Remove iCloud photos from old phone on new camera roll, whilst still uploading new images to iCloud.

I just got a new phone, and I want iCloud to upload all images and videos made on the new phone but I do not want images and videos from the old phone in my new phone's camera roll, or indeed, in any other albums on that new phone. Importantly, I do still want my images from older phones backed up in my recently purchased 2TB of iCloud storage.


I understand I can remove these old images by switching off iCloud but I still want to use iCloud backup for my new images/videos. How do I continue uploading new images without the old iCloud images from previous phones in my new camera roll? I keep feeling like this, for some ridiculous reason, is impossible.


Alternatively, how can I move these iCloud images (the one's not stored on the phone but loaded when clicked) into another album on my new phone which is out of the way and not at all part of the camera roll of the new phone.


Thanks.

iPhone 13 Pro

Posted on Mar 6, 2022 2:28 AM

Reply
3 replies

Mar 7, 2022 7:06 AM in response to neville163

Hi neville163,


Thank you for posting in Apple Support Communities! From our understanding, you would like to use iCloud Photos on your new device but do not want the photos that are already syncing to iCloud to sync to your new iPhone, is that right? It is not possible to use iCloud Photos on the same account and not sync the old photos to your new device.


Check out: Set up and use iCloud Photos.


You can submit feedback regarding this here: Product feedback


Have a good one!

Mar 8, 2022 6:14 AM in response to neville163

neville163,


iCloud Photos is designed to a be a mirror of the devices using the feature. To accomplish what you're looking for, we'd recommend disabling iCloud Photos on the old device: Get help with iCloud Photos


"On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos, then turn off iCloud Photos.

If you have Optimize Storage turned on, you might not have all of your original photos and videos on your device. To download the original photos and videos on your iOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and select Download and Keep Originals.

Before you turn off iCloud Photos, you might want to make a copy of your photos and videos. Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud"


Once the feature is disabled, photos stored on the old device would be included in your iCloud backups. So you'll want to ensure this is enabled.

What does iCloud back up?

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iCloud


Kind regards.

Mar 8, 2022 2:43 AM in response to Trish313

Yes, your assessment of my question is correct. Why is it that it is not possible? Surely, in 2022, with some users having used iPhones since iClouds invention who must have thousands of images and videos, it must be possible. 2Tb of iCloud storage is not cheap - one would think Apple would be a little more sophisticated. We know Apple likes to paternalise our encounters with tech but please mom and dad, just give us a toggle which says “show previous camera roll”. Again, if I am paying for iCloud+ why is this impossible?

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Remove iCloud photos from old phone on new camera roll, whilst still uploading new images to iCloud.

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