To delete all photos from Google Photos on your Google phone, you must use a month-by-month batch selection method because the app does not include a one-tap delete-all button. This process moves your photos to the Trash, where they must be permanently deleted to fully clear your cloud storage.
How to delete all photos from Google Photos on your Google phone: The month-by-month batch selection method
- Open the Google Photos app on your Google phone and sign in to your Google Account.
- Tap More at the top of the screen.
- Under Layout, choose Month to display your photos grouped by month.
- Tap the Check icon next to each month to select all photos and videos in that month.
- Tap Trash at the bottom, then confirm by tapping Move to trash.
- Repeat for every month in your library until all photos have been moved to Trash.
Permanently deleting photos from Trash or Bin
After moving all photos to Trash, you must permanently delete them to finish the job. Navigate to Collections > Trash/Bin, tap Select, then tap Delete all and confirm with Delete permanently. On Android, the permanent-delete path uses the term 'Trash'; on iPhone/iPad, it uses 'Bin'. This removes the photos from your Google Photos cloud storage entirely.
What this method does not do
This method deletes photos from Google Photos cloud storage, not from the device itself. To free up space on your phone without affecting cloud copies, use the Free up [x] from device option on Android (labeled 'Free up [x] from device') or Free up space on this device > Delete [x] items from this device > Delete on iPhone or iPad. On iPhone or iPad, those deleted device copies can still be found in the device’s Recently Deleted album, which must be emptied separately if the goal is to remove them from the device too. For broader device cleanup, consider the resources available for managing and transferring photos (Transferring and Managing Photos on Phones).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting from Google Photos delete the files from the phone too?
Not necessarily. Google separates cloud deletion from device cleanup. Deleting from Google Photos removes the cloud copy, but the original file stays on your phone unless you use the device-specific free-up-space feature. On iPhone or iPad, you may also need to empty the device’s Recently Deleted album.
Can Google Photos delete everything at once on the phone?
No. Google’s documented mobile path is batch selection by month, not a universal single-step delete-all button. The month-by-month method is the only way to select all photos within the app.
Where do deleted photos go first?
Deleted photos go to Trash on Android or Bin on iPhone or iPad before permanent deletion. They remain there until you manually delete them permanently or until the 60-day retention period expires. Deleted photos remain in Trash/Bin for 60 days before automatic permanent deletion.
For the wider topic, see managing and transferring photos.
