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Can I delete all photos from iphone from Windows 11?
An old iPhone 15 Pro Max and there are approximately 5000 photos on it. Now, I already have all photos backed up to an external hard drive. Is there a simple way to allow me deleting all photos from iphone. I don't want to select the photos one by one. I heard it is possible to get this done on a Windows computer as there are dedicated iphone erasing app out there. Is this true?
8 Replies
- PhoenixAdlerIron Contributor
Using iTunes is a reliable, official way to permanently delete all photos from iPhone, especially when you need a nuclear option for complete data removal. It’s Apple’s free, built-in tool for Windows that manages iOS device backups, restores, and syncing, and it can be repurposed to erase photos entirely through a full device restore or selective setup.
Here's how it works in your own words: you connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes, then use the "Restore iPhone" feature to wipe the entire device, which includes permanently delete all photos from iPhone. For a more targeted approach, you can first create a full backup, then restore and set up the iPhone as a new device—this keeps your core system but leaves photos behind. Once the process finishes, your iPhone will be free of all photo data, with no need to manually clear the "Recently Deleted" album.
This method is secure because it uses Apple’s official software, so there’s no risk of malware or third-party data access. It also ensures a thorough wipe that permanently delete all photos from iPhone, leaving no residual files behind.
It’s particularly useful if you want to completely reset your iPhone or resolve software issues while removing photos, or if you don’t trust third-party tools with your device data. Since it’s a free, official tool, it’s a low-risk option for users who prioritize stability and security over convenience, though it does require sacrificing all other data if you use the full factory reset.
- ubhbubbIron Contributor
Factory reset iPhone and it will permanently delete all photos from iphone.
- StonehuIron Contributor
3uTools can accomplish this task. As a free utility, it offers data management, backup and restore capabilities, and photo deletion functions. It provides a stable and reliable solution for permanently removing all photos from your mobile device without requiring additional software. It is particularly well-suited for local batch cleaning, securely freeing up storage space.
How to permanently delete all photos from iphone
Install and launch the tool on your Windows system, then connect your mobile phone using a USB cable.
Unlock your mobile phone, then tap Trust to grant access.
Go to the iDevice tab, click Photos on the left, and wait for photos to load.
Press Ctrl+A to select all photos, then click Delete.
Click to confirm permanent deletion of all photos from your mobile phone.
As a practical and free tool for local photo management and batch deletion, its offline mode and one‑click operation make it a reliable solution for removing photos. For users who prefer desktop management, it offers a safe, direct, and efficient way to clean up storage and manage data.
- AlmaiwIron Contributor
Using techniques like Terminal ARP Poisoning combined with a WebDAV exploit to delete all photos from iPhone is an advanced, potentially risky method that involves exploiting network vulnerabilities and iOS system weaknesses. Here's a simplified explanation of how such an approach might work, in my own words:
- ARP Poisoning is a network attack where an attacker corrupts the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) tables, redirecting network traffic from the iPhone through a malicious actor's device. This allows intercepting, modifying, or injecting data into the communication between the iPhone and other network resources.
- WebDAV Exploit takes advantage of vulnerabilities in the WebDAV protocol (an extension of HTTP used by some devices and services for remote file management). By exploiting these vulnerabilities, an attacker could potentially access, modify, or delete files on the iPhone remotely.
When combined, these techniques could theoretically allow a skilled attacker to connect to the iPhone over a network, bypass security restrictions, and delete all photos from iPhone (the device without using official Apple tools or user interfaces.)
Important note:
Attempting this kind of attack is highly complex, illegal without authorization, and can cause irreversible damage to the device or data. It's generally only used in security research or by malicious actors. It's strongly discouraged for regular users.
- IsabellaisBronze Contributor
It is possible to free delete all photos from your iPhone on Windows 11. While iTunes itself doesn't have a specific feature to delete only photos, you can erase your iPhone entirely and restore it, which deletes all data including photos.
Note: This method will erase your entire device, so only do it if you're okay with losing all data or if you already backed up everything.
Steps:
1. Download and install iTunes for Windows (free).
2. Connect your iPhone to your PC via USB.
3. Open iTunes and select your device.
4. Click on "Restore iPhone".
5. Follow the prompts to erase and restore the device to factory settings.
There are dedicated iPhone erasing apps for Windows 11 that can help you delete all photos from iPhone quickly and efficiently. These tools provide a simple, one-click solution to erase all photos and data from your device securely.
- AdrianPierceIron Contributor
Using the Photos app is one of the most straightforward and effective ways to delete all photos from iPhone. Here's how to delete all photos from iPhone:
1. Using the Photos App
2. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
3. Tap on Albums at the bottom.
4. Scroll down to All Photos.
5. Tap Select in the top right corner.
6. Drag your finger across the photos to select them all, or tap on individual photos if you prefer.
7. Once all photos are selected, tap the Trash bin icon.
8. Confirm Delete Photos.
9. To permanently remove them, go to the Recently Deleted album and delete them again.
For how to delete all photos from iPhone. Using the Photos app is user-friendly and safe, making it the go-to method for clearing your photo library quickly. Remember, once you delete all photos from iPhone and empty the Recently Deleted album, those images cannot be recovered unless you have a backup.
- OakleyCruzIron Contributor
iCloud is Apple’s official cloud service for syncing and managing data across devices. It allows users to view, manage, and permanently delete all photos from iPhone via iPhone directly or a Windows browser. It supports cross-device sync and is a common way to manage iPhone storage and remove photos completely.
On iPhone: Open Photos > Tap Select > Select all photos > Tap the trash bin icon to delete.
Navigate to Albums > Recently Deleted > Select All > Tap Delete All to confirm.
- On a Windows browser: Access the software > Log in with your Apple ID > Open Photos.
After selecting all photos for deletion, empty the Recently Deleted album.
This action permanently removes all photos from your iPhone and clears their cloud-synced copies.
Advantages
Supports convenient use on iPhones and web browsers.
Features a 30-day Recently Deleted folder to prevent accidental data loss.
Enables unified management through cross-Apple device synchronisation.
Disadvantages
By default, deletes all synchronised photos across linked devices.
Lacks a dedicated Windows application, supporting browser access only.
Permanent deletion operations cannot be undone.
It provides a safe and official way to manage and delete iPhone photos. With clear steps and cross-platform access, it is a reliable method to permanently delete all photos from iPhone and free up storage securely.
- MadiisonIron Contributor
Yes, it is possible to delete all photos from iPhone 15 Pro Max using a Windows 11 computer without selecting each photo individually. Since you already backed up your photos to an external hard drive, you can safely delete all photos from iPhone to free up space. There are a few methods to do this, including using dedicated iPhone erasing or cleaning apps on Windows.
How to delete all photos from iPhone use Windows File Explorer
1. Connect your iPhone to your Windows 11 PC via a USB cable.
2. Unlock your iPhone and tap "Trust" if prompted, to allow the PC to access your device.
3. Open File Explorer on Windows.
4. Locate your iPhone under "This PC" or "Devices and drives" — it should appear as a new device with your iPhone's name.
5. Double-click to open your iPhone’s storage, then navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM folder.
6. Inside, you'll find folders containing your photos and videos.
7. Select all the folders (press Ctrl + A), then press Delete to remove all photos at once.
Note: This method deletes photos directly from the device storage, effectively deleting all photos from iPhone without needing any third-party app.