Normally, you can tap and hold any photo in the Gallery app for Android to access the option to delete. That option may not appear for all of your photos. That’s because the Gallery may not only show images on your device. It also may show items on the Picasa and Google Plus service.
You have a couple of options on how to deal with this issue.
Option 1 – Disable Syncing with Google+/Picasa
If you want to keep your images in your Google Plus profile, but you don’t want them displayed within the Gallery app, you can simply disable photo syncing with these steps:
- Go to “Settings” > “Accounts” > “Google“. From there, you can select the Google account you are using, then uncheck the “Sync Picasa Web Albums” option.
- Now under “Settings” > “Application manager“, swipe over to “All” > “Gallery“, and select “Clear data“.
Google+ and Picasa items will no longer appear in the Gallery app.
Option 2 – Delete Photos from Google+/Picasa
- Visit your personal Instant Upload page.
- Select the photo(s) you wish to delete.
- Select the trash icon, then choose “Move to trash“.
The photo will then be removed from Gallery after the next sync with your Android.
Jacqueline Fryer says
I have Samsung Galaxy A5. I can delete a photo I have just taken in the Gallery but can’t delete older photos. I never used to have a problem . What’s wrong?
Laina says
Please, like other photo things, vanished from my two Android ages ago.
No set up to do what is shown here.
Micah jane tagura says
Thank u so much❤ it really work on mine💖🤗
J says
I had a picture that would not delete. It would move to the trash then come right back with a message. Cannot delete. I used the drop down bar, renamed it VIRUS then deleted it and now its gone!
Charles B. says
Exact same issue as Mandy (Jan 27). Moto G7. All of a sudden I get the message “Photos doesn’t have access to delete items on your SD card.” This started a few weeks, maybe more than a month ago? I’ve ignored it but I can no longer do so.
It continues on telling me to go to Gallery to continue deleting. When I click Launch Gallery from the error message, there is no option to delete!
Kara says
I have pics saved to my sd card and i use samsungs gallery app on my j3 and been trying to delete pics as of 4days ago. itll be deleted and then reappear. I turned off the trash can and still happened So i tried deleting directly from the sd on my computer and putting back into my phone and all the pictures are back my verizon cloud is not set up, i unsyncd google photos so idk wtf to do its still having the same problem. I updated all the apps to be sure it wasnt an old bug but still cant figure this out
Scott brown says
I just held my finger on a photo until a circle showed up and then touch every photo to ddelete
HANGMASAR BASUMATARY says
I have Samsung A10S phone I want to delete a zero bytes in its gallery but it’s not deleted after I have deleted it
Mandy says
There’s no option to delete pictures at all on my Moto G7. In the gallery. When I click on a picture it only gives the option to open it and make it your wallpaper. There’s no delete button or trash can. It’s really pissing me off.
jeri says
I’m disgusted. I was looking to see what to get rid of I decided google photos b/c I use the installed Gallery & wanted to see if anything was there (GP) before I uninstall it. OMG!!! There are a few days of mine and I scrolled down there are disgusting porn photos! WTF?!?!
B says
Everytime i press delete on a picture nothing happens. First i thought it was just with screenshots because with camera they got deleted, then it stopt working with camera too. I have a huawei p20 light.
vansh jain says
Thank you so much. i will appreciate this technique
Everett Markus says
Did not help. I want to recover videos that were accidently deleted in gallery.
A dude says
This worked for me.
Go to the photo and click the drop-down menu and select download. Then delete as normal.
Elona says
When i want to delete a photo i delete then move to the next photo but when i go back it’s still there can someone help me please?
Michael Veis says
It could be a software bug causing the problem.
Jj says
My screenshots don’t go away anymore I tried deleting it but a couple seconds later they come back the first option I can’t find on my phone, I cleared the galley cashe and the final link plus Google issnt available for me , so what do I do ??
Vishal says
i am unable to delete image form my galaxing even afey. i have samsung J2. It is reappearing even after deleting.
angela zgheib says
i am trying to delete photos from the gallery. whenever i press the delete , nothing happens and its not deleted . i have Samsung s8 plus
George Lowsley says
I have a Gallaxy GT-P5 110 tablet tab 2 10.1 and I am unable to delete photos and a document from the Gallery app as when I try I do not get a Trash icon up I can highlight by ticking the boxes but can go no further can you help?.
Anjali Phatak says
I try to delete unwanted pictures from the gallery but cannot.These pictures are unnecessarily cluttering and slowing the tab.
FrilledSharkFry975 says
I’m trying to delete photos from my android phone’s gallery app, but whenever I tap the trash icon, a blue text box appears saying, “Failed to delete photo.” I’ve tried everything, but nothing’s working, please help me.
Damien says
Whenever I delete a screenshot from the gallery it doesn’t work. I’ll hit delete, then when it asks if I’m sure I say yes. The screen moves to the next picture but then I look and the picture I just “deleted” is still there. I don’t understand why it won’t delete
Linda says
It shows the delete icon, but it doesn’t delete
Johan says
Hi,
I Select and deleted photos from my Samsung J1 Ace Neo, but the unwanted and deleted photos return again within a second and it doubles up. What is wrong? Can you tell me how to delete unwanted photos permanently from the phone or SD Card? Thank you.
AVR says
Oh my god. Thank you so much.
BEESHAM JUDDOO says
THANKS SO MUCH I COULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM YOU ARE JUST GREAT
J says
This doesn’t work anymore. There is no option to uncheck anything.
Cory says
Thank you so much!!! Thats been annoying me for weeks.
Thankful says
Thanks a lot. It helped. Cheers!
Satpati says
Thanks a lot. I have been able to remove the pictures.
John says
I opened my files (Samsung My Files) then opened images. A thumbnail of the picture with the filename should appear hold your finger on the image briefly. Several options should appear in the top right corner of the screen. Delete is one of those options
Cyndy says
Thanx a lot. It helps.
Gaara says
Thank you so much! Those pictures were really bothering me! ?
Dandy says
This was very useful and I thank you, baby