Deleting photos from our iPhone is a common method used to free up space. However, sometimes these photos may not be removed properly, leaving the impression that they have been deleted. Despite this, when we check the available storage space on our iPhone, it remains full. If you have experienced this issue, then this post will be useful for you.
Deleted iPhone photos keep filling up space
In the Photos application of our iPhone, we can view all the images and videos stored in the local memory of our device. Moreover, if we have iCloud storage and have enabled the photo backup, we can also see them in the app. In this case, the cloud storage will be consumed instead of iPhone memory.
Deleting photos on iPhone has undergone a change in recent years. However, not everyone may be aware of this invisible change. Similar to the Recycle Bin in desktop operating systems, iPhone and iPad also have their own trash can, but it is called Deleted by Apple. This feature was introduced with iOS 14 and since iOS 16, we need to enter the unlock code of the device, or verify our identity using Touch ID or Face ID to access it. Previously, when we deleted a photo or video, it was permanently deleted.
Yes, that’s right. Whenever we delete photos or videos from the gallery, they are moved to the Deleted album, where they will remain for 30 days before being permanently deleted. Even though they are not displayed in the main tab, they still take up space on the device.
To delete them permanently, we need to go to the Photos app, scroll down to the categories at the end, and select the Deleted album, which is shown with a lock icon in iOS 16. In addition, there is also a Hidden album that stores photos that are not deleted but moved to this folder so that they don’t appear in the main gallery. Under each item in the Deleted album, a day counter indicates how much time is left for the photo or video to be completely deleted.
There are various ways to permanently delete photos from the Deleted album. One option is to wait for the specified time to elapse, after which the photos will be automatically removed. Alternatively, we can manually select the photos we want to permanently delete and use the Delete option to remove them from the Deleted album. It is also possible to open each photo and use the Delete option within the photo to permanently delete it.
If the photos are stored in iCloud, permanently deleting them will free up storage space in iCloud. However, if the photos are saved locally on the iPhone, deleting them will free up space on the phone itself.