Deleting photos from your Mac can be necessary for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your photo library is getting too crowded, and you need to free up some space. Or maybe you just want to start fresh with a clean slate. Whatever the reason, knowing how to delete all photos from your Mac quickly and efficiently is a valuable skill to have.
In this blog post, we will explore different methods you can use to delete all photos from your Mac. We will provide step-by-step instructions and highlight the pros and cons of each method. By the end of this article, you will have all the information you need to confidently clear out your photo library and reclaim valuable storage space on your Mac.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Delete All Photos from Mac
There are several reasons why you might need to delete all photos from your Mac. Here are a few common scenarios:
1. Free up storage space: Photos can take up a significant amount of space on your Mac’s hard drive, especially if you have a large library or store high-resolution images. Deleting unnecessary photos can help you reclaim storage space and improve the performance of your Mac.
2. Start fresh: Sometimes, you may want to start with a clean photo library. Whether it’s because you’re organizing your photos in a new way or because you just want a fresh start, deleting all photos allows you to create a clean slate.
3. Privacy concerns: If you are planning to sell or give away your Mac, you may want to ensure that all your personal photos are deleted to protect your privacy. Even if you delete photos from your visible library, traces of them may still exist on your hard drive, and special measures should be taken to ensure they are completely removed.
Now that we understand why you might need to delete all photos from your Mac, let’s explore different methods you can use to accomplish this task.
Method 1. Using the Photos App
The Photos app is the default photo management app on Mac and offers an easy way to delete all photos. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open the Photos app on your Mac.
Step 2: Select the "Photos" tab from the top of the app’s window.
Step 3: Press and hold the "Command+A" keys on your keyboard to select all photos in your library. Alternatively, you can click on the first photo, hold the "Shift" key, and click on the last photo to select a range of photos.
Step 4: Once all photos are selected, go to the "Edit" menu at the top of the screen and select "Delete [number] Photos." Replace "[number]" with the actual number of photos you have selected.
Step 5: A confirmation dialog will appear. Click on the "Delete Photos" button to permanently remove the selected photos from your library.
Pros:
1. User-friendly and built-in solution.
2. Allows you to selectively delete photos.
3. Provides confirmation dialog to prevent accidental deletion.
Cons:
1. The Photos app may take a long time to process and delete a large number of photos.
2. Deleted photos are moved to the "Recently Deleted" folder where they are stored for 30 days before being permanently deleted.