Managing photos on an iPhone 5 can become challenging when albums start to pile up. Whether you created albums manually or certain apps added them automatically, deleting these albums helps keep your Photos app organized and clutter-free. The good news is that removing an album is simple—and it doesn’t delete the actual photos unless you choose to remove them separately.
This guide explains how to delete a photo album on the iPhone 5, what types of albums can’t be removed, and useful tips for better photo management.
Can You Delete Any Album?
Before you begin, it’s important to know that you can only delete albums you created yourself. Some albums cannot be removed, including:
Camera Roll
Panoramas
Videos
Selfies
Screenshots
People
Places
Recently Deleted
These system-generated albums are built into iOS and cannot be deleted on an iPhone 5.
How to Delete a Photo Album on the iPhone 5
Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open the Photos App
Tap the Photos app icon on your home screen.
Step 2: Go to the “Albums” Tab
At the bottom of the screen, tap Albums to view all your photo folders.
Step 3: Tap “Edit” in the Top-Right Corner
This allows you to customize, rearrange, or delete albums.
Step 4: Tap the Red Minus (-) Icon
Find the album you want to remove.
Tap the red circle with a minus sign next to it.
Step 5: Confirm by Tapping “Delete Album”
A pop-up message will appear.
Tap Delete Album to confirm.
Important:
Deleting an album does NOT delete the photos inside it. The pictures remain safely stored in the Camera Roll and other relevant albums.
Why You Might Want to Delete Albums
Removing unnecessary albums can help:
Reduce clutter in the Photos app
Make images easier to locate
Improve photo organization
Remove automatically-created folders from third-party apps
This is especially helpful on older devices like the iPhone 5, where storage space and performance are limited.
Tips for Managing Photos Better on iPhone 5
Use iCloud Photo Library (if available) to sync and organize across devices
Delete unwanted photos from the Camera Roll to free up space
Use third-party apps to create smarter albums or sort images automatically
Back up photos to a computer or cloud service before making major changes
Final Thoughts
Deleting a photo album on the iPhone 5 is quick, simple, and safe for your photos. While you can’t delete system-generated albums, any folder you created yourself—or that an app created—can be removed in just a few taps. With proper organization, your iPhone will feel cleaner and easier to use.