HT204570: Get help with your iCloud Photo Library

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GBJerry
Level 1 (5 points)
Desktops

Q: When I turned on iCloud Photo Library on my Mac and iPad I lost much of my older photos  How can  they be restored?

When I turned on iCloud Photo Library on my Mac and iPad I lost much of my older photos  How can  they be restored?  I do have all my photos on my iPhone and have not turned on iCloud photo Library on that device for fear of loosing those photos on that device.  If I turn on iCloud Photo Library on the iPhone am I liable to loose those photos there as well?  Thanks

 

Jerry H

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 12, 2015 7:33 AM

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GBJerry

Q: When I turned on iCloud Photo Library on my Mac and iPad I lost much of my older photos  How can  they be restored?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 12, 2015 7:36 AM in response to GBJerry
    Level 10 (85,552 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 12, 2015 7:36 AM in response to GBJerry

    You need to explain - turning iCloud Photo Library on does not delete anything from your Mac

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie May 12, 2015 7:47 AM in response to GBJerry
    Level 10 (108,666 points)
    iCloud
    May 12, 2015 7:47 AM in response to GBJerry

    We need to know more to be able to answer that question.

     

    How did you store the photos on your Mac and your iPad?

    There are some ways to keep photos on a mobile device that are no permanent storage.

    • My Photo stream: if your photos have been in the Photo Stream and not saved to the camera Rool or imported to iPhoto on your Mac, they will usually be deleted from include after a month and vanish from your devices if you restart the photo stream,
    • Synced photos from iTunes: These photos will be removed, when you sync a device again.  Also, if you enabled iCloud Photo Library the synced photos will be erased from the device.

     

    If you still have photos on your iPhone hat have been synced from iTunes you have to first transfer these photos to your Mac, before you enable iCloud Photo Library Beta. Send them by email or put them into a dropbox folder.

     

    Where is your iPhoto/Photos Library on your Mac? You may be browsing the wrong library or your main library cannot be opened.

  • by GBJerry,

    GBJerry GBJerry May 12, 2015 7:45 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Desktops
    May 12, 2015 7:45 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks Larry.  Perhaps "delete" is the wrong word.  The photos no longer appear where they always have appeared on the mac and iPad.  In some instances I have only one or two photos where there were dozens of them of that same event.  I feel certain this is a configuration issue but i am at a loss as to how to resolve it. 

     

    To tell the  truth, I am reluctant to turn on iCloud Photo Library on my iPhone for fear I will loose those photos as well.  All my devices are running the latest OS.  Thanks.