How to delete local files on iPad after editing in Lightroom Mobile

Report · Oct 30, 2025

I need help understanding how to remove local files stored on my iPad after I finish editing in Lightroom Mobile. If I delete them from Lr Mobile, they disappear from the cloud, but not from the local storage. As you can see, out of 448 photos, I edited only 34, so I'd like to delete the rest 414 - and I did that in Li Mobile, but they're still there in the local storage, and I can't imagine manually deleting them. When I'm using LrC on my MacBook, I can do that directly from the LrC app, how do I do this when using an iPad and Li Mobile?

Please suggest some solutions. I've heard that I can sync LrC with LI Mobile? I've never done this and I have no idea how that works. Thank you 🙏🏻

Report · Nov 19, 2025

Hi @domi.piskorz,

Thanks for reaching out. What you’re experiencing is expected behavior on iPad when Lightroom Mobile does not have the correct permissions to manage files in the Photos app.

If you want Lightroom Mobile to delete the originals from your device’s local storage (Apple Photos library), please check the following:

• Open iPad Settings
• Scroll down to Lightroom
• Tap Photos
• Switch it to Full Access

Once Lightroom Mobile has full access, it will be able to remove the files from your local Photos library when you delete them in the app. The removed items will still remain in the iPad “Recently Deleted” folder for 30 days, which is part of iOS behavior.

Regarding syncing Lightroom Mobile with Lightroom Classic, a helpful walkthrough video is available that explains how the two systems work together. (Note that the video is four years old, so there will be some UI changes.)

https://adobe.ly/4nYFrSt

If you need help setting up the sync or would like to confirm your workflow, please feel free to share more details.

Best,

Anshul saini