Why Can’t I Delete iPhone Photos? ‘Device Has Disconnected’ Error Fix

Trying to delete photos from your iPhone but running into problems? You’re not alone! Many users face the frustrating issue where they can’t delete pictures, or they see the dreaded “Device Has Disconnected” error when transferring files to their PC.

But don’t worry! This article will help you fix the issue in simple steps.

Why Can’t You Delete Photos on iPhone?

There are a few reasons why you may not be able to remove photos from your iPhone:

Synced from a Computer: If your photos were synced from iTunes or Finder, they cannot be deleted directly from your iPhone.
iCloud Photos Enabled: When iCloud Photos is turned on, everything stays in sync across devices, preventing direct deletion.
File Corruption: Some files may become corrupted, making them undeletable.
Storage or System Glitches: Sometimes, Apple’s system can act up, causing issues.

Once you know the reason, fixing it becomes easier!

Fixing the “Device Has Disconnected” Error

This error usually appears when transferring photos from iPhone to PC. Here are some solutions:

1. Use a Different USB Cable and Port

The issue may be caused by a faulty cable or port.

Try using a different USB cable (preferably an original Apple one).
Switch to another USB port on your computer.

2. Use a Different Transfer Method

Instead of using the File Explorer method, try:

Using the Photos app in Windows.
Transferring photos via iCloud Photos.
Emailing or sending the image to yourself using a messaging app.

3. Turn Off iCloud Photos Temporarily

If iCloud Photos is enabled, your files could be syncing, causing deletion issues.

Go to Settings on your iPhone.
Tap Your Name → iCloud → Photos.
Toggle iCloud Photos off.
Try deleting the photos again.

4. Import Photos in Smaller Batches

Transferring a large number of images at once can cause the “Device Has Disconnected” error.

Try importing fewer photos at a time.
If you keep getting the error, restart your iPhone and PC before trying again.

5. Reset Location & Privacy Settings

If your PC is not recognizing the iPhone properly, resetting these settings may help.

Go to Settings and tap General.
Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset → Reset Location & Privacy.

Reconnect your iPhone to your PC and try again.

Final Fix: Manually Remove Unwanted Photos

If your photos were synced via iTunes or Finder, you’ll need to delete them from a computer.

Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC.
Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC).
Go to the Photos section and uncheck the synced albums.
Click Apply and sync your phone again.
The unwanted photos should now disappear from your iPhone.

Bonus Tips for Managing iPhone Photos

Here are some extra tips to keep your photos organized.

Regularly delete unnecessary photos to free up space.
Use Google Photos or OneDrive for backups.
Enable Optimize iPhone Storage under iCloud Photos to save space.
Keep your iPhone updated for the latest bug fixes.

Final Thoughts

Not being able to delete iPhone photos can be annoying, but now you have multiple ways to fix it. Whether it’s disabling iCloud Photos, resetting location settings, or using a new USB cable, one of these methods should do the trick!

Try them out and say goodbye to the frustration!