There could be several reasons why you are unable to delete photos in iCloud. Let’s explore some possible explanations:
1. iCloud Photos enabled: If iCloud Photos is turned on, any changes you make to your photo library on one device will be reflected on all other devices connected to the same iCloud account. This means that if you delete a photo from one device, it will also be deleted from all other devices. To delete photos from iCloud, you need to turn off iCloud Photos on all devices or use the iCloud website.
2. Synced with another device: If your photos are synced to another device, such as your computer, they may not be able to be deleted directly from your iPhone. When you connect your iPhone to your computer and sync it with iTunes or Finder, the photos on your iPhone are synced with the photos on your computer. In this case, you would need to delete the photos from your computer to remove them from iCloud.
3. iCloud storage full: If your iCloud storage is full, you may not be able to delete photos from iCloud. When your storage is full, iCloud will not allow you to make any changes, including deleting photos. You can check your iCloud storage by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. If your storage is full, you can either upgrade your iCloud storage plan or delete some data to free up space.
4. Photos in shared albums: If the photos you are trying to delete are in a shared album, you may not have the necessary permissions to delete them. In shared albums, only the owner of the album can delete photos. If you want to remove a photo from a shared album, you can ask the album owner to delete it or leave the album.
5. Deleted photos in Recently Deleted album: When you delete a photo on your iPhone, it is moved to the “Recently Deleted” album, where it is stored for 30 days before being permanently deleted. If you are unable to delete a photo, it is possible that it is still in the Recently Deleted album. To permanently delete the photo, go to the Recently Deleted album and tap “Delete All” or select individual photos to delete.
There are various reasons why you may be unable to delete photos in iCloud. It could be due to iCloud Photos being enabled, photos being synced with another device, iCloud storage being full, photos being in shared albums, or photos being in the Recently Deleted album. By understanding these possible reasons, you can troubleshoot and resolve the issue accordingly.