How to Delete Photos from Google Photos Without Removing from Phone?

Google Photos is extraordinary for backups, but you might want to delete photos from the cloud without losing them on your phone.

It’s a common concern—hitting “delete” shouldn’t wipe your device’s gallery.

This guide shows you easy ways to remove photos from Google Photos while keeping them safe locally.

Why Delete Photos from Google Photos Only?

Clearing Google Photos without touching your phone helps you:

• Save cloud storage for other files.
• Tidy up your online library.
• Keep originals on your device.

Here’s how to do it.

Method 1: Turn Off Sync and Delete via Website

1. Open the Google Photos app on your phone and tap your profile picture.
2. Go to Photos settings > Backup and turn off Backup.
3. On a computer, visit photos.google.com and sign in.
4. Click the checkmark on photos you want to delete, then hit the trash icon.
5. Confirm with Move to Trash—your phone’s copies stay safe.

Tip: Empty the trash later in Library > Trash to fully remove them.

Method 2: Deny App Permissions on Your Phone

1. Open your phone’s Settings and go to Apps.
2. Find Google Photos and tap it.
3. Go to Permissions and turn off Photos or Storage access.
4. Open the Google Photos app, select photos, and tap the trash icon.
5. They’ll delete from the cloud, not your phone.

Note: Deny permission again if the app prompts you.

Method 3: Use a Second Device for Deletion

1. Sign into photos.google.com on a computer or another device.
2. Browse and click photos you want to remove.
3. Click the trash icon and select Move to Trash.
4. Your phone’s photos stay untouched since you didn’t use the app.

Bonus: This works even if sync is active.

Conclusion

You can delete photos from Google Photos without losing them on your phone by stopping sync or using clever workarounds. Pick the method that suits you—disable backup, tweak permissions, or use another device—and keep your local memories secure while decluttering the cloud.

FAQs