How do I delete photos from iCloud to free up space?

Answered by Douglas Hiatt

To delete photos from iCloud and free up space, you can follow these step-by-step instructions:

1. Sign in to iCloud.com: Open a web browser on your iPhone, iPad, or computer and visit iCloud.com. Sign in with your Apple ID and password.

2. Access the Photos app: On the iCloud homepage, click on the “Photos” app icon. This will open the Photos app, where you can manage your iCloud photo library.

3. Select the photos/videos: In the Photos app, you’ll see all your photos and videos organized by date. You can navigate through different albums or use the search bar to find specific photos/videos. To select multiple items, hold down the Shift key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) while clicking on each photo/video. Alternatively, you can select all photos/videos in an album by clicking on the “Select Photos” button at the top right and choosing “Select All”.

4. Delete the selected items: Once you have selected the photos/videos you want to delete, click on the trash bin icon (or press the Delete key on your keyboard). A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you want to delete the selected items. Click “Delete” to confirm.

5. Empty the Recently Deleted album: When you delete photos/videos from iCloud, they are moved to the “Recently Deleted” album where they are stored for 30 days before being permanently deleted. To free up space immediately, you can empty this album by clicking on the “Albums” tab in the Photos app, selecting “Recently Deleted”, and clicking on the “Delete All” button. Confirm the deletion when prompted.

6. Check your iCloud storage: After deleting the unwanted photos/videos and emptying the Recently Deleted album, you can check your iCloud storage to see how much space you have freed up. To do this, go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap on your name at the top, select “iCloud”, and then “Manage Storage”. Here, you can view your iCloud storage usage and see how much space has been freed up.

By following these steps, you can easily delete photos and videos from iCloud to free up space. It’s important to note that deleting photos/videos from iCloud will also remove them from all devices connected to your iCloud account. So, make sure to back up your important photos/videos before deleting them.