How to Delete a Blurry or Accidental Photo From Your iPhone

That photo of your kitchen floor

Every so often, you'll glance at your photos and find one you never meant to take. A shot of the floor. A close-up of your thumb. A blurry picture of the sidewalk from when the camera opened in your pocket.

They're harmless, but they clutter things up — like the drawer in the kitchen where the twist ties and old receipts pile up. The good news is that tidying them out takes about ten seconds each.

Finding the photo

Start by tapping the Photos app. That's the app with the little colorful flower or pinwheel icon on your home screen.

When it opens, you'll see all your pictures laid out in rows, with the newest at the bottom. Scroll down to the very bottom if you're not already there. The accidental shot is usually the most recent one.

Tap the photo once to open it up full-size on your screen.

Sending it to the trash

Now look in the bottom-right corner of the screen. You'll see a small trash can icon — it looks just like a little wastebasket.

Tap it once. A message will pop up asking if you're sure you want to delete the photo. Tap Delete Photo in red to confirm.

That's it. The photo disappears from your main collection.

It's not gone forever right away

Here's something worth knowing: your iPhone doesn't throw the photo away immediately. Think of it like the wastebasket next to your desk — the paper is out of sight, but it's still in the room for a while before it goes to the curb.

Deleted photos sit in a folder called Recently Deleted for 30 days. If you change your mind, you can get the picture back. To find that folder:

Open the Photos app.
Tap Albums at the bottom.
Scroll down to the bottom and tap Recently Deleted.
You may need to use Face ID or type your passcode to open it.

Inside, you'll see every photo you've deleted in the last month. To bring one back, tap it, then tap Recover in the bottom corner. To get rid of it for good right now, tap Delete instead.

After 30 days, the iPhone empties the wastebasket on its own. You don't have to do a thing.

Deleting several at once

If you have a whole handful of blurry shots to clear out, there's a faster way than doing them one by one.

Go back to your main photo grid. Tap Select in the top-right corner. Now tap each photo you want to get rid of — a little blue checkmark will appear on each one you've picked. When you've selected them all, tap the trash can in the bottom-right corner, then confirm.

You can clear out a dozen accidental shots in less time than it takes to pour a cup of coffee.

Try it today

Open your Photos app right now and scroll to the bottom. If you spot a picture of your ceiling, your shoe, or a blurry blur of nothing in particular — tap it, tap the trash can, and send it on its way. Your photo collection will feel a little lighter, and the pictures you actually care about will be easier to find.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.