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If I delete my photos from iCloud do they stay on my iPhone and iPad ?

If I select “disable and delete” my photos from my iCloud on my iPhone - which I would like to do - will they stay on my iPhone ? I don’t need to have them in iCloud as they are mainly screenshots that have accumulated over time - I can free up 2.9GB of space.


Please could you advise ?


Thanks Dean

iPhone 6s

Posted on Oct 23, 2022 7:02 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 23, 2022 9:18 PM

Hi Dean,


Re: will they stay on my iPhone ?

No.


Seems iCloud is mainly for sync of data across devices

ie .... delete from iCloud or any one device and that syncs across to delete the same from all in sync.


Also: If your iPhone is on Low Power Mode, you may only have low-resolution photos on it.

So you would need to download your original high resolution images from iCloud.

__________________________________________________________________________-


To safely save everything currently in iCloud photos,

or to keep copies in case you find you do need any of the pics:


How to: Download iCloud photos and videos – Apple Support

or

How to: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

_________________________________________________________________________


If you want to, and if you are sure you have downloaded / saved everything you wish to keep safe

you can turn off sync of Photos to iCloud.


Eg: On iPhone or iPad:

Go to Settings -> tap your Profile -> tap iCloud -> scroll to Photos -> turn it Off.


More info: Get help with iCloud Photos – Apple Support


All the best :-)

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 23, 2022 9:18 PM in response to deanoxx

Hi Dean,


Re: will they stay on my iPhone ?

No.


Seems iCloud is mainly for sync of data across devices

ie .... delete from iCloud or any one device and that syncs across to delete the same from all in sync.


Also: If your iPhone is on Low Power Mode, you may only have low-resolution photos on it.

So you would need to download your original high resolution images from iCloud.

__________________________________________________________________________-


To safely save everything currently in iCloud photos,

or to keep copies in case you find you do need any of the pics:


How to: Download iCloud photos and videos – Apple Support

or

How to: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

_________________________________________________________________________


If you want to, and if you are sure you have downloaded / saved everything you wish to keep safe

you can turn off sync of Photos to iCloud.


Eg: On iPhone or iPad:

Go to Settings -> tap your Profile -> tap iCloud -> scroll to Photos -> turn it Off.


More info: Get help with iCloud Photos – Apple Support


All the best :-)

If I delete my photos from iCloud do they stay on my iPhone and iPad ?

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