Use pyicloud to delete all photos from iCloud (may need to be run multiple times)

delall-icloud-photos.py

#!/usr/bin/env python
from __future__ import print_function
import json
import sys

from authentication import authenticate
from future.moves.urllib.parse import urlencode

if __name__ == '__main__':
    username = sys.argv[1]
    password = sys.argv[2]
    smtp_username = smtp_password = smtp_host = smtp_port = smtp_no_tls = notification_email = None
    print('Logging in')
    icloud = authenticate(username, password, smtp_username, smtp_password, smtp_host, smtp_port, smtp_no_tls, notification_email)
    photos = icloud.photos.all
    operations = []
    url = '{}/records/modify?{}'.format(icloud.photos._service_endpoint, urlencode(icloud.photos.params))
    headers = {'Content-type': 'text/plain'}
    seen_record_names = []

    for photo in photos:
        # Avoid duplicate operations
        if photo._asset_record['recordName'] in seen_record_names:
            continue
        seen_record_names.append(photo._asset_record['recordName'])

        mr = {'fields': {'isDeleted': {'value': 1}}}
        mr['recordChangeTag'] = photo._asset_record['recordChangeTag']
        mr['recordName'] = photo._asset_record['recordName']

        mr['recordType'] = 'CPLAsset'
        op = dict(
            operationType='update',
            record=mr,
        )
        operations.append(op)

        # Limit to 100 photos at a time
        if len(operations) >= 100:
            post_data = json.dumps(dict(
                atomic=True,
                desiredKeys=['isDeleted'],
                operations=operations,
                zoneID={'zoneName': 'PrimarySync'},
            ))
            print('Deleting 100 photos')
            print(icloud.photos.session.post(url,
                                             data=post_data,
                                             headers=headers).json())
            operations = []

Complete Python newbie here but delete photos from iCloud to get a clean start is what I want to do.

so here is how I got where I am

0. copy the delete script to /usr/local/bin (where home-brew lives, that is upstairs in /usr/local) Okay, I am also a newcomer to anything behinds the scenes on MacOS - despite copious years of experience with *nix.

1. I download, build and install pyicloud on to iMac 10.13.3. I use sudo to install because I am in a hurry, naturally though it might be more prudent make a separate install of python altogether. Could this be my problem? The Apple installed version of Python is 2.7.10

2. at any rate, the install, like the build (download and so on) goes smoothly , no obvious errors of a show stopping kind.

3. attempt to run dellall and it promptly complains that authenticate module is not found.

4. I scour docs.python.org for clues and come up empty

5. I conclude I have ahem obviously omitted some necessary.

6. need some help.

--Captain Obvious

Installed the 'real' Python for MacOS and along the way, TclTK ( a compatible version). Tweaked my .bashrc to avoid unhappiness resulting from relying on older versions and am ransacking the literature for more clues ...

bugger me for setting up two-factor authentication!

need to rethink approach??

Hi @joryan44, I just found this, and I think they were using my icloud_photos_downloader project as the base for this script. I have an authentication.py file in there with an authenticate method, and that takes care of two-factor authentication.

I would try cloning the repo, downloading the script into there, and then running it:

git clone https://github.com/ndbroadbent/icloud_photos_downloader
cd icloud_photos_downloader
curl -sfLO https://gist.github.com/Tatsh/0b5a10a2d25f6c8466290401d2026055/raw/77d23ca0d1448f8e8eb4f208dfcfe84781d98d67/delall-icloud-photos.py
python delall-icloud-photos.py

(Note: I haven't tried the script)

is this still working or does anyone know any other way to delete all icloud photos instead of waiting 30 days before automatically deleted by icloud? I have deleted them from my ios device first but need to wait 30 days to be removed from my icloud account.

Hi, combining the previous comments and making some further changes, the following process worked for me:

git clone https://github.com/ndbroadbent/icloud_photos_downloader
cd icloud_photos_downloader
cd icloudpd
curl -sfLO https://gist.github.com/Tatsh/0b5a10a2d25f6c8466290401d2026055/raw/77d23ca0d1448f8e8eb4f208dfcfe84781d98d67/delall-icloud-photos.py

Change the line:

icloud = authenticate(username, password, smtp_username, smtp_password, smtp_host, smtp_port, smtp_no_tls, notification_email)

to
icloud = authenticate(username, password)

Install icloudpd dependencies by installing icloudpd (Its documentation talks about how to do this)
Finally, run:
python delall-icloud-photos.py

The first time you run this, it will perform two factor authentication.
It will work well afterwards.

i am getting below error
File "delall-icloud-photos.py", line 10, in
username = sys.argv[1]
IndexError: list index out of range

I just had a similar issue. Made a quick script to do it :
https://github.com/zakirangwala/icloud-photo-manager

Works for me

from pyicloud import PyiCloudService
from pyicloud.exceptions import PyiCloudAPIResponseException
import sys
import time

# Your credentials
EMAIL = '[email protected]'
PASSWORD = 'xxxxxxx'  # Enter your password here


def handle_2fa(api):
    if api.requires_2fa:
        print("Two-factor authentication required")
        code = input("Enter the code you received: ")
        result = api.validate_2fa_code(code)
        print("2FA validation result:", result)

    if api.requires_2sa:
        print("Two-step authentication required")
        devices = api.trusted_devices
        print("Your trusted devices:")

        for i, device in enumerate(devices):
            device_name = device.get('deviceName')
            phone_number = device.get('phoneNumber')
            if device_name:
                print(f"  {i}: {device_name}")
            else:
                print(f"  {i}: SMS to {phone_number}")

        device = devices[int(input("Which device to use? "))]
        if not api.send_verification_code(device):
            print("Failed to send verification code")
            sys.exit(1)

        code = input("Enter verification code: ")
        if not api.validate_verification_code(device, code):
            print("Invalid verification code")
            sys.exit(1)


try:
    # Create connection with retries
    max_retries = 3
    retry_count = 0

    while retry_count < max_retries:
        try:
            api = PyiCloudService(EMAIL, PASSWORD)
            handle_2fa(api)  # Handle 2FA if required
            break
        except PyiCloudAPIResponseException as e:
            retry_count += 1
            if retry_count == max_retries:
                raise e
            print(f"Attempt {retry_count} failed, trying again in 5 seconds...")
            time.sleep(5)

    count = 1

    # Iterate through all photos
    for photo in api.photos.all:
        print(f"Count : {count}")
        print(f"Filename: {photo.filename}")  # Added filename output for verification
        count += 1

        # Uncomment this block when you're ready to delete photos
        try:
            photo.delete()
            print(f"Deleted photo: {photo.filename}")
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Failed to delete photo: {photo.filename}. Error: {e}")

except PyiCloudAPIResponseException as e:
    print(f"iCloud API Error: {e}")
    print("Make sure your credentials are correct and two-factor authentication is properly set up")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred: {e}")