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Can I delete pictures off of my iPhone but they’ll stay in the icloud?

Can I delete pictures off of phone and they’ll stay in icloud?

iPhone 11, iOS 14

Posted on Dec 25, 2020 4:47 PM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

No, not if you are using iCloud Photos. When you use iCloud photos, that doesn’t actually store the photos in iCloud and allow you to delete them from the device. It is a syncing service that’s allowed all of your photos to appear on all of your devices.


If you delete photos on your phone, you also delete them in iCloud.

Posted on Dec 25, 2020 4:56 PM

2 replies
Question marked as Apple recommended

Dec 25, 2020 4:56 PM in response to Saintsviking

No, not if you are using iCloud Photos. When you use iCloud photos, that doesn’t actually store the photos in iCloud and allow you to delete them from the device. It is a syncing service that’s allowed all of your photos to appear on all of your devices.


If you delete photos on your phone, you also delete them in iCloud.

Can I delete pictures off of my iPhone but they’ll stay in the icloud?

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