Many users of Android devices will have found multiple image galleries with a Picasa icon that can’t be deleted on their device. By default Google syncs the photos you’ve uploaded to Google+ or shared with Hangouts, but it is indeed possible to delete them by changing your sync options.

This problem arises when your Gmail account is the one that you use as your main address on your Android smartphone or tablet and also used on Google+, automatically syncing the images you upload there to your device. Here’s how to get around this.

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  • Stop image sync. To do so, you’ll have to access Settings > Accounts > Google. From there you’ll see all the email accounts associated with your device. You need to select the one that you’ve used to create your Google+ account. Then search for the “Google+ Photos” or “Picasa Albums” sections (depending on your version of Android) and untick the box. Then do the same thing with the “Google Photos” box.
  • Delete existing albums. You have already changed your settings so new galleries won’t appear, now you’re going to delete the ones that already existed. To do so you need to delete the temporary data created by the gallery by going to Settings > Applications. In the upper tab you’ll go to the “All” section and search for the “Gallery” app. Once there you should tick “Delete data.” And don’t panic—the photos you have stored locally won’t be erased, nor will those you’ve downloaded from other services like WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram.

21 COMMENTS

      • Try this, guys!
        go to settings then accounts then unsync Google photos. Then try go to settings again then application manager and go to “all” to find the gallery app and clear the data. Don’t worry ‘coz only the picasa existing photos will be deleted and the rest will not. Just try it ‘coz i’ve done it.

  5. I have a galaxy note 4 and cannot for the life of me get the picasa album off of my phone. I’ve tried unsyncing and all the suggestions Google could provide me, nothing has worked. I can’t delete pictures in this folder and cannot delete the whole folder. I don’t want it, I don’t need it. How do I get rid of it?

  8. If you do not see the “All” tab in Application Manager try scrolling the menu bar to the left and it should appear. Galaxy S4.

  9. I deleted gallery as you mentioned on setting application. It did delete everything from my entire phone system. I do not have any access to anything

  10. Ok i got it. I have a galaxy note 4. If you go into your gallery and then press the menu bottom in the top right corner (3 dots). Press content to display and untick picasa. Viola :)

  14. Dave, doesn’t that only hide the Picasa folder? Pics are still there. How do you delete photos from the picasa folder?

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