While iMessages themselves are small in size, photos and videos attached to Messages on iPhone can end up taking a lot of storage space. Hence, it is a good practice to periodically delete photos from both Text & iMessages on your iPhone.
The accumlation of photos in the Messages App occurs both when you receive messages from others with photo attachmets and also when you send photos to others.
In-fact, when you send photos using Messages App, you will actually end up with two copies of the same photos occupying storage space on your iPhone – Original in Photos App and Copy in the Messages App.
Delete Selected & All Photos from iMessages on iPhone
You can find below the steps to delete both selected and all photos from the Messages app on iPhone and prevent the possibility of photos attached to iMessages and Text Messages taking up a large amount of storage space on your iPhone.
1. Delete Photos from iMessage on iPhone
This method brings up all the photos in a particular Message thread, allowing you to review and delete all or selected photos in this particular Message thread.
1. Open Messages App > open the Message from which you want to remove Photos.
2. On the next screen, tap on Name or Phone Number of the Message sender.
3. On the Contacts Info screen, scroll down and tap on See All > On Photos screen, tap on the Select option.
4. Select Photos that you want to delete and tap on the Delete option.
Similarly, you can pick other iMessage threads and repeat above steps to delete Photos from them.
2. Mass Delete Photos from Messages App
This method allows you to bring up all Photos from all Messages on your iPhone and either mass delete them or individually select photos and delete them.
1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Messages.
2. On the Messages screen, tap on Photos option.
3. On the next screen, tap on Edit (top-right) > select Photos that you want to delete and tap on the Trash Can icon.
This will remove all the selected Photos from iMessages on your device.
3. Automatically Delete iMessages & Attachments on iPhone
In case you want to, it is possible to setup iPhone to automatically delete iMessages along with their attachments after a set period of time.
1. Go to Settings > Messages > scroll down and tap on Keep Messages option.
2. On the next screen, select the duration up to which you want to keep iMessages on your iPhone.
3. On the Confirmation pop-up, tap on Delete to confirm.
All the existing iMessages older than your selected period (30 days or 1 year) will be deleted from your iPhone.
Also in future, iPhone will automatically delete iMessages older than your selected period.