How to delete screenshots on iPhone
Find screenshots in Photos, review them in batches and delete selected items. Learn how Pixtrim can help with an old screenshot backlog.
Open Photos, find Screenshots under Media Types, tap Select, review the items you want to remove, then tap the trash button and confirm. Check important records before deleting a whole batch.
Find the screenshot collection
Photos groups screenshots by media type, so you do not need to search through every camera picture. On newer Photos layouts, look in Collections for Media Types, then Screenshots. Older iOS layouts may place Media Types under Albums. The position can change between releases, but the media type is the useful starting point.
Once there, inspect the collection before selecting everything. A flight confirmation, medical instruction, receipt or two-factor recovery code can look like any other temporary capture in a small thumbnail. Preserve a separate copy of records you still need.
Delete a manageable batch
- Open Screenshots and tap Select.
- Choose the items you have checked. Multi-select gestures can help with a batch, but pause before extending the selection beyond what you reviewed.
- Tap the trash button and read the confirmation.
- Confirm only when the selected items are the ones you intended to remove.
To remove an entire screenshot collection, use Select All only if that control is available in that collection and you genuinely want to delete every item. Do not assume the main library offers the same control or that selecting a date means you checked each screenshot.
Hiding screenshots does not remove them
Some Photos layouts let you hide screenshots from the main library view through viewing options. That can make browsing less distracting, but it is a display choice. The screenshots remain in the library; hiding them is not the same as reclaiming storage.
Likewise, removing an image from an ordinary album does not necessarily delete its underlying library item. The deletion confirmation and the destination of the action matter more than the fact that a thumbnail disappeared from the current view.
When the backlog needs a more focused review
Pixtrim includes an old-screenshot finder alongside its review workflow. That makes screenshots a focused cleanup task rather than a search through unrelated photos. Review what it surfaces, keep the useful records, and confirm selected deletions through iOS.
The app is free to download and includes in-app purchases. Check the current offer and feature access in the app before starting a large cleanup. A cleaner should help you choose, not make every screenshot a presumed deletion. See the screenshot-cleanup feature for the app workflow.
Know what happens after confirmation
With iCloud Photos, deleting a screenshot also removes it from the synchronized library on your other devices. Recently Deleted may offer a recovery window, but it is not a backup and recovery is not guaranteed in every account state.
If your goal is device space, use Settings → General → iPhone Storage to check local usage later. Do not confuse it with your cloud quota. Our Recently Deleted guide explains why permanent removal deserves a separate decision.
Sources and further reading
- Delete photos on your iPhone or iPad — Apple Support, checked October 26, 2026.
- Locate photos and videos by media type on iPhone — Apple iPhone User Guide, checked October 26, 2026.
- Sort and filter the photo library on iPhone - iOS 26 — Apple iPhone User Guide, checked October 26, 2026.
- Pixtrim editorial policy and correction process
Native controls can vary with iOS version and library setup. App feature access and offers can change; check current information before subscribing.
