recover.
- Tap Recover. The photo or photos will be back in your phone’s gallery app.
If the item isn't in your Recently Deleted album, it may be permanently deleted.
Can’t find the photo or video?
If a deleted photo or video isn't in your Google Photos or Gallery trash, you can’t restore it. You won't be able to restore a photo if:
- You moved it to trash more than 60 days ago.
- You moved it to trash, then emptied your trash.
- You moved it to trash more than 30 days ago, and it wasn’t backed up.
- You permanently deleted it from your trash.
- You permanently deleted it from your device’s Gallery app, without backing it up first.
To find and recover photos easily, turn on back up and sync. Learn how to back up photos.
Important: If you're inactive in Google Photos for 2 years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn about the Google Photos inactivity policy.