Why cant i delete photos that have been backed up from my pixel xl?

[Android Central Question]

I've tryed almost everyway and smart storage won't do its job either

 

[Mike_Luchia]

Click the 3 bars, pick Free up space.

 

[can3gxw]

What Mike_Luchia says. Open Google Photos, tap the hamburger menu (the three lines in the top left) and tap "free up space". Photos will delete everything that it has backed up (photos and videos).