How To Delete Photos From Google Photos Without Deleting From Phone

Introduction

Welcome to our guide on how to delete photos from Google Photos without deleting them from your phone. Google Photos is a popular cloud-based photo storage service that allows you to store and organize your photos and videos. One of the concerns many users have is whether deleting photos from their Google Photos library will also remove them from their phone’s gallery. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to delete photos from Google Photos while retaining them on your device.

Whether you want to free up storage space, remove duplicate photos, or just tidy up your photo collection, we have you covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through four different methods to accomplish this. You can choose the method that suits you best, based on your preferences and the device you’re using.

Method 1 focuses on deleting photos from the Google Photos app on your phone. This method is handy if you primarily use the app to manage your photo library. Method 2 covers deleting photos from the Google Photos website on your computer, which provides a more comprehensive view of your photos and more advanced editing options. Method 3 guides you on how to remove photos from device folders in Google Photos, ensuring they are not deleted from your phone’s gallery. Finally, Method 4 introduces the option of archiving photos instead of deleting them, allowing you to hide them from the main view while still keeping them in your library.

By following these methods, you can confidently delete photos from your Google Photos library without worrying about them being deleted from your phone. Let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions for each method and regain control over your photo collection!

Method 1: Deleting photos from Google Photos app

If you primarily use the Google Photos app on your phone to manage your photo library, this method is for you. Follow these steps to delete photos from Google Photos without deleting them from your phone:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the photo or photos you want to delete. You can either scroll through your library or use the search function to find specific photos.
3. Tap and hold on a photo to select it. You can also select multiple photos by tapping and holding on one photo, and then tapping on the others you want to delete.
4. Once you have selected the desired photos, tap the trash can icon at the top right corner of the screen. A confirmation dialog will appear.
5. Read the confirmation message carefully, as it will inform you that the selected photos will be moved to the trash. Confirm your decision by tapping “Move to trash”.
6. The selected photos will now be deleted from your Google Photos library. However, they will still remain in your phone’s gallery or camera roll.

It’s important to note that deleting photos from the Google Photos app will not affect the photos saved on your device. This method simply removes them from your cloud-based Google Photos library. If you have enabled the backup and sync feature, the photos will be deleted from the cloud, but remain on your device’s storage.

By following these steps, you can easily delete photos from Google Photos without worrying about them being removed from your phone or device.

Method 2: Deleting photos from the Google Photos website

If you prefer managing your photos on a computer or want to access more advanced editing options, deleting photos from the Google Photos website is the way to go. Follow these steps to delete photos without removing them from your phone:

1. Go to the Google Photos website on your computer and sign in to your Google account.
2. Navigate to the photo or photos you want to delete. You can use the search bar or browse through your library using the different albums and categories.
3. Click on a photo to open it in full view.
4. To select multiple photos, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click on the photos you want to delete. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl or Cmd key to select specific photos individually.
5. Once you have selected the desired photos, click on the trash can icon located at the top-right corner of the screen.
6. A confirmation dialog will appear. Read the message carefully to ensure you have selected the correct photos.
7. Click on the Move to trash button to delete the selected photos.

Just like with the Google Photos app, deleting photos from the website will only remove them from your Google Photos library. The photos will not be removed from your device’s storage, so they will still be accessible on your phone or any other connected devices.

Using the Google Photos website provides a more comprehensive view of your photos and allows you to manage and organize your library more efficiently. Take advantage of the advanced editing options available on the website to enhance your photos before deleting them, if desired.

Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be able to delete photos from the Google Photos website without deleting them from your phone or device.

Method 3: Removing photos from device folders on Google Photos

If you want to delete photos from Google Photos without removing them from your device’s gallery or camera roll, you can use the device folders feature. This method is especially useful if you want to declutter your Google Photos library without affecting the photos saved directly on your phone.

Follow these steps to remove photos from device folders on Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
2. Tap on the Library tab at the bottom of the screen to access your photo library.
3. Scroll down and look for the Device folders section. Tap on it to view all the folders containing photos saved directly on your device.
4. Select the folder that contains the photos you want to delete.
5. Browse through the folder to find the specific photos you want to remove.
6. Tap and hold on a photo to select it. You can also select multiple photos by tapping and holding on one photo, and then tapping on the others you want to delete.
7. Once you have selected the desired photos, tap the trash can icon at the top right corner of the screen. Confirm your decision by tapping “Move to trash” in the confirmation dialog.
8. The selected photos will be deleted from your Google Photos device folder but remain in your device’s gallery or camera roll.

This method ensures that the photos are removed from your Google Photos library without affecting the photos stored directly on your phone. It allows you to keep your device’s gallery organized while still managing your Google Photos collection efficiently.

Follow these steps to remove photos from device folders on Google Photos, and you can enjoy a clutter-free library without losing any photos from your device!

Method 4: Archiving photos instead of deleting

If you want to declutter your Google Photos library without deleting photos permanently, the archiving feature is a great option. Archiving allows you to hide photos from the main view while keeping them in your library for future reference. This method is particularly useful for photos you want to preserve but don’t need to see in your day-to-day browsing.

Follow these steps to archive photos instead of deleting them from Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
2. Navigate to the photo or photos you want to archive.
3. Tap and hold on a photo to select it. You can also select multiple photos by tapping and holding on one photo, and then tapping on the others you want to archive.
4. Once you have selected the desired photos, tap the more options icon (three dots) at the top right corner of the screen.
5. Select the Archive option from the menu. The selected photos will be moved to the archive, and they will no longer appear in your main view.

Archived photos are still accessible whenever you need them. To view your archived photos, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone.
2. Tap on the Library tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap on Archive to access all your archived photos and videos.

When you archive a photo, it is removed from your main view but is not deleted from your Google Photos library. This method allows you to organize your library without losing important or sentimental photos.

Utilize the archiving feature in Google Photos to keep your library tidy and focused on the photos you want to see while ensuring that you can easily retrieve archived photos whenever needed.

Conclusion

Managing your photos on Google Photos shouldn’t be a daunting task, especially if you want to delete photos without removing them from your phone or device. In this guide, we’ve covered four easy methods to help you accomplish just that.

Whether you prefer using the Google Photos app on your phone or the website on your computer, you now have the knowledge to remove unwanted photos without losing them from your device. You can also utilize the device folders feature to delete photos from Google Photos while keeping them on your device. And if you want to declutter your library without permanently deleting photos, archiving provides a great solution.

Remember that deleting photos from Google Photos does not affect the photos saved on your device. Your photos will still be accessible in your device’s gallery or camera roll.

Choose the method that suits you best and follow the step-by-step instructions provided in this guide to successfully delete photos from Google Photos without deleting them from your phone or device.

By managing your photo library effectively, you can keep it organized, free up storage space, and ensure that your memories are safely stored in the Google Photos cloud.

Now it’s time to take action and regain control over your Google Photos collection. Start deleting those unwanted photos without worrying about losing them from your device!