Separate the copies and accounts you control from files another person already has, then make a safe plan for future sharing and access.
Start with an inventory, not a delete button
List shared albums, cloud-library participation, messaging attachments, signed-in devices, and any exported copies. A change to your library does not necessarily change a copy saved by another person. Google explicitly notes this distinction in its Locked Folder guidance.
If access changes could put you at risk, consider their timing and use a safer device to seek support. Do not assume that removing a shared account or location permission will go unnoticed. Apple's Safety Check guide describes an iPhone tool for reviewing sharing and access.
Decide what you need to retain
| Content | Decision |
|---|---|
| Your only copy of an important record | Preserve a recoverable copy before cleanup |
| An ordinary shared-album item | Check membership and separate saved copies |
| A file already sent in a message | Treat the recipient's copy as outside your control |
| New private media | Choose its storage and sharing boundary before capturing or importing it |
Using NullVault for future separation
An encrypted photo vault can keep your retained app-managed copies separate from the ordinary library. Secure export makes sharing a deliberate step. Neither recalls material already downloaded elsewhere.
Use the detailed private photos after a breakup guide and copy audit for the device-level review. Keep account security and personal safety in the plan alongside file storage.