This may have been addressed, but what I see on this problem are multiple years old.
So, after downloading from memory card, Photos no longer give me the option to erase downloaded images (clean the card). What am I missing? I know this used to be an option.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Mac mini, macOS 15.3
The usual recommendation is to reformat the card in your camera – after you are sure that you have transferred photos successfully to your computer (and preferably after you have updated your computer's backups).
If you must format the cards in your computer, you may want to check out:
SD Association – SD Memory Card Formatter for Windows/Mac
"It is strongly recommended to use the SD Memory Card Formatter to format SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards rather than using formatting tools provided with individual operating systems. In general, formatting tools provided with operating systems can format various storage media including SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards, but it may not be optimized for SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards and it may result in lower performance."
The usual recommendation is to reformat the card in your camera – after you are sure that you have transferred photos successfully to your computer (and preferably after you have updated your computer's backups).
If you must format the cards in your computer, you may want to check out:
SD Association – SD Memory Card Formatter for Windows/Mac
"It is strongly recommended to use the SD Memory Card Formatter to format SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards rather than using formatting tools provided with individual operating systems. In general, formatting tools provided with operating systems can format various storage media including SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards, but it may not be optimized for SD/SDHC/SDXC/SDUC Cards and it may result in lower performance."
The fastest and most efficient way is to reformat the card with your camera. This will take 10 seconds, and has the added benefit of refreshing the card, and prolonging its lifespan.
Alternately you could use Image Capture to erase the card.
When importing with "Image Capture" you will find "Delete after Import" in the Actions menu (⋅⋅⋅).
But reformatting the card will be better for the file system of the card.
D Dutcher wrote: … The only choice that showed was the "Keep originals" check box. I unchecked the box, but the images remained on the card. Might this be the formatting issue?
No. I think Apple may have just decided to stop offering "Delete after importing" since it's such a bad idea.
If so, whats the best or easiest way to reformat the card?
Usually there is someplace in the menu that offers to format the Scared. Here is the instruction for my Nikon Z8, for instance:
Obviously, your camera will be different--but the operation will be listed in your camera's menu, someplace.
I reformat my card when it gets pretty full, but I don't erase anything before that.
And I never, ever, "delete after importing!" We've seen so many people do that and then discover that something went wrong! I like the idea that my pictures don't disappear until I have at least two more copies of them.
" I like the idea that my pictures don't disappear until I have at least two more copies of them."
And have looked at each of them enlarged to see the original and not just the embedded previews or thumbnails to check for transmission errors.
Really? That was kind of my point. the "Delete after" was not even an option on the interface. So, I guess from whats said here is, I need to reformat the card? I don't usually make it a practice to do 'multiple imports', but I end up with multiple images one way or another. Anyway, bottom line, I need to reformat the card?
Thanks for the good info.
Dan
Image Capture was a good call, but....
This is what I found on the Image Capture user guide:
By default, items you download remain on your device. If you prefer to remove them from your device, click the Action button 
in the Image Capture toolbar, then either deselect “Keep originals” or select “Delete after import” (the option available depends on the type of device you connected).
The only choice that showed was the "Keep originals" check box. I unchecked the box, but the images remained on the card. Might this be the formatting issue? If so, whats the best or easiest way to reformat the card?
léonie wrote: … And have looked at each of them enlarged to see the original and not just the embedded previews or thumbnails to check for transmission errors.
Exactly!!
How to erase memory card after transferring contents to Photos?
