HT204570: Get help with your iCloud Photo Library

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Smart White Boy
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Deleting Pictures from iOS device

ok, so I love having the convienent of taking a picture and having them show up on all my devices. However, I typically like keeping all my photos on my MBP and not my iOS devices (iPhone iPad). Is there a way to delete pictures from my iPhone and not affect photos app on MBP without turning iCloud library off?

Posted on Feb 2, 2016 2:23 PM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (106,946 points)
iLife
A:
Is there a way to delete pictures from my iPhone and not affect photos app on MBP without turning iCloud library off?

No, the purpose of iCloud Photo Library is to have exactly the same photos on all your devices.

You can only enable "Optimize storage" on your devices, so the photos will need less storage.

 

Or move the photos on your Mac to a second Photos Library, that does not sync with iCloud.  Only one library will sync with iCloud. If you transfer the photos to a second library, before you delete them from your iOS devices, the copies in the different library will stay.

 

See this Help page:                 Use multiple libraries      

Posted on Feb 3, 2016 3:00 AM

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Smart White Boy

Q: Deleting Pictures from iOS device

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  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Feb 3, 2016 3:00 AM in response to Smart White Boy
    Level 10 (106,946 points)
    iLife
    Feb 3, 2016 3:00 AM in response to Smart White Boy
    Is there a way to delete pictures from my iPhone and not affect photos app on MBP without turning iCloud library off?

    No, the purpose of iCloud Photo Library is to have exactly the same photos on all your devices.

    You can only enable "Optimize storage" on your devices, so the photos will need less storage.

     

    Or move the photos on your Mac to a second Photos Library, that does not sync with iCloud.  Only one library will sync with iCloud. If you transfer the photos to a second library, before you delete them from your iOS devices, the copies in the different library will stay.

     

    See this Help page:                 Use multiple libraries      

  • by Smart White Boy,

    Smart White Boy Smart White Boy Feb 3, 2016 7:02 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 3, 2016 7:02 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks for the reply. I turned off iCloud library from my iPhone and deleted the pictures I didn't need and then turned it back on. Kinda like the old way of syncing my phone to the computer and selecting the pictures I want to import.

  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN Feb 3, 2016 7:53 PM in response to Smart White Boy
    Level 10 (84,646 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 3, 2016 7:53 PM in response to Smart White Boy

    Smart White Boy wrote:

     

    Thanks for the reply. I turned off iCloud library from my iPhone and deleted the pictures I didn't need and then turned it back on. Kinda like the old way of syncing my phone to the computer and selecting the pictures I want to import.

    But they will be migrated back to the Phone - the entire purpose of ICPL is to keep the library consistent on all devices - for devices with limited storage yuo use optimized photos on those devices

     

    Léonie documented the available options

     

    LN

  • by Smart White Boy,

    Smart White Boy Smart White Boy Feb 3, 2016 7:57 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 3, 2016 7:57 PM in response to LarryHN

    I Think I'll just turn iCloud library off and just sync the photos from my iPhone to MBP the old way. I just don't need to have or keep every single picture I take especially on my mobile device. It's not about storage to me, it's about deciding what I want or need or don't need on my device. I'd rather select the photos I want to import than keep all my photos on every single device. Seems kind of silly to me to have my entire library on my iPhone, iPad and MBP.

  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN Feb 4, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Smart White Boy
    Level 10 (84,646 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 4, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Smart White Boy

    That is fine - it is a personal decision

     

    I love having a common library on all devices and thins that ICPL is brilliant but the reason it is optional is because not everyone wants that (my wife does not for example)

     

    LN