What gets deleted when you remove something from iCloud

When you delete a file or photo from iCloud, it disappears from iCloud.com and from all your devices that are signed into the same Apple ID — your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Windows computer. The file moves to iCloud's trash folder for 30 days, then disappears permanently. After those 30 days, you cannot get it back.

The key thing to understand: deleting from iCloud is not the same as deleting from one device. If you delete a photo from your iPhone's Photos app and iCloud is turned on, that photo vanishes from your iPad and Mac too. If you only want to remove something from one device, you need a different process, which we cover below.

Before you delete anything, make sure you actually want it gone from everywhere. If you are just trying to free up space on one phone, deleting from iCloud is the wrong move.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleting from iCloud removes the file from all your devices at once, not just the one you are using.
  • Deleted files sit in iCloud trash for 30 days before they are gone permanently.
  • To delete photos, use the Photos app on any device; to delete documents and files, use iCloud.com or the Files app.
  • If you only want to remove something from one device, turn off iCloud sync for that app first, then delete locally.
  • You can recover deleted items from iCloud trash within 30 days by going to iCloud.com and opening Recently Deleted.

Delete photos and videos from iCloud using your phone or tablet

Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad. Find the photo or video you want to delete. Tap Select in the upper right, then tap each item you want to remove. You can select multiple photos at once by tapping them one after another.

Once you have selected what you want to delete, tap the trash icon (usually at the bottom right). A popup will ask you to confirm. Tap Delete [number] Photos or Delete [number] Videos. The items move to Recently Deleted, where they stay for 30 days.

If you want to permanently delete them right now instead of waiting 30 days, open Recently Deleted in the Photos app, select the items again, and tap Delete Permanently.

Delete files and documents from iCloud.com

Go to iCloud.com in any web browser and sign in with your Apple ID. Click iCloud Drive or whichever app holds the file you want to delete — this could be Pages, Numbers, Keynote, or any other app you use.

Find the file. Right-click it (or on a Mac, Control-click). Select Delete from the menu. The file moves to Recently Deleted. To see it, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Recently Deleted. You can recover it from there within 30 days, or permanently delete it immediately by clicking it and selecting Delete Permanently.

On a Windows computer, you can also delete files through iCloud Drive in File Explorer. Right-click the file and select Delete. It goes to Recently Deleted the same way.

Remove files from one device without deleting from iCloud

If you want to keep a file in iCloud but remove it from just one device to save space, you need to turn off iCloud sync for that app first. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Find the app you want to stop syncing — Photos, Mail, Notes, or whatever it is. Toggle it off.

A popup will ask what you want to do with the data already on this device. Choose Keep on My iPhone (or iPad). The files stay on that device but stop syncing to iCloud. Now you can delete them from just that phone or tablet without affecting your other devices.

On a Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and toggle off the app you want to stop syncing. Choose Keep a Copy when prompted. On Windows, open iCloud for Windows, uncheck the app, and click Apply.

Empty iCloud trash permanently

Deleted files sit in iCloud trash for 30 days. After 30 days, they delete automatically. But you can empty trash yourself at any time if you want them gone right now.

Go to iCloud.com and sign in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and select Recently Deleted. You will see everything you have deleted in the last 30 days. Click Select All at the top, then click Delete Permanently. Everything in Recently Deleted is gone immediately.

If you only want to delete some items, click each one individually instead of Select All, then click Delete Permanently.

Free up iCloud storage by deleting old backups

iCloud backups of your devices can take up a lot of storage. If you have backups from old phones or tablets you no longer use, deleting them frees up space for new files and photos.

Go to iCloud.com and sign in. Click the menu icon and select Account Settings. Click iCloud in the left sidebar, then scroll down to Manage Storage. You will see a list of devices and how much space each backup uses. Click a device you no longer use, then click Delete Backup. Confirm the deletion.

Be careful: deleting a backup means you cannot restore that device from iCloud anymore. Only delete backups from devices you have already set up elsewhere or no longer own.

What to do if you deleted something by accident

If you deleted a file, photo, or video by accident, you have 30 days to get it back. Go to iCloud.com, sign in, and click the menu icon. Select Recently Deleted. Find the item you want to recover, click it, and click Recover. It goes back to its original location in iCloud and syncs to all your devices.

If more than 30 days have passed, the item is gone permanently and cannot be recovered. This is why it is a good idea to double-check before you permanently delete something.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does deleting from iCloud delete from my phone too?

Yes, if iCloud sync is turned on for that app. Deleting a photo from iCloud removes it from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and all other devices signed into the same Apple ID. If you want to keep files on your phone but remove them from iCloud, turn off iCloud sync for that app first, then delete locally.

Can I recover something after 30 days?

No. After 30 days in Recently Deleted, files are permanently gone and cannot be recovered. If you think you might need something later, do not delete it permanently right away — let it sit in Recently Deleted until you are sure.

How do I delete just one file from a shared iCloud folder?

Open iCloud.com, go to iCloud Drive, and find the shared folder. Click the file you want to remove and delete it. Other people with access to that folder will see it disappear. If you want to stop sharing the entire folder instead, right-click the folder and select Stop Sharing.

Will deleting files from iCloud give me more storage space?

Yes. Deleted files still count toward your storage limit until they are permanently removed from Recently Deleted. Once they are gone from Recently Deleted, that space becomes available again. Deleting old backups also frees up storage immediately.

What if I delete something and then change my mind before 30 days?

Go to iCloud.com, open Recently Deleted, find the item, and click Recover. It returns to its original location and syncs back to all your devices. You have the full 30 days to change your mind.