iCloud Storage is full BUT IT IS NOT

Hello Topchari,

Thanks for that info and for choosing the Apple Support Communities. If I understand correctly, you are getting an incorrect message in the Photos app that your iCloud storage is full. To help with this, use safe mode to start up your Mac as it does the following things:

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

Log in to your user account and test the issue while in safe mode and then restart normally and test the issue again.

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac

Graphics performance limited in macOS Recovery, safe mode, or Guest User mode

Cheers!

See these articles https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT204570

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT204264

https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/photos/pht3bfab2f96/mac

A second method is : export photos from system photo library to a desired location say download folder in finder , then connect an external hard drive to the Mac then transfer the photos from download folders into the external hard drive , and all your photo data is saved .

If you desire how many selected photos see this article Select and deselect photos in Photos on Mac - Apple Support are to be deleted in system photo library folder , you should select them and delete to recently deleted folder see this article Delete photos or recover deleted ones in Photos on Mac - Apple Support ( its your choice to delete them permanently immediately or after 30 days the photos will be removed from the iCloud server ) .

In this way the complete photo data is still on external hard drive , but the space is reduced in photo library .