Keep Your Chat Clean Without Disturbing Others
If you just want to free up space on your phone or remove a photo from your own view (without affecting others), these methods work like a charm.
Remove A Single Photo From Your Device
Open the target chat: Navigate to the WhatsApp chat where the photo is stored. You can use the search bar to filter for photos if you don’t want to scroll—type “photos” in the chat search and select the media tab. Long-press the photo: Hold the photo for 2-3 seconds until a menu bar pops up at the top. This menu will have options like forward, star, and delete. Choose “Delete for me”: Tap the trash can icon, then select “Delete for me” from the pop-up. This removes the photo from your device only—others in the chat will still see it. I use this all the time to clear out old memes from group chats without annoying anyone.
Bulk Delete Multiple Photos At Once
Access chat media: Go to the chat, tap the contact/group name at the top to open chat info, then select “Media, links, and docs”. This shows all media in the chat sorted by date. Select photos to delete: Tap the select icon (a small checkmark square) at the top right. You can tap each photo you want to remove, or hold Shift (on desktop) to select a range. WhatsApp lets you pick up to 100 items at once (as of 2025). Tap delete for me: Hit the trash can icon and choose “Delete for me”. This is a lifesaver when I need to clear out dozens of old event photos from a work chat—takes seconds instead of minutes.
Fix A Mistake—Delete Photos For Everyone
If you sent a photo by accident (like a wrong pic to the wrong group), you can delete it for everyone—if you act fast.
Take Back A Recently Sent Photo
Find the photo quickly: Go to the chat where you sent the photo. Remember, you only have 60 minutes (2025 update—up from 7 minutes!) to delete it for everyone. Long-press and delete: Hold the photo, tap the trash can icon, then select “Delete for everyone”. A pop-up will confirm if you want to proceed—tap yes. Check the result: The photo will be replaced with a “This message was deleted” note for all recipients. I once sent a family photo to my work group and used this within 5 minutes—saved me so much embarrassment!
Handle Old Photos You Can’t Delete For Everyone
Ask recipients politely: If the photo is older than 60 minutes, send a quick message asking others to delete it. For example: “Hey, that photo I sent yesterday—could you delete it? I accidentally shared the wrong one.” Most people are happy to help if you explain. Use WhatsApp web: For easier navigation (especially if you’re on a computer), try this via WhatsApp web (https://www.logws-whatsapp.com). Open the chat on the web version, find the photo, and follow the same steps as mobile—though note it still won’t work for old photos. Report if necessary: If the photo is inappropriate or shared without consent, report it. Long-press the photo, tap “More”, then “Report”. This flags it to WhatsApp, but it won’t automatically delete it—use this only for serious cases.
WhatsApp Web Common Questions
Here are answers to three common questions about using WhatsApp web to manage photos:
Can I delete photos on WhatsApp web for everyone?
> Yes, you can delete photos on WhatsApp web for everyone as long as you act within the 60-minute window (2025 update). The process mirrors mobile: open the chat on WhatsApp web, find the photo, long-press it (or right-click), select the delete icon, and choose “Delete for everyone”. Keep in mind this only works if you sent the photo—you can’t delete others’ photos for everyone. Also, ensure your WhatsApp web is connected to your phone (it’s a mirror of your mobile app) and both are updated to the latest version. If you miss the 60-minute mark, you can still delete the photo for yourself on the web, but not for others.
How to bulk delete photos on WhatsApp web?
> Bulk deleting photos on WhatsApp web is a time-saver for clearing space. Here’s how: open the chat on the web, click the chat name at the top to access chat info, then select “Media, links, and docs”. Click the select icon (checkmark) at the top right—this lets you pick multiple photos. You can click each photo or hold Shift to select a range. Once selected, click the trash can icon and choose “Delete for me”. This removes the photos from your web and mobile devices (since they sync) but not for others. WhatsApp web has the same 100-item bulk limit as mobile, so you’ll need batches if you have more than that.
Why can’t I delete a photo on WhatsApp web?
> There are a few common reasons. First, if the photo is over 60 minutes old, you can’t delete it for everyone—only for yourself. If you’re trying to delete for yourself but can’t, check if your WhatsApp web is connected to your phone (offline phones or expired sessions block changes). Another reason: you didn’t send the photo—you can only delete others’ photos for your own view. Outdated apps/browsers might also cause issues—update your mobile WhatsApp and refresh the web page. Finally, if you’re in a group chat, being an admin doesn’t let you delete others’ photos for everyone—only the sender can do that.
If you try any of these methods, let me know how it goes in the comments below! I’m always curious to hear what works (or doesn’t) for others.
