I Found the Easiest Way to Delete Old Screenshots on iPhone
I finally found the easiest way to delete old screenshots on iPhone! Use this simple shortcut to clear clutter in seconds—no hassle, no errors.
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As a tech writer, I take screenshots all the time for my articles, guides and ideas. The problem is, most of them aren’t needed after I’ve used them and they just end up cluttering my phone. I Finally Found the Easiest Way to Delete Old Screenshots on iPhone, making the process quick and effortless. Before this, going through and deleting hundreds of them was super time-consuming and annoying.
There had to be a simpler way, I thought. So, I created iPhone shortcut that with just a few taps, lets me quickly remove all those old screenshots. It’s been a total game-changer for me. Instead of manually deleting every screenshot I can now clear the clutter in just seconds. It’s easy, fast and stress-free, keeping my phone organized. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this sooner!
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How to Use the Shortcuts App to Delete All Screenshots
Getting started with the Shortcuts app on your iPhone can be a bit tricky especially if you’ve never used it before. But once you get the hang of it, possibilities for automating tasks are endless. One of my favorite shortcuts is the ability to quickly delete all my screenshots without having to scroll through my Photos app to find them. This little trick saves me a lot of time!
Here’s how you can create a shortcut to delete your screenshots easily:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. If you can’t find it, you may need to download it from the App Store.
- In the Shortcuts app, tap the plus icon (+) in the top right corner to create a new shortcut.
- In the Actions section, scroll down and select Photos > Find Photos.
- Tap Add Filter then tap Album and choose Is a Screenshot to filter only your screenshots.
- Next, search for Delete Photos in search box and add that action to your shortcut.
- Give your shortcut a name, like Delete Screenshots, then tap Done in the top right corner.
Once you’ve set it up, you can run the shortcut anytime to instantly delete all your screenshots. I personally like to do this once a month, but you can do it as often as you like based on how many screenshots you take.
You can make it even easier by adding the shortcut to your home screen, or simply ask Siri to run it by saying, “Hey Siri, run Delete Screenshots.” It’s a simple and efficient way to keep your phone organized without the hassle of manual deletion.
How I Fixed the Shortcuts App Error When Deleting Photos on My iPhone
iPhone’s Shortcuts app by default prevents you from deleting or sharing a large number of images. I discovered this the hard way when I attempted to remove hundreds of outdated screenshots and encountered an error. Don’t worry if you’ve experienced similar problem. There’s easy solution!
How to Enable Bulk Deletion in Shortcuts App
Use the following steps to give the Shortcuts app permission to remove a lot of data:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down.
- Tap Apps > Shortcuts.
- Tap Advanced and turn on “Allow Deleting Large Amounts of Data.”
- (Optional) Enable “Allow Deleting Without Confirmation” to skip the prompt.
Now, you can delete all your old screenshots in one tap—quick and easy!
Why This Shortcut Is a Game Changer
I make an effort to keep my iPhone as organized as possible because it only has 128GB of storage. It has been really helpful to be able to delete previous screenshots with a single swipe! I strongly advise trying this if you’re always running out of space. The amount of storage you can free up in a matter of seconds may amaze you.
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FAQ: Easiest Way to Delete Old Screenshots on iPhone
1. Will this shortcut delete non-screenshot photos by mistake?
No, only photos stored in the Screenshots album are targeted by the shortcut. Regular images, videos and other significant assets on your Photos app won’t be erased.
2. Do I need to enable any settings before using this shortcut?
Yes,! The Shortcuts app prevents bulk deletions by default. In Settings > Apps > Shortcuts > Advanced, you must turn on “Allow Deleting Large Amounts of Data.“
3. Can I undo the deletion if I remove screenshots by accident?
Yes, deleted screenshots go to the Recently Deleted folder in the Photos app. You have 30 days to restore them before they’re permanently erased.
4. Can I schedule this shortcut to run automatically?
Unfortunately, iOS doesn’t allow Shortcuts to delete photos on a schedule. However, you can add the shortcut to your Home Screen or ask Siri to run it whenever needed.
5. What if the shortcut isn’t working?
If you get an error, make sure bulk deletion is enabled in Settings and the Shortcuts app has photo access. If the issue continues, restart your iPhone and try again.