# Can I delete my Photos Library to free up space on Mac?

- URL: https://moreroom.app/folders/photos-libraries
- Item: Photos libraries
- Location: `~/Pictures` (items inside)
- Verdict: Keep — your data — Your data. Shrink it from its app; don’t delete the folder.
- Comes back on its own: no
- Source: MoreRoom rules catalogue (2026-10-17), by Yando Pte. Ltd.

## What is it?

The Photos Library package in your Pictures folder contains your photos and videos, edits, albums, people and memories, plus thumbnails. It is often the largest item in a home folder, from a few GB to several hundred GB.

## What happens if you delete it?

Nothing comes back if you delete it: photos that are not in iCloud Photos or a backup are lost. Only thumbnails and caches would be rebuilt, and they are a small part.

## How to remove it properly

Do not delete it in Finder. If you use iCloud Photos, turn on Photos › Settings › iCloud › Optimize Mac Storage so full-size originals stay in iCloud and the Mac keeps smaller versions. Otherwise delete unwanted items in Photos and empty Recently Deleted, or move the whole library to an external drive with Photos closed and open it from there.

## Before you delete it

Make sure you have a backup first. Optimize Mac Storage is not a backup, and with iCloud Photos on, deleting in Photos removes items from all your devices.