Efficiently Delete Photos from iPhone While Keeping Them Safe

If you have a full iPhone and need to delete photos to reclaim space, you can safely keep them by utilizing a variety of methods. This article will guide you through the best practices for deleting photos from your iPhone while ensuring they are safely stored elsewhere. Whether you prefer cloud storage, a computer transfer, or an external storage device, we'll detail each method step-by-step.

Method 1: Use Cloud Storage

The first method involves uploading your photos to a cloud storage service, ensuring that you retain access to your cherished images without taking up space on your iPhone.

Step 1: Upload to Cloud Storage

Choose a reputable cloud storage service such as Google Photos, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Download the app of your chosen service if you don't have it. Sign in and upload the desired photos to your account.

Step 2: Delete from iPhone

Once your photos are safely stored in the cloud, you can proceed to delete them from your iPhone.

Open the Photos app. Select the photos you wish to delete. Erase the selected photos by tapping the Trash icon and confirming the deletion.

Method 2: Transfer to a Computer

For those who prefer a direct transfer, you can connect your iPhone to a computer to save your photos.

Step 1: Transfer Photos

Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.

On a Mac, use the Photos app or Image Capture. On Windows, use File Explorer.

Import the photos you wish to keep and transfer to your computer.

Step 2: Delete from iPhone

After confirming the transfer, you can delete photos from your iPhone.

Open the Photos app on your iPhone. Select and delete the photos as described above.

Method 3: Use an External Storage Device

For a more hands-on approach, you can use an external storage device like a flash drive with a Lightning connector.

Step 1: Transfer to External Storage

Connect your iPhone to an external storage device and use the relevant app to transfer photos.

Step 2: Delete from iPhone

After confirming the transfer, you can delete the photos from your iPhone.

Important Notes

iCloud Photos

If you use iCloud Photos and delete a photo from your iPhone, it will also be deleted from iCloud. To keep your photos, disable iCloud Photos before deleting them.

Recently Deleted Album

Deleted photos go to the Recently Deleted album, which acts like Windows' recycle bin for your photos. You can select and delete these photos from the Recently Deleted album.

Using Shared Albums

For a quick and easy method, set up a shared album in the Photos app. You can add photos to a shared album which lives in your iCloud space, without having to share them with anyone.

Select the photos you want to move to a shared album. Click the Share button. Add to Shared Album and select your desired album. Post the operation to confirm the addition.

After adding photos to the shared album, you can delete them from your iPhone's gallery.

Verify Distribution and Delete Locally

Be sure to check your shared album to verify all the photos were copied to it. Then in your iPhone’s Photos app, select the same photos and delete them. To reclaim the storage space on the phone, you'll need to go into the Recently Deleted album and delete all the necessary photos.

Alternative Approach: Computer Transfer

If you have a computer, you can also copy the photos to your computer or another cloud service and then delete them from your iPhone.

Copy the photos to a desired location on your computer or another cloud service. Delete the photos from your iPhone's Photos app as described above.

By following these methods, you can keep your photos safe while freeing up precious space on your iPhone.