From iCloud to Google Photos and back to iCloud. Help me sort this out, please!

obesechess wrote:

Yes, there might be some stuff that's still in iCloud that I still want access to. I don't recall if the backup folder updates automatically with whatever is synced to iCloud (I know dropbox functions like this) or if I downloaded everything to my computer manually in 2018. I gather from folks' confusion that it may be the latter! :)

What is "backup folder" you keep referencing? Remember, once you store data in iCloud, like your photos, then it's not considered a part of the usual backup because that data (like your photos) are now stored in iCloud. This is what iCloud backs up - What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support.

Now, with that out of the way, if you turn on iCloud and it's enabled on all your devices you are signed in to, that data (like your photos) is synced across all your devices.

Great. And I am assuming that I could just delete the stuff I don't want from iCloud at the same time, and if it is the case that I just downloaded that backup to my hard drive manually in 2018 (rather than it automatically syncing) I don't have to worry about permanently deleting anything, do I have this right?

If you delete data (like your photos), it will be deleted in iCloud and all devices you are signed in to using iCloud.

Okay, now that explains a lot as it was confusing me. Perhaps in future as a suggestion to rename said folder to a different name?

Anyway, yes, as the folder is not connected to iCloud but just a folder on your computer, you can clean up iCloud as wish.

You're most welcome, good luck. If you run into issues, post back.

obesechess wrote:

Hi there!

After a few years in the Android world I'm coming back to Apple with a 12 Pro Max arriving soon and I'm wondering how to get everything synced up. I had a 6S from 2015 to 2018 and have three years of photos in my iCloud backup folder on my computer. iCloud app is saying it's about 7GB of stuff (whoa!), but I don't really need access to those old photos on my phone. Maybe there's some I'd want to move over, but generally speaking I'm fine with not having them on my phone cluttering up the camera roll or iCloud if it has to be all or nothing.

Everything from mid 2018 to now is in Google Photos, and there's a lot of stuff in there that I WOULD like to save (it's been an eventful few years - weddings, a new kitten, a new house, other things I'd like to have on hand!). How do I move all that back over to iCloud?

Basically, I just want to be able to pick and choose what from my currently existing iCloud (saved to my Windows 10 desktop computer) and Google Photos (saved to, well, Google Photos) backups carries over onto the new device. Hopefully that makes sense. Is this possible? If so, how do I do this?

Thanks so much!

Why do you need it moved to icloud if it is already saved and backed up to google photos.

To me that is the most ideal place to keep your photos.

If you back up your device to icloud, then delete a picture of your phone and back up to icloud that picture wouldn't be included.

IF you sync photos to icloud and delete it off your device it deletes it from icloud and vice versa.

obesechess wrote:

Hi there!

After a few years in the Android world I'm coming back to Apple with a 12 Pro Max arriving soon and I'm wondering how to get everything synced up. I had a 6S from 2015 to 2018 and have three years of photos in my iCloud backup folder on my computer. iCloud app is saying it's about 7GB of stuff (whoa!), but I don't really need access to those old photos on my phone. Maybe there's some I'd want to move over, but generally speaking I'm fine with not having them on my phone cluttering up the camera roll or iCloud if it has to be all or nothing.

Move over to where? Do clarify? Move over to the iPhone 12 Pro Max from the computer?

Everything from mid 2018 to now is in Google Photos, and there's a lot of stuff in there that I WOULD like to save (it's been an eventful few years - weddings, a new kitten, a new house, other things I'd like to have on hand!). How do I move all that back over to iCloud?

Login to Google Photos > download all photos to your computer or an external hard drive/device > then login to www.icloud.com > upload the photos from the computer or external hard drive/device to your iCloud.

Basically, I just want to be able to pick and choose what from my currently existing iCloud (saved to my Windows 10 desktop computer) and Google Photos (saved to, well, Google Photos) backups carries over onto the new device. Hopefully that makes sense. Is this possible? If so, how do I do this?

Are the photos stored in iCloud or solely on the computer? Do clarify.