Deleted in Google Photos. Gone from your phone, too?

Deleting in the app can remove both copies. “Free up space” does something different.

Google says deleting in its Photos app also removes the device copy. Backed-up items are removed across devices with backup enabled. Choose the action that matches the copy you want to keep.

Keep the cloud copy. Free phone space.

Check that the photos are backed up, then use your profile menu’s Free up space on this device. It removes backed-up device copies, not the cloud library. Those photos may no longer be available offline or in your phone’s gallery.

On iPhone, Google also instructs you to remove those same items from Apple Photos’ Recently Deleted album afterward. Check your backup before that permanent step.

Keep the phone copy. Remove the cloud copy.

Google’s selected-photo procedure starts with backup off on every device that should keep the photo, then deletion through photos.google.com. Keep backup off afterward: switching it back on can upload the photo again or remove its local copy. Use the linked device-specific instructions.

Already deleted it by mistake?

Check Collections → Trash in Google Photos and your phone’s recovery album. Google’s current policy gives trash items 30 days, not the 60 days quoted in older guides. Restore an item while it is still there. Emptying trash or permanently deleting it removes that recovery route; check any separate copies you made.

Official instructions checked 26 September 2026. Menu names can differ by device and app version.

Sources: Google: delete · Google: Android space · Google: iPhone space · Google: restore.