iCloud
How do I delete photos off my phone that have been uploaded to the iCloud already? If I click delete it says it’s going to delete the photo from all devices using the iCloud. I just want them on my Mac and not iPhone.
iPhone XS, iOS 12
Question marked as
Top-ranking reply
iCloud Photos is a syncing service. Any photo you delete from a device where iCloud Photos is turned on will also be deleted from iCloud and from any other device connected to iCloud Photos. You can potentially reduce the storage space required on a device by turning on Optimize Storage. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264
If you only want photos to transfer from you phone to your Mac and then delete them from the phone you may want to consider using a method other than iCloud Photos. Other methods include (in no particular order):
1) transferring via USB cable - see Import to Your Mac section of Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
2) transferring via PhotoStream (will transfer new photos taken after you turn this option on) - see My Photo Stream - Apple Support
3) transferring via a 3rd party app - see https://www.photosync-app.com/home.html
If you decide to turn off iCloud Photos on your iPhone, see the information in: Get help with iCloud Photos - Apple Support