3 Ways to Fix Can’t Delete Photos from Android Gallery

Quick Tips
  • If you can’t delete photos from the Gallery app, you can always use Google Photos to do the same.
  • If you can’t delete photos from the Gallery app, ensure to delete the Trash/Bin to free up storage.
  • You can also use a File Manager app to find and delete photos from your Android device.

Basic Fixes

  • Check trash: If you delete photos from the gallery app and yet it doesn’t clear storage, ensure you clear the trash as well.
  • Restart device: If there’s a bug affecting the Gallery app, restarting your device will help.
  • Update device: Update your device to the latest software version for a bug-free experience.
  • Check cloud services: Disable any cloud services set to download deleted photos automatically.
  • Re-insert SD card: If you can’t delete photos from the SD card, re-inserting the card may fix the issue.

Fix 1: Use Google Photos

If you can’t delete photos from the built-in gallery app, you can use the Google Photos app to do so. Open Google Photos > swipe up on the photo you want to delete > tap on Delete from device.

Note: Ensure you delete the photo only from your device, not from the cloud. If you don’t see the Delete from device option, Google Photos will show a photo that has been backed up on the cloud.

Fix 2: Delete Photos Using File Manager

You can use Google Files or any other file manager to delete photos directly from the storage. Browse the images section or go to Internal Storage to find the photos you want to delete.

If the file manager adds deleted files to the trash or bin, clear that as well.

Fix 3: Clear Media Storage Cache

Junk files and accumulated cache associated with the gallery app can cause issues. To fix the problem, you can delete the cache from the Media Storage service. Don’t worry; deleting the cache will not remove any photos.

Step 1: Open Settings on your phone > go to Apps.

Step 2: You will see the list of the installed apps. Tap on the three-dot icon at the top > select Show system apps. Look for Media storage. Tap on it, tap on Storage, followed by Clear cache.

Similarly, clear the cache for Google Photos and other gallery apps installed on your phone.

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Last updated on 25 April, 2024

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