How many photos (in numbers) can I store and sync between my iPhone and iCloud account?
Note: We can ascertain the number based on the image file size and available storage; however, I want to know the maximum number of photos that Apple ecosystem can sync for an individual account - like 10k, 20k, 50k or even more?
Salutations JagdeepSekhon,
Thank you for taking the time to visit the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you have an inquiry regarding the amount of photos that can be stored and synced between iPhone and iCloud. We will be honored to assist you!
The number of photos that can be stored in iCloud and an iOS device depends on how much iCloud storage you have and how much device storage is available on the iPhone. It is also based on how you use your iOS device and iCloud storage. (e.g. A film maker would use more storage than a photographer who uses their device solely for photos. e.g. An avid movie fan would use more space than an avid music fan.) The number of photos, videos, etc. that can be synced and stored will vary on each individuals usage. If you reach or exceed your iCloud storage limit, just make space available. If you reach the storage limit on your iPhone, just make more space available by removing and/or transferring content to a computer to free up space.
Check out these articles below for more information.
What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage?
How iOS and macOS report storage capacity
Manage your photo and video storage
Here is additional information for you.
About iCloud Photos and My Photo Stream
Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all of your devices
Have a wonderful day!
Hello Chuck_3rd, thank you for your answer.
However, if you see my notes, I wanted to know the maximum number of photos. I can do the image size vs storage capacity maths; this will give me a number. But what could be the maximum value of this number?
Thanks again.
As far as I know Apple has never published limits. It’s based simply on file size and how much storage you have available. You can keep adding photos until you run out of storage space, but there is no hard coded limit on numbers of actual files.
Since iCloud is cloud storage, there is no reason to ever impose an actual number limit on any type of files in that storage. The limits are based solely on file size and available storage quota.
I beleive iPhone can readily sync that many files, but your internet connection would then be the limiting factor, not the device nor the operating system. If the internet connection is stable (regardless of speed), the power to the device stable (regardless of time required) than such a sync should work fine.
When moving many small files totalling a large amount of storage, or when moving a few very large files to cloud storage, the ultimate defining factor is the internet connection.
Thank you, Michael; yes, you are right.
However, considering an average of 2-megabytes photo size on a 2 TB cloud space results in around a million photos. So, will iPhone sync up that big number?
Number of photos in Apple account?
