How to Delete All Photos From iPhone Except Favorites

A cluttered photo library on your iPhone makes it difficult to find the images you truly care about. With storage space at a premium, keeping only your favorite photos while removing the rest is a practical solution to this common problem.

This guide offers clear, step-by-step instructions on how to delete all photos from your iPhone except for your favorites. We’ll cover methods using your iPhone’s built-in features, a Mac, and third-party apps to make sure you can quickly reclaim storage and keep your most treasured memories easily accessible.

Is It Possible to Delete All Photos from iPhone Except Favorites?

Many iPhone users question whether it is feasible to delete non-favorite photos while keeping their favorites intact using the iPhone’s Photos app. Unfortunately, the app does not provide a direct function to delete all photos except those marked as favorites. However, users can employ a series of actions within the standard functionalities of the Photos app to achieve this goal.

The most practical approach involves utilizing the ‘Hidden’ album feature. By marking non-favorite photos as hidden, they are removed from the main library view, allowing a cleaner visual interface to delete all but favorite photos iPhone. This method leverages the existing capabilities of the Photos app, providing a workaround that aligns with the app’s design to manage large photo collections effectively without losing precious life moments.

How to Delete All Photos Except Favorites

This section will explore various methods to delete all photos except your favorites from your iPhone. Whether you are looking to perform this task directly on your iPhone, use macOS software version, or leverage third-party applications, the following guides will provide detailed, step-by-step instructions to make sure you can safely preserve your favorite images while eliminating all other photos and videos.

Method 1. Delete All Photos Except Favorites on iPhone

One of the most straightforward methods to manage and delete all non-favorite photos on your iPhone involves using the built-in Photos app features creatively. This method centers around temporarily moving your favorite photos to the ‘Hidden’ album, which allows for a cleaner deletion process of all other visible photos in your library.

Here’s how you can keep your favorites safe while cleaning up your photo collection:

1. Open the Photos app and navigate to the ‘Albums’ tab.
2. Locate and open the ‘Favorites’ album, then tap ‘Select’ in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Use the ‘Select All’ option in the upper left corner, then tap the three dots and choose the ‘Hide’ function. Confirm your choice to move these photos to the Hidden album temporarily.
4. Switch to the ‘Recents’ album to view all photos not marked as favorites.
5. Press ‘Select,’ tap the last photo in the gallery, and without releasing your touch, double tap at the top left corner of the screen until all photos are selected as you “sweep” back to the top of the gallery.
6. Tap the trash icon and confirm the deletion to move these non-favorite photos to the ‘Recently Deleted’ album.
7. Visit the ‘Recently Deleted’ album, where you can choose to permanently delete the photos or allow them to auto-delete after 30 days.
8. To restore your favorites, go back to the ‘Hidden’ album, select all photos using the same method as in steps 2-3, and choose ‘Unhide’ from the three dots menu. This action returns the photos to your main gallery.

This method makes sure that only your non-favorite photos are deleted while your favorites are safely hidden during the cleaning process and then restored. It’s a straightforward way to declutter your photo collection without losing those images you cherish most.

Method 2. Use Mac to Delete All Pictures Except Favorites

For users who prefer handling their photo libraries on a larger screen, using a Mac connected through iCloud offers a more accessible and visual approach to managing photos. This method utilizes the Photos app on a Mac to delete all pictures except favorites with greater ease and accuracy.

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac. Check that your iPhone is synced with iCloud so all your photos are available.
2. Click on the ‘Favorites’ album on the sidebar to view all your favorite photos.
3. Press ‘Command + A’ to select all photos in the Favorites album, then right-click and select ‘Hide [number] Photos’ to move them temporarily to the Hidden album.
4. Navigate to the ‘Library’ section, where all pictures are displayed.
5. Again, press ‘Command + A’ to select all photos visible (now excluding your favorites as they are hidden).
6. Right-click and choose ‘Delete [number] Photos’ to move the non-favorite photos to the trash.
7. To permanently remove these photos, go to the ‘Recently Deleted’ album, select all, and click ‘Delete All’ to confirm the action.
8. To restore the visibility of your favorites, return to the ‘Hidden’ album, select all hidden favorites, right-click, and choose ‘Unhide [number] Photos.’ If the Hidden Album is not visible on the sidebar, click View > Show Hidden Photo Album in the menu bar to display it.

This method takes advantage of the Mac’s intuitive interface and powerful sorting capabilities, making it a preferable option for users who manage extensive photo collections or prefer the detailed control that a Mac provides.

Method 3. Delete All Photos Except Favorites with Third-Party Apps

Opting for third-party apps can provide a highly efficient solution. These tools allow you to easily perform an iPhone delete non-favorite photos task with precision, provided that only your chosen favorites remain.

Third-party apps like Deleter, available on the Apple App Store, offer advanced features that simplify the selection and deletion process. They can quickly filter and segregate non-favorite photos, allowing users to clear large quantities of unwanted images with minimal effort. However, it is important to note that these apps are typically paid services. Free options are rare, primarily because the functionality involves complex processing and often includes secure backup options before deletion to prevent accidental loss of valuable photos.

If convenience and time-saving are priorities for you, and you are willing to invest in a solution that works with just a few taps, third-party apps represent a viable option. They not only facilitate the swift management of your photo library but also ensure that your favorites are kept safe while the rest are efficiently cleared away.

How to Separate Favorite Photos Without the Hidden Album

While hiding favorite photos before deleting all others is a practical approach, it may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who frequently use the hidden album for other purposes. Mixing hidden and favorite photos can complicate library management, leading to potential disorganization and difficulty quickly accessing desired images. This section explores alternative methods that do not rely on the hiding feature to separate favorites from the rest of the photo library.

One effective alternative involves manipulating the sort order in the Recently deleted album to group favorites together and separate them from all other photos. Here’s how this can be done:

1. Open the Recently Deleted album and clear it to make it empty, facilitating the steps that follow.
2. Navigate to the ‘Favorites’ album, tap ‘Select,’ then ‘Select All’ to highlight all the photos.
3. Press the trash button to delete the highlighted photos; this will move them to the Recently Deleted album but not permanently delete them.
4. Go to the ‘Recents’ album, select all photos, and delete them as previously described in “Method 1”.
5. Return to the Recently Deleted album. Be very cautious at this step to avoid permanently deleting your favorite photos.
6. Scroll to the point where your favorite photos begin. Press ‘Select,’ choose the last one, and without releasing your finger, double tap at the top left corner of the screen so that the selection reaches the very beginning of the album.
7. Click the three dots and select the ‘Recover’ button.
8. Your favorite photos will be restored and will also appear in the Favorites album.

This method requires careful attention, especially when you manage the Recently Deleted album, but it avoids complications linked to the Hidden album. By following these instructions precisely, you can manage your photo library effectively without the hassle of shuffling photos in the Hidden album.

Conclusion

This guide has outlined several methods to delete all photos from an iPhone except favorites, utilizing both built-in features and third-party applications. Each method offers distinct advantages and requires specific steps to preserve favorites while other photos are removed efficiently. Whether managing photos directly on an iPhone, using a Mac, or through third-party apps, these strategies provide the tools necessary for effective photo library management.