Deleting photos on your Mac is a straightforward process within the Photos app, ensuring your library remains organized and clutter-free.
When you delete photos from your Mac, they are moved to a "Recently Deleted" album, giving you a chance to recover them if needed, before they are permanently removed.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Photos
Here's how to remove unwanted photos from your Mac's Photos library:
1. Launch the Photos App
First, you need to open the Photos app on your Mac. You can find it in your Dock, Applications folder, or by searching with Spotlight.
2. Select Your Photos
Once in the Photos app, navigate to the photos or videos you wish to delete. You can select:
- A single item: Click on the photo or video once.
- Multiple consecutive items: Click the first item, then hold down the Shift key and click the last item.
- Multiple non-consecutive items: Hold down the Command (⌘) key and click each item you want to select.
- All items in a view: Press Command (⌘) + A to select all photos in the current view (e.g., an album or a specific day).
3. Initiate Deletion
After selecting your desired items, press the Delete key on your keyboard.
4. Confirm Deletion
A confirmation dialog box will appear. Click Delete to confirm your action.
What Happens After Deletion?
Understanding where your photos go after deletion is important:
- Moved to Recently Deleted: The selected items are removed from your main library and are automatically placed in the Recently Deleted album. This acts as a temporary holding area. Items remain here for a set period (usually 30 days) before being permanently deleted from your Mac and iCloud Photos (if enabled). You can recover items from this album if you change your mind.
- Deletion from Albums: If you delete photos from within an album, they are removed from that specific album. However, they will remain in your main Photos library and other albums they might be part of. To truly delete them from your Mac, you must delete them from your main library view or confirm their deletion from the "Recently Deleted" album.
Quick Deletion Steps
| Step | Action | Keyboard Shortcut (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Go to the Photos app | Click Photos icon |
| 2 | Select photos to delete | Click or Cmd/Shift+Click |
| 3 | Press Delete key | Delete |
| 4 | Confirm deletion | Click Delete in dialog |
Managing Your Recently Deleted Album
Periodically check your Recently Deleted album. You can choose to:
- Recover items before they are permanently deleted.
- Permanently Delete items immediately to free up space.
By following these steps, you can effectively manage and delete photos on your Mac, keeping your digital photo collection organized and efficient.
