Delete All iPhone Photos Except Favorites Easily

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Delete All iPhone Photos Except Favorites Easily

This section covers several methods to delete all photos except your favorites on an iPhone. Whether you want to do this directly on your device, use macOS software, or rely on third-party apps, the following step-by-step guides will help you safely preserve your favorite images while removing all other photos and videos.

Method 1. Delete All Photos Except Favorites on iPhone

A simple way to manage and delete non-favorite photos is by using the built-in Photos app creatively. This method involves temporarily moving your favorite photos to the Hidden album, which allows you to safely delete all other visible photos in your library.

Note: If your Hidden album already contains many photos, this method may complicate library management. In that case, consider the alternative approach at the end of this article, which doesn’t rely on the Hidden album.

Here’s how to protect your favorites 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 ensures that only non-favorite photos are deleted, while your favorites remain safely hidden during the cleanup and can be restored afterward. It’s a simple and effective way to declutter your photo library without losing the images you value most.

Method 2. Use Mac to Delete All Pictures Except Favorites

For those who prefer managing their photo library on a larger screen, using a Mac with iCloud provides a more visual and precise approach. This method leverages the Photos app on Mac to delete all pictures except your favorites with greater ease and accuracy.

Note: iCloud Photo Syncing must be enabled on both your iPhone and Mac. When this setting is active, any changes you make on the Mac will automatically sync with your iPhone.

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 leverages the Mac’s intuitive interface and powerful sorting tools, making it ideal for users with extensive photo libraries or those who prefer detailed control over their photo management.

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

Third-party apps offer an efficient solution for deleting non-favorite photos while keeping your chosen favorites intact. Apps like Deleter, available on the Apple App Store, provide advanced features to filter and segregate non-favorite photos, enabling users to quickly clear large volumes of unwanted images with minimal effort.

Note: Most of these apps are paid, as the functionality involves complex processing and often includes secure backup options before deletion to prevent accidental loss. Free alternatives are rare.

If convenience and time-saving are priorities, third-party apps are a strong choice. They allow for fast, precise management of your photo library while ensuring favorites remain safe.

How to Separate Favorite Photos Without the Hidden Album

While moving favorites to the Hidden album is a practical approach, it may not suit everyone—especially if the Hidden album is already in use. Mixing hidden and favorite photos can complicate library management and make it harder to quickly access desired images.

An alternative method involves manipulating the sort order in the Recently Deleted album to group favorites separately from all other photos. Here’s how you can do this:

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, particularly when working with the Recently Deleted album, but it avoids the complications associated with using the Hidden album. By following these steps carefully, you can manage your photo library efficiently while keeping your favorites safe—without the need to shuffle images into the Hidden album.