Delete images in camera roll from code iOS

Question

Is there a way to delete images (and videos) in camera roll in the photos app that my app didn't create. I know you can't delete things from Asset Library that your app didn't create. But this app isn't on app store. It's on a kiosk type environment. So I can use private APIs.

So is there a way to do this using private APIs that apple would not approve for the app store, but would work for my situation.

Thanks.

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 13 '15 at 18:42

11

Yep, you can do this in iOS 8 using Photos framework.

For example if you have Assets URLs stored in NSArray *assetsURLs

PHPhotoLibrary *library = [PHPhotoLibrary sharedPhotoLibrary];
    [library performChanges:^{
        PHFetchResult *assetsToBeDeleted = [PHAsset fetchAssetsWithALAssetURLs:assetsURLs options:nil];
        [PHAssetChangeRequest deleteAssets:assetsToBeDeleted];
    } completionHandler:^(BOOL success, NSError *error)
     {
         //do something here
    }];

this code will ask user to confirm removal from Camera Roll.

answered Jan 13 '15 at 18:42

Andrei Malygin

355
2
11

Has anyone ever made this work? I don't believe an app can delete assets from the camera roll. – coco Mar 03 '15 at 22:47
It's in the class reference. [deleteAssets:](https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/Photos/Reference/PHAssetChangeRequest_Class/index.html#//apple_ref/occ/clm/PHAssetChangeRequest/deleteAssets:) – cschandler Jul 24 '15 at 02:53
1

Yes it works but as he said it requires user confirmation – malhal Feb 03 '16 at 02:28

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 19 '17 at 18:54

Here is a version for Swift that will delete all photos in the library.

First, you will need to be sure that you have the key for permissions in your app's info.plist file:

You will need to have been given permission by the user to access Photos (not including code here for that).

Next, the import & code:

import Photos

func deleteAllPhotos() {
    let library = PHPhotoLibrary.shared()
    library.performChanges({
        let fetchOptions = PHFetchOptions()
        let allPhotos = PHAsset.fetchAssets(with: .image, options: fetchOptions)
        PHAssetChangeRequest.deleteAssets(allPhotos)
    }) { (success, error) in
        // Handle success & errors
    }
}

When this code is called, the user receives an OS prompt asking to confirm the deletion. Assuming they click yes, then everything is gone.

Delete images in camera roll from code iOS

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