How to Clean Up iPhone Screenshots in Bulk

Apr 6, 2026

Open your Screenshots album. Count how many you have. If the answer is "hundreds" or "I don't want to look," you are not alone.

Screenshots pile up faster than any other type of photo. Every confirmation code, address, recipe, funny tweet, and shopping comparison gets captured and forgotten. They are individually small (200-500 KB each) but 500 screenshots is over 200 MB of space you could reclaim.

Method 1: The Screenshots Album

Apple automatically sorts screenshots into their own album:

1. Open Photos
2. Go to Albums > Screenshots
3. Tap Select, then tap Select All (or drag to select a range)
4. Tap the trash icon to delete

This works for a full purge, but most people want to keep some screenshots and delete the old ones. That requires scrolling through hundreds manually.

Method 2: Shortcuts Automation

You can create a Shortcut that automatically deletes screenshots older than a certain date:

1. Open the Shortcuts app
2. Create a new shortcut
3. Add "Find Photos" - filter by Media Type: Screenshot, and Date Taken: before [your chosen date]
4. Add "Delete Photos"
5. Optionally set it to run on a schedule via Automation

This is powerful but requires some setup. You can also set it as an automation that runs weekly or monthly to prevent future buildup.

Method 3: A Cleanup App with Screenshot Filtering

Apps like Snapsift include a dedicated screenshot cleanup feature. Instead of just listing all screenshots in a grid, it organizes them by month so you can quickly see and select old batches.

The advantage over manual cleanup: you can see the age distribution at a glance. "March 2025? Delete all. February 2025? Delete all." It takes 30 seconds instead of 10 minutes of scrolling.

Preventing Future Buildup

Screenshots will keep piling up. A few habits that help:

• Delete after use: When you screenshot a confirmation code or address, delete it once you have used it
• Use Copy instead: iOS lets you copy text directly from the screen (long-press on text). Often you do not need the screenshot at all
• Monthly cleanup: Set a monthly reminder to review your Screenshots album. Five minutes once a month prevents the 500-screenshot problem
• Shortcuts automation: Set up the auto-delete shortcut above to run monthly

FAQ

Will deleting screenshots affect anything else?

No. Screenshots are regular photos. Deleting them does not affect your apps, settings, or any saved data. They go to Recently Deleted for 30 days before permanent removal.

How much storage do screenshots actually use?

Each screenshot is about 200-500 KB. 500 screenshots use roughly 100-250 MB. Not huge individually, but combined with other cleanup (duplicates, old videos), it adds up to meaningful storage recovery.

Can I recover screenshots after deleting them?

Yes, for 30 days. Go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted to restore any screenshots you deleted by mistake.

Related

• How to Delete Duplicate Photos on iPhone (2026)
• Why Apple Photos Misses Your Duplicate Photos
• iPhone Storage Full? How Photos Are Eating Your Space