avinj86

Q: want to leave photos in cloud and delete them from my HD

the new photos app on os x has downloaded my entire photo library to my hard drive (it looks like the settings were set to have it do that, as well as for it to download the full size photos). I have since deselected the download function, and selected optimize storage. However, nothing is happening to my hard drive space!

 

How do I remove these photos from my hard drive? I can't seem to access the file system in finder to remove them manually. This is an extremely annoying feature.

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 9:44 AM

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Q: want to leave photos in cloud and delete them from my HD

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  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 23, 2015 10:01 AM in response to avinj86
    Level 10 (107,827 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 23, 2015 10:01 AM in response to avinj86

    Do you have books and other products that you need to save? Or did you name many faces?

    If not, make a backup copy of your Photos Library on an external drive, and then delete the Photos Library. Delete the  complete Photos Library using the Finder, not the photos from the library using Photos. Create a new, empty Photos Library and enable it as your System Photo Library in the Photos Preferences. Then enable iCloud Photo Library and keep "Optimize Mac Storage" active.  iCloud will now download the optimized versions from iCloud.

    But your books or tagged faces will only be available in the copy of the external drive, because iCloud does not store them, see:   Use Photos and iCloud Photo Library on multiple Mac computers - Apple Support

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 23, 2015 9:57 AM in response to avinj86
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 23, 2015 9:57 AM in response to avinj86

    If you are using iCloud Photo Library you can not delete photos form any device without deleting form all - that is the entire point of iCloud Photo Library - having your library on iCloud and on all devices - any change made on  any device including additions, deletions or edits  are reflected on all devices

     

    The optimize photos as described next to the check box will keep full sized photos as long as there is available space - when space is needed the photo size will be reduced appropriately

     

    LN

  • by avinj86,

    avinj86 avinj86 Jul 23, 2015 10:27 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2015 10:27 AM in response to LarryHN

    I don't understand. In the photos app, why then when you click preferences-->general does it have the option for "importing: copy items to the photos library" What is that supposed to do? Shouldn't it prevent photos from being copied from the cloud to my HD?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 23, 2015 10:36 AM in response to avinj86
    Level 10 (107,827 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 23, 2015 10:36 AM in response to avinj86
    "importing: copy items to the photos library" What is that supposed to do?

    This option ensures that Photos will manage the photos you import.  If you disable it, any photo you add to the library will not be stored inside your iPhoto Library but referenced in its original location. This is very risky and not recommended, because you must not delete the photos you added to the library.  And photos you added this way cannot be uploaded to iCloud Photo Library. See this Help page:  https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht1ed9b966d