How do I delete imported images?

Imported (uploaded) images are accessible in new image blocks from the Search For Image > Imported section. I've had my site for several years and it's gone through drastic revamps in that time. Now, the oldest images are still there, despite no longer being in use on any existent page. How do I delete these outdated imported images? I can't find any option for it even though it seems like something so straightforward should have a very simple answer.

Thanks!

You can’t.  It makes the feature useless for anything other than brand new sites. 

No offense to colin.irwin, or anyone else, but this is a little bit ponderous from a user/content creator perspective.  Is there any other reason for the inability to delete content that is uploaded?  Just for my situation, I'm an artist, I just need one site which I have, but there is plenty of uploading and removing, as work gets older and/or you make newer better work.  So there will be plenty of iterations.

There are a couple ways to think about this.

- I have uploaded content that is created by me, and I'm not saying anything will happen to it probably, but I therefore have no control that is on your servers once it's uploaded.  It's uploaded and can't be removed.  Little troubling, if I don't want it up there anymore, as the owner of it.  And isn't that akin to saying that SS now technically co-owns it, since its up and says I can't remove it?  Indirectly speaking.

- Maybe there's a scenario - where I work with a studio, to produce some work.  I have the ok to upload and show it on my SS site.  But what if, for some reason, they want it down?  Granted, I can remove it from visibility.  But I still have a duty to them to remove it from any place they don't want it.

- I linked my Instagram, but it initially went to a more personal account, rather than a work oriented account (which I had picked anyway).  But now personal images (safe for work, but still personal nonetheless), are in that Uploaded section.  And they can't be removed.  Not good.

- Just looking at it practically - scrolling through the uploaded list can be a little cumbersome if there are a lot of old images in there.  Some may be undesirable to use anymore, but there are still older ones that are pertinent, so you still have to go through the list.  And it can be a little slow.

- The functionality to do this very thing, is indeed there for Wix.  Just tested it.

There are more scenarios we can think of, but no point in going on and on.  But from the perspective of the user and as a creator, it overall makes me a little wary of staying with SS, to be brutally honest.

I am guessing SS has never implemented it due to all plans having "unlimited storage", while Wix has a 50 GB cap. Still a poor reason to not include the function...

Definitely something that needs fixing. 
Especially with the "Duplicate Site" feature... What if you create a "template" and want to use it for a different client... But then they have all the old photos cluttering up their page!

I ran across this SS support page when researching how to delete imported images.

"Deleting an image you've uploaded or a Getty Image preview removes it from the Imported tab. If you’ve used the image in multiple places, it will stay in the Imported tab until you delete all copies. If you're still seeing it in the Imported tab, you may need to empty your site's trash can."

However, I'm not finding the statement to be accurate... it appears any image I import stays in the Imported tab, even if deleted from the page, not used throughout the site, and the trash is empty. Just curious if anyone else has put it to the test?

I am having the same problem. Old images file names are coming up in my search feature. Does anyone know how to permanently delete images that are no longer used on the site so this doesn't happen?

the lack of an image library, almost makes me want to leave square space. this is fucking stupid LMAO. Basic site feauture or capability for any site builder application or coder. wtf guys?

On 4/13/2020 at 9:00 AM, zorrillamonsoon said:

the lack of an image library, almost makes me want to leave square space. this is fucking stupid LMAO. Basic site feauture or capability for any site builder application or coder. wtf guys?

I was just searching for this now too. It's crazy how some of the most basic things just don't exist or are so buried they are unfindable. 

Lack of this basic feature is becoming a deal breaker for me. I will have hundreds of images and variations of them as my site grows. I need to be able to sift through them quickly and cull the ones no longer needed. As things stand, that is becoming more and more cumbersome because a simple delete feature does not exist.

I have just sent a message to their "Help" team. I suggest others do the same. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Go here to do so:

https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=64337

This is a crazy situation. Furthermore, the images that are contained with the pre-built section templates are also featured there and seemingly cannot be removed? 

This is particularly annoying when trying to duplicate a site and see images from one site now in the library for a new one - madness. 

Sort it out Squarespace

Has this been remedied? I import different backgrounds to see what works, like multiple files of different iterations of a page rip graphic to separate sections, and I want to be able to delete all the ones I don't like / that don't work for the section. If this hasn't been remedied, it should be  - this is a major feature people need to have control over. I duplicated a site I wanted to make a few changes to for a new client and I have all of the old imported images from the old site... major issue.

same here: our clients image uploads are cluttered with unused or meanwhile replaced images and no one is able to find what he/she needs. so they just upload another version of the needed file which results in even more useless and duplicate images (with different file names) ... this should be solved QUICKLY.

@Etienne

If SS implemented this feature I bet a lot of the process of editing images on a site would speed up a lot because the site wouldn't have to load a bunch of cruft!

waiting.....

Any update on this issue? Has a fix at least been put on the roadmap? Thanks.

It would be glorious and swanky to have a photo library to keep things organized. Seems many images duplicate themselves - It would be marvelous to streamline this 🙂 Thank you Kindly! 

Just my two cents thinking off the beaten path like always in life leading revolutions...

Without me dedicating time valuable time to reading through those arduous terms and conditions line by line, SS likely has some caveat in there much like Google and every other aristocratic organization in Silicon Valley that allows them to use your uploaded images and content for some acceptable purposes if need be. 

The more content they have, the more valuable their database is as a company and their intellectual property. 

They don't want you deleting that awesome content you've created and uploaded that they may be able to use for their marketing, advertising, or other purposes. 

Has this been resolved?  Seems ridiculous you can't delete the images?  That kind of storage is such a waste and it's so clunky when trying to create a website for photography

Still waiting...

We have the same problem. While our pictures are high resolution and once we update new pictures, the old one still there which is don't need it to stay in our limit space.

Still waiting...

Please SquareSpace team, can you provide us with a response as to what you're doing with this. It's really poor that there isn't a media library to manage images more efficiently. If I had known this I would have put my client on Wix because they have a media library. It's been 1.5 years since you said this would be put in with your engineering teams

I have used SquareSpace for years and just went in to clean up ton of photos I don't need and want deleted. Seriously ... I cannot remove photos from my library??

After reading this thread and also seeing it has been 1.5 years since this was said would be addressed may be my deal breaker too. Was just considering building out 50 - 100 new websites on SS and that won't be happening now. Will go back to WP and save my money.

Glad I caught this thread here now.

Thought I was the only one who couldn't find the delete button.. Would love this feature. it's so frustrating working with an overcrowded media library.