When using iCloud Photos the original photo file size and resolution is not stored in iCloud

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Level 1

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When using iCloud Photos the original photo file size and resolution is not stored in iCloud

Hi,

I recently started using iCloud Photos as a way to share photos across devices and also free up space on my iPhone. My understanding this that when you take a picture on your iPhone the original photo is uploaded to iCloud and a smaller resolution photo is stored on the iPhone.

However I am finding that is not the case. As an example I take a picture on my iPhone and the file size is 4.56mb. Once this photo was automatically uploaded to iCloud, I went to www.icloud.com and downloaded the same photo to my PC. The downloaded photo on my PC has a file size of 709kb which is clearly not the original file size.

This presents a problem for me as I use Photoshop to edit my photos, and would obviously like to start with the original photo with the highest resolution. I am worried now as I just returned from a vacation and after taking a lot of photos in high resolution, I am now only left with the low resolution versions.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Regards

Grant

iPhone 8 Plus

Posted on Jan 8, 2019 9:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,531 points

Jan 8, 2019 10:44 AM in response to grantmck

iCloud is storing the originals.

How did you download from iCloud at www.icloud.com?

You have to select to download the original. If you just click the download button, you will download an edited version.

Below the download button in the toolbar is a tiny, barely visible "v". Click this to reveal the menu to select the download format.

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Answer 2

grantmck Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 8, 2019 11:07 AM in response to léonie

Hi Leonie,

Thank you very much for your quick response!

i did go to the website and originally just clicked on the download icon which generated a file that was 709kb in size. I also read on the internet that if you click and hold on the download icon then the dialog box that you sent a screen shot of shows up. However when I select the option to download 'Unmodified Originals', I get the following dialog box that wants to generate a file in HEIC format that is 1.2MB in size. Not sure what the HEIC format is and also the file size is still not the original (4.56mb).

Regards

Grant

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When using iCloud Photos the original photo file size and resolution is not stored in iCloud

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