Deleting a photo from Google Drive takes one click, but where that photo lives matters

If you uploaded a photo directly to Google Drive, you delete it the same way you delete any file: right-click it, select Delete, and it moves to Trash. If that photo is also in Google Photos (because Google Photos and Google Drive are linked), deleting it from Drive does not delete it from Photos — you have to delete it from Photos separately. If the photo is in a shared folder or a shared album, you can only delete it if the folder owner or album owner gave you permission to delete files. Understanding which version you are deleting and where it lives prevents you from accidentally losing photos you meant to keep.

Key Takeaways

  • Photos uploaded directly to Google Drive delete from Drive only; they remain in Google Photos unless you delete them there too.
  • Right-click a photo in Google Drive, select Delete, and it goes to Trash for 30 days before permanent removal.
  • Shared photos can only be deleted by the person who owns the folder or album, unless the owner changed the sharing settings to allow others to delete.
  • Deleting a photo from Google Photos does not delete it from Google Drive if you uploaded it to Drive first.
  • You can recover a deleted photo from Trash within 30 days by opening Trash, right-clicking the photo, and selecting Restore.

How to delete a photo from Google Drive on a computer

Open Google Drive in your web browser and locate the photo you want to delete. You can search for it by name using the search box at the top, or scroll through your folders to find it. Once you see the photo, right-click on it. A menu will appear with several options.

Click Delete from the menu. The photo moves to your Trash folder when ready. It stays in Trash for 30 days. After 30 days, Google Drive deletes it permanently and you cannot recover it. If you change your mind within those 30 days, you can restore it.

You can also select multiple photos at once by clicking the checkbox next to each one, then clicking the trash icon at the top of the page. This deletes all selected photos in one action.

How to delete a photo from Google Drive on a phone or tablet

Open the Google Drive app on your phone or tablet. Find the photo you want to delete by scrolling or using the search function at the top.

Tap and hold the photo until a menu appears. Tap Delete. The photo moves to Trash when ready. On some Android devices, you may see a trash icon appear at the bottom of the screen instead — tap that icon to delete the photo.

On an iPhone or iPad, you can also swipe left on the photo to reveal a delete button, though the tap-and-hold method works on all devices.

What happens when you delete a photo that is also in Google Photos

Google Drive and Google Photos are separate storage systems that can hold the same file. If you uploaded a photo to Google Drive and it also appears in Google Photos, deleting it from Drive does not remove it from Photos. You will need to delete it from Google Photos separately if you want it gone from both places.

To check whether a photo exists in Google Photos, open Google Photos in another tab or window and search for it by date or name. If it is there, you must delete it from Photos using the same process: tap and hold (or right-click), then select Delete. Photos also moves deleted items to Trash for 60 days before permanent removal.

This separation exists because some people use Google Drive for file storage and Google Photos for photo organization and backup. Deleting from one does not assume you want to delete from the other.

Deleting photos from a shared folder or album

If a photo is in a folder that someone else owns and shared with you, you can only delete it if the owner gave you permission. When a folder is shared, the owner chooses whether viewers can only see files, or whether they can also edit and delete files. If you do not have delete permission, the Delete option will not appear when you right-click the photo.

If you need to delete a photo from a shared folder, contact the folder owner and ask them to remove it. They can delete it themselves, or they can change the sharing settings to give you delete permission first.

For shared albums in Google Photos, only the person who created the album can delete photos from it. If you uploaded a photo to someone else's shared album, you cannot delete it — only the album owner can.

How to recover a deleted photo from Trash

Deleted photos stay in your Trash folder for 30 days. To recover one, open Google Drive and click Trash in the left sidebar. Scroll through the list to find the photo you want to restore.

Right-click the photo and select Restore. It returns to the folder it was in before you deleted it. If that folder no longer exists, the photo goes to the root of your Google Drive (the main "My Drive" section).

On a phone or tablet, tap and hold the photo in Trash, then tap Restore. After 30 days, photos in Trash are deleted permanently and cannot be recovered.

Permanently deleting a photo without waiting 30 days

If you want to delete a photo permanently right away instead of waiting for the 30-day Trash period, open Trash, find the photo, right-click it, and select Delete forever. On a phone or tablet, tap and hold the photo and select Delete forever. The photo is removed when ready and cannot be recovered.

Use this option only when you are certain you do not need the photo. There is no way to undo a permanent deletion.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete a photo from Google Drive, does it delete from my phone's camera roll?

No. Deleting from Google Drive only removes it from your Drive storage. Photos on your phone's camera roll remain there unless you delete them directly from your phone's photo app. Google Drive and your phone's storage are separate.

Can I delete multiple photos at once?

Yes. On a computer, click the checkbox next to each photo you want to delete, then click the trash icon at the top. On a phone or tablet, tap and hold one photo, then tap the checkboxes next to other photos to select them, then tap the trash icon.

What if I accidentally deleted a photo and it has been more than 30 days?

Once 30 days have passed, the photo is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered from Trash. If you have a backup copy elsewhere (on your phone, computer, or another cloud service), you can re-upload it to Google Drive.

Do I need to delete a photo from both Google Drive and Google Photos, or just one?

It depends on where you want it gone. If you want it out of both places, you must delete it from both. Deleting from one does not affect the other. Check Google Photos to see if the photo is there before assuming one deletion removed it everywhere.

Can I delete a photo if someone shared it with me?

Only if the person who shared it gave you permission to delete files. If you only have view permission, you cannot delete it. Contact the person who shared the folder or album and ask them to delete it, or ask them to change your permission level.