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Photo stream on promax

my photo stream folder is gone. I have iCloud backup on all my devices and it is turned on. I see my photo stream folder on my iPad but not my new phone or new 16” iPad Pro. The screen shots are of my phone

iPhone 11 Pro Max, iOS 13

Posted on Apr 21, 2020 1:24 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 21, 2020 2:47 PM

What versions of iOS are in use on the 2 devices?


Apple has been phasing out the Photo Stream in recent years. With the iCloud Photo Library enabled, there really is no need for the Photo Stream.


My iPad has only the Photo Stream enabled. My Mac and my iPhone have both iCloud Photo Library and Photo Stream enabled.


If I make a photo on the iPad, it shows in the Photo Stream album. It is visible on my Mac and iPhone in the All Photos album.


I don't need to import it within 30 days or 1000 photos which are the limits for Photo Stream.


In practice, I think you can disable Photo Stream and all photos will sync to all devices in real time.

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 21, 2020 2:47 PM in response to Noahlta

What versions of iOS are in use on the 2 devices?


Apple has been phasing out the Photo Stream in recent years. With the iCloud Photo Library enabled, there really is no need for the Photo Stream.


My iPad has only the Photo Stream enabled. My Mac and my iPhone have both iCloud Photo Library and Photo Stream enabled.


If I make a photo on the iPad, it shows in the Photo Stream album. It is visible on my Mac and iPhone in the All Photos album.


I don't need to import it within 30 days or 1000 photos which are the limits for Photo Stream.


In practice, I think you can disable Photo Stream and all photos will sync to all devices in real time.

Apr 21, 2020 2:27 PM in response to LACAllen

Thank you for your reply. I may have not been clear in my original post. Everything you have suggested I have done; did it before the original post. I posted the screenshots from my phone which is one location where my photo stream folder is gone. I am attaching two photos, one is my iPad and the other is my phone. My iPad is brand new 12.9” pro 2020 and my phone is a new pro max. I have iCloud turned on for both, back up turned on for both, I am using the same ID for both, they both have a WiFi connection. I don’t understand why my iPad has a photo stream folder and my phone does not. Thank you for you help.

Apr 21, 2020 3:32 PM in response to LACAllen

Both iPad and phone are running 13.4.1. I think I understand now but please tell me if I am wrong. It seems that all photos are synched when everything is backed up to iCloud. For example, the screenshot from my iPad showing the photo stream folder did not show up on my phone or my MacBook. However, when I did a manual back up to iCloud, the photo showed up on both my phone and MacBook. Is that a correct interpretation of what you were saying? Does this make sense? I apologize for being so dumb.


Thank you for your help

Apr 21, 2020 3:43 PM in response to Noahlta

First, and pardon the picky language, syncing your photos to iCloud is not considered a backup. When syncing, there is no "back up now" option. If you clicked on this, a backup was done, but your photos are not in that backup when iCloud Photo Library is on.


Photo Stream is designed to send photos in real time. It won't go back in time and upload photos. Maybe Photo Stream was not running when you took the screenshot.


Bottom line... all photos on each subscribed device will sync across all devices using iCloud Photo Library alone without the Photo Stream being enabled.


Photo Stream has been replaced functionally by iCloud Photo Library. You don't really need both.

Photo stream on promax

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