HT204264: iCloud Photo Library

Learn about iCloud Photo Library
jenhello1
Level 1 (2 points)

Q: If I am using iCloud Photo Library on both my Mac and my iPhone, but I want to delete all my photos from the iPhone, will that delete them from the Mac too?

I am using iCloud Photo Library which syncs all of the photos on my iPhone and my Mac. If I delete ten pictures from the phone, they are also erased from Photos on the Mac. How can I erase all photos on my phone, but still have them on the computer now?

Posted on Jul 16, 2015 1:40 PM

by léonie,Apple recommended
léonie léonie
Level 10 (108,686 points)
iCloud
A:

To be able to erase the photos from your iPhone without deleting the from your Mac, you have first to sign out of iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone ( Settings > iCloud > Photos). Then you can delete the photos from the iPhone. The photos will stay in iCloud. as long as your Mac is still signed into iCloud.

Posted on Jul 16, 2015 2:22 PM

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jenhello1

Q: If I am using iCloud Photo Library on both my Mac and my iPhone, but I want to delete all my photos from the iPhone, will that del ... more

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  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Jul 16, 2015 2:22 PM in response to jenhello1
    Level 10 (108,686 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 16, 2015 2:22 PM in response to jenhello1

    To be able to erase the photos from your iPhone without deleting the from your Mac, you have first to sign out of iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone ( Settings > iCloud > Photos). Then you can delete the photos from the iPhone. The photos will stay in iCloud. as long as your Mac is still signed into iCloud.

  • by reefgirl88,Helpful

    reefgirl88 reefgirl88 Aug 11, 2015 11:41 AM in response to jenhello1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Aug 11, 2015 11:41 AM in response to jenhello1

    What happens when I sign back into iCloud photo library on my iPhone? If I've deleted the photos off my phone & sign back in will that delete them off the iCloud?

  • by spiffysmithy,

    spiffysmithy spiffysmithy Sep 2, 2015 7:20 AM in response to reefgirl88
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2015 7:20 AM in response to reefgirl88

    I have the same question.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 2, 2015 8:28 AM in response to spiffysmithy
    Level 10 (85,552 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 2, 2015 8:28 AM in response to spiffysmithy

    That is not how to use iCloud Photo Library - with ICPL your library is on iCloud and is shared by all devices - all changes made on any device (additions, deletions, edited, etc) are reflected on all devices - you can not have one device different in any way - if you have a space issue on a device you set that device to use optimized copies of the photos.  If you turn ICPL back on on your iPhone then the missing photos will be downloaded again as the library is the one on iCLoud

     

    LN

  • by olitridgell,

    olitridgell olitridgell Sep 10, 2015 7:52 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2015 7:52 AM in response to LarryHN

    I have turned off iCloud on my iPhone (as it has completely filled my phone). However it has left me with 12,255 photos (or proxys or whatever) in my Camera Roll as well as loads of other albums.

     

    How can I delete photos without having to individually select photos on my iphone and then delete? Can it be done through iTunes on my Macbook Pro.

     

    Many thanks

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 10, 2015 8:04 AM in response to olitridgell
    Level 10 (85,552 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 10, 2015 8:04 AM in response to olitridgell

    image capture on your mac while your phone is connected by USB

     

    LN

  • by olitridgell,

    olitridgell olitridgell Sep 10, 2015 8:13 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 10, 2015 8:13 AM in response to LarryHN

    That doesn't seem to work for me. I can select the JPG etc however the delete option is greyed out in the Edit tab.

  • by Pam294,

    Pam294 Pam294 Sep 23, 2015 12:21 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Sep 23, 2015 12:21 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks, Leonie. That's helpful. How do I get the photos out of the cloud and onto my laptop so they will stay there even if I clear the photos off my phone?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 23, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Pam294
    Level 10 (108,686 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 23, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Pam294

    If your photos are now in iCloud Photo Library they will download to your Mac, if you launch Photos and enable iCloud Photo Librarian Photos.

    Sign out of iCloud Photo Library on the iPhone, so it will not start to download the photos from your Mac.

     

    Once all photos are on your Mac, delete the photos from your iPhone. If the iPhone is no longer syncing with iCloud, the photos will stay in iCloud and on your Mac.