HT204264: iCloud Photo Library

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daemonfromplainfield

Q: How do I delete my photos from my phone but still keep them in my icoud?

Can I delete photos from my iPhone and still keep them in my iCloud?

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2

Posted on Dec 22, 2015 4:50 PM

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Q: How do I delete my photos from my phone but still keep them in my icoud?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by FoxFifth,Apple recommended

    FoxFifth FoxFifth Dec 22, 2015 6:34 PM in response to daemonfromplainfield
    Level 7 (26,590 points)
    iPhone
    Dec 22, 2015 6:34 PM in response to daemonfromplainfield

    No. When you have iCloud Photo Library turned on, any photo you delete from your phone will also be deleted from iCloud and from any other device connected to that iCloud Photo Library. The most you can do to reduce the storage space required on the phone is to turn on Settings > iCloud > Photos > Optimize iPhone Storage.

     

    You can suggest that Apple offer more options via http://www.apple.com/feedback/icloud.html

     

    There are 3rd party cloud services which have options for cloud-only storage. They include Dropbox and Flickr.

  • by Ks131,

    Ks131 Ks131 Dec 27, 2015 6:03 AM in response to daemonfromplainfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2015 6:03 AM in response to daemonfromplainfield

    yes you can do this by simply enabling iCloud photo share and put your "keepers" there then delete from device.

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Dec 27, 2015 6:28 AM in response to Ks131
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 27, 2015 6:28 AM in response to Ks131

    Ks131 wrote:

     

    yes you can do this by simply enabling iCloud photo share and put your "keepers" there then delete from device.

    What happens to shared when same pictures are deleted from photostream (deleted of the phone)?

  • by Ks131,

    Ks131 Ks131 Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to fromsouth
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2015 6:36 AM in response to fromsouth

    TThey are not effected on my devices.

    FOr or me Photo Share is a place to store pics I want access to but not use space on devices. Of course some I share, but not all. I'm still experimenting.

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Dec 27, 2015 6:55 AM in response to Ks131
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    Dec 27, 2015 6:55 AM in response to Ks131

    Ks131 wrote:

     

    TThey are not effected on my devices.

    FOr or me Photo Share is a place to store pics I want access to but not use space on devices. Of course some I share, but not all. I'm still experimenting.

    I have talked to one very unhappy experimenter like you about two years back. Your advice worked perfectly when photostream just came out until Apple allowed deletion of photos from my Photostream.

  • by Ks131,

    Ks131 Ks131 Jan 6, 2016 3:29 AM in response to daemonfromplainfield
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 6, 2016 3:29 AM in response to daemonfromplainfield

    Works good here for me. Been doing this for almost year. iCloud photo share is not likely going anywhere. All photos treat does is sync pics across multiple devices. You may want to read up on some more recent experiences, two years ago is like the the 1970's in the world of Apple ios

  • by fromsouth,

    fromsouth fromsouth Jan 6, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Ks131
    Level 5 (4,806 points)
    iCloud
    Jan 6, 2016 5:41 AM in response to Ks131

    I am glad it works for you, but there were a few situations (one of them was on that forum) where it suddenly didn't. Hope you will not get that.