How to Delete Multiple iMessage Photos and Attachments on iOS 13

The tremendous convenience that iMessage brings, with its seamless support for photos and file attachments, also has a major downside. Not only do they mess up conversations, but your iPhone takes a big hit in terms of storage as well. Therefore, it is very important to periodically remove junk iMessage photos and attachments from your iPhone.

However, if you’re new to iMessage, it can be a little confusing to delete photos and attachments, especially when removing multiple items at once. To make matters worse, Apple also removed and then re-added a rooted way to delete iMessage photos and attachments in iOS 13, which confused even older users.

Despite all this, removing photos and attachments is very easy if you know how. There are three ways to achieve this, which we will discuss below.

Delete Photos and Attachments Directly

While using the Messages app, you can directly delete multiple photos and attachments from any iMessage conversation thread while viewing them. However, this method is best suited for deleting only a few items at once. For a much better way to remove lots of photos and attachments, see the next method.

Stage 1: Press and hold any picture or attachment. In the menu that appears, tap More… to enter selection mode.

Step 2: Tap to select the photos and attachments you want to delete. If you swipe too far from your first selection, the Messages app tends to lose your selections, so keep that in mind. When you’re done, tap the Trash icon, then tap Delete Messages to confirm.

Warning:

Review and Delete Photos and Attachments

With the first release of iOS 13, Apple removed a key feature that allowed deleting multiple items while reviewing all photos and attachments for a conversation thread. However, the missing functionality was added back with the iOS 13.2 incremental update. so make sure Update your iPhone before continuing (iPhone Settings > General > Software Update).

Stage 1: Tap the person’s profile picture at the top of a conversation thread. Follow by tapping Info.

Step 2: On the next screen, you will see a list of photos, shared links and attachments divided into separate sections. Tap See All Photos or See All Attachments to review all photos and attachments related to the conversation thread.

Stage 3: Tap Select in the top right corner of the screen and then select the photos or attachments you want to delete. Tap Delete to remove the selected photos and videos.

Note:

Delete Photos and Attachments via Settings App

Another easy way to easily delete multiple iMessage photos and attachments is to use the Settings app on your iPhone. However, it does not separate photos and attachments by conversation thread. Instead, it displays items from all conversation threads.

Stage 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap on General and then iPhone Storage.

Step 2: Scroll down and then tap Messages. Then you can review your photos, videos and other attachments by tapping the corresponding category under Documents.

Stage 3: After tapping the category you want, tap Edit in the top right corner of the screen and then select the items you want to delete. Finally, tap the Trash icon to remove them.

Fly:

Bonus Tip – Automatically Delete Old Messages

The Messages app also gives you the option to automatically delete old messages (photos, videos, attached files, etc.) after 30 days or a year. However, you also lose text messages. But if you regularly get lots of photos and attachments and storage is a concern, this might be worth checking out.

Start by opening the iPhone Settings app. Scroll down, tap Messages, then tap Keep Messages under Message History. On the next screen, tap 30 days or 1 Year.

Your iPhone automatically deletes messages when they exceed the selected time.

Manage Your Storage

Deleting unwanted photos and messages can really help you in the long run. Not only do you get much cleaner conversation threads, you also free up valuable storage space in the process. Make sure you go on a cleaning spree once in a while so the whole process doesn’t take much time.

Next: Did you know that you can send SMS and MMS messages directly from the comfort of your iPad? Find out how below.