In the digital age, Google Photos has become an invaluable tool for storing and managing our cherished memories. However, there are times when you might want to bid farewell to certain photos for good. Whether it’s for decluttering, privacy, or simply keeping things organized, permanently deleting photos from Google Photos is a straightforward process. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to ensure those photos are gone for good.
Step 1:
Open Google Photos
Launch the Google Photos app on your Android device or visit the Google Photos website on your computer. Sign in with the Google account that holds the photos you want to delete.
Step 2:
Select Photos
Navigate to the album or folder containing the photos you wish to delete. Tap and hold on a photo to start selecting multiple photos. You can also tap the three-dot menu on a single photo and choose “Select” to pick multiple images.
Step 3:
Delete Permanently
After selecting the desired photos, tap the trash can icon (Delete) at the top-right corner of the screen. A prompt will appear, confirming that the photos will be moved to the trash and will be deleted after 60 days. Tap “Move to trash” to proceed.
Step 4:
Empty the Trash
To ensure the photos are permanently deleted, you’ll need to empty the trash manually. Tap the three-line menu (hamburger menu) at the top-left corner, then select “Trash.” Inside the trash, you’ll find the photos you’ve deleted. Tap “Select” and choose the photos you want to get rid of permanently.
Step 5:
Confirm and Delete Forever
With the unwanted photos selected, tap the trash can icon again. A warning message will appear, informing you that the photos will be deleted forever and can’t be recovered. Confirm your action, and the selected photos will be permanently deleted from Google Photos.
Additional Tips:
- Backup: Before you delete photos, ensure you have a backup if they’re important to you. You can download them to your device or use Google Takeout to export your Google Photos data.
- Check Shared Content: If you’ve shared the photos with others, deleting them will also remove access for those who have the link. Consider this if you’re collaborating on albums or sharing memories.
- Recovery Period: Remember that deleted photos remain in the trash for 60 days before being automatically deleted. You have a window of time to recover anything you might have deleted accidentally.
Conclusion:
Google Photos offers a convenient way to manage your photo library, including the option to permanently delete photos when necessary. Following these steps ensures that the photos you no longer want won’t linger in your collection. Remember to double-check your selection and consider the implications before permanently deleting any photos. With this guide, you can confidently declutter your digital memories and keep your Google Photos organized just the way you want.
