How can I delete photos from my Mac, but not from iCloud?

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How can I delete photos from my Mac, but not from iCloud?

I don't need my photos on my computer at all. It's currently taking up more than 1/2 the storage, and now I can't download anything else b/c my storage is full. I've tried to optimize storage, create a new library and re-sync to confirm the photos are optimized, but with over 15k photos, even the smaller files are too much. I pay for the iCloud backup, it seems unfair to lock me in to filling up my hard drive just to have the photos stored in iCloud. It seems very counter intuitive. I simply need to remove the photos from the MacBook, and keep them in iCloud. Help!! It shouldn't be this difficult.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Nov 16, 2021 1:04 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 16, 2021 1:22 PM in response to tas45732

If you want to delete from your mac: (Please be certain everything is stored elsewhere first - there will be no going back without backup)

1 - In photos preferences icloud tab, uncheck iCloud photos. Restart your mac. Make sure it is still unchecked.

Now anything you do in photos will not replicate to iCloud, delete to your hearts content. However the easy way to delete all photos is simply to delete the library out of the pictures folder. Drag it to trash, emtpy trash - poof: it is gone.

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Answer 2

Nov 16, 2021 1:08 PM in response to tas45732

Hi

iCloud is not a backup service, it is a sync service intended to keep all your devices synced together.

If you want purely an online copy of your images, you need a different system. I believe Google photos will work in that way - but am not personally familiar with it.

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Answer 3

tas45732 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 16, 2021 1:14 PM in response to TonyCollinet

I just want to delete from my Mac, and not the phone. I do backup in Google Photos as well. I like to have access to all my photos on my phone, don't need them on the computer at all.

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How can I delete photos from my Mac, but not from iCloud?

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