How to Empty Photos from iCloud
In today’s digital age, storing photos on iCloud has become a convenient way to backup and access your images from any device. However, as time goes by, your iCloud storage might start to fill up, especially if you have a vast collection of photos. To free up space, you may want to know how to empty photos from iCloud. This article will guide you through the process step by step, ensuring that you can manage your iCloud storage efficiently.
Step 1: Check Your iCloud Storage
Before you start deleting photos from iCloud, it’s essential to check how much storage you currently have. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, tap your name at the top, and then select “iCloud.” Under the “Storage” section, you’ll see how much space you’re using and how much is available. If you find that your storage is almost full, it’s time to clear out some photos.
Step 2: Manage Photos on Your Device
One of the simplest ways to empty photos from iCloud is by managing your photos directly on your device. Open the Photos app, and go through your albums and photo streams. Delete any unnecessary photos or videos by tapping the select button, choosing the items you want to delete, and then tapping the trash icon. Keep in mind that this will only delete the photos from your device; they will still be stored on iCloud.
Step 3: Delete Photos from iCloud
If you want to remove photos from iCloud storage completely, you can do so by accessing your iCloud photos on a web browser. Go to www.icloud.com, log in with your Apple ID, and click on the “Photos” app. From there, you can view and manage your photos stored on iCloud. To delete a photo, click on the photo, and then click the trash icon at the bottom left corner of the screen. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
Step 4: Empty the Deleted Items Folder
After deleting photos from iCloud, they are moved to the Deleted Items folder, where they remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. To ensure that these photos are removed from your iCloud storage, go to the Deleted Items folder by clicking on the “Deleted” album at the bottom of the screen. Select all the photos you want to delete, and then click the trash icon. Confirm the deletion, and the photos will be permanently removed from your iCloud account.
Step 5: Optimize Storage
If you still need to free up more space, you can enable the “Optimize Storage” feature in the Photos app. This feature will automatically remove high-resolution versions of your photos from your device, while keeping the original low-resolution versions on your device and in iCloud. To enable this feature, go to the Photos app’s settings, scroll down, and toggle on “Optimize Storage.”
By following these steps, you can easily empty photos from iCloud and manage your storage more efficiently. Remember to regularly check your iCloud storage and delete unnecessary photos to ensure that you always have enough space for your precious memories.
