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iPhone storage using iCloud

I have no more space on my phone do to pictures and want to delete them. I have iCloud set up so my photos upload to the cloud. I also have the optimize storage feature turned on. Since this is turned on can i delete the photos i no longer want on my phone so i can gain more storage? Will the photos that are deleted still be in iCloud?

Posted on Mar 29, 2020 12:35 PM

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Posted on Mar 29, 2020 12:36 PM

No. 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


Apple does not currently offer cloud-only storage for photos. If that is what you want or need, you may want to explore 3rd party options such as Google Photos or Dropbox.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 29, 2020 12:36 PM in response to livende

No. 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


Apple does not currently offer cloud-only storage for photos. If that is what you want or need, you may want to explore 3rd party options such as Google Photos or Dropbox.


iPhone storage using iCloud

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