How to delete screenshots
To delete screenshots, open the Screenshots album or folder on your device, select the ones you don't need, delete them, and then empty the recently deleted folder or bin. That last step matters. iPhone, Android and Mac all keep deleted files for a while, and they keep using storage until you empty them. Pick your device below.
How to delete screenshots on iPhone (iOS 26 and later)
Find them first: where are screenshots saved on iPhone.
- Open Photos and tap Collections.
- Scroll to Media Types and tap Screenshots.
- Tap Select, then tap the screenshots you want to delete.
- Tap the trash icon and confirm.
- Go back to Collections, scroll to Utilities, open Recently Deleted, unlock it, tap Select, tap More, then tap Delete All.
Deleted photos stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days unless you empty it. If Sync this iPhone is on (Settings, your name, iCloud, Photos), deleting on your iPhone also deletes from your other devices.
Full guide, including older iOS versions: how to delete screenshots on iPhone.
How to delete screenshots on Android
- Open Google Photos and tap Collections.
- Tap On this device, then open Screenshots.
- Long-press a screenshot, then tap others to select them.
- Tap Trash and confirm.
- Empty Trash: Collections, Trash, More (three dots), Empty Trash.
Samsung phones have a Screenshots album in Gallery. Full steps for each: how to delete screenshots on Android.
How to delete screenshots on Mac
- Open a Finder window and press Command-F.
- Click This Mac, type
kMDItemIsScreenCapture:1in the search field and press Return. This finds screenshots wherever they are, even renamed ones. - Check the results, then press Command-A to select them and Command-Delete to move them to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash to get the space back.
Full guide, including a saved search that collects every screenshot: how to delete screenshots on Mac.
Why your storage didn't go down
Almost every "I deleted them and nothing changed" problem is the same one: the screenshots are sitting in Recently Deleted or Trash. Empty it and the space comes back. On iPhone you can check under Settings > General > iPhone Storage. More in iPhone storage full of screenshots?
Before you delete everything
Most screenshot piles include a few you'll want later: a Wi-Fi password, a booking reference, a recipe. Deleting the whole album takes those too.
ScreenStash is a screenshot organizer app for iPhone and Android. It imports your screenshots into their own library, where you can search the text inside them and file them into boards, then offers to delete the originals from Photos so the storage comes back. It never deletes without the system's confirmation. Free includes unlimited screenshots, with your own boards, search and cleanup. Pro is $19.99 once, not a subscription. See the best screenshot organizer apps for the alternatives too.
Common questions
How do I delete all my screenshots at once?
On iPhone (iOS 26 and later), open Photos > Collections > Media Types > Screenshots, tap Select, then tap the screenshots you want to delete, then delete. On Android, open Google Photos > Collections > On this device > Screenshots. On Mac, search Finder for kMDItemIsScreenCapture:1, select all and move to Trash. Then empty Recently Deleted or Trash.
Why is my storage still full after deleting screenshots?
They're still in Recently Deleted or Trash. Empty it and the space returns.
How long do deleted screenshots stay in Recently Deleted?
On iPhone, 30 days. On Mac, files stay in the Trash until you empty it, unless you've turned on automatic emptying after 30 days in Finder settings.
Will deleting screenshots on my iPhone delete them from iCloud?
Yes, if iCloud Photos is on. The deletion syncs to your other devices.
Can I delete screenshots without losing the important ones?
Yes. Move the ones you want to keep out of the photo library first, into an album, a notes app or a screenshot organizer like ScreenStash, then delete the rest.