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iCloud photos download more than once

Why do some iCloud photos download more than once?

I originally take a photo or a screenshot on my iPhone which automatically goes to the Apple iCloud. It then downloads to my Windows 11 PC.

All of my iCloud photos have downloaded from my Apple iCloud account to my Windows 11 PC.

Periodically, usually daily, I have 1-9 photos download again to my PC. No changes have been made to the iCloud photos or iPhone photos and none of them have have even been viewed on my iPhone or on iCloud.

Why is this happening?

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Oct 28, 2022 8:16 AM

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Posted on Nov 13, 2022 7:35 AM

iCloud for windows does not fully download photos. It only downloads the low resolution versions. If you move or delete the downloaded photo it will download again. The only way to stop this is to double click on the photo. It will then download the full photo image and no longer download the photo additional times. This is the only way I have found to fix the duplicate photo download. iCloud for Windows needs to be fixed.

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Question marked as Best reply

Nov 13, 2022 7:35 AM in response to SehlMan

iCloud for windows does not fully download photos. It only downloads the low resolution versions. If you move or delete the downloaded photo it will download again. The only way to stop this is to double click on the photo. It will then download the full photo image and no longer download the photo additional times. This is the only way I have found to fix the duplicate photo download. iCloud for Windows needs to be fixed.

Oct 30, 2022 5:43 PM in response to SehlMan

Hey there SehlMan,


Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. We're happy to provide some assistance.


Are these duplicate photos also shown on your iPhone or just your PC? On your iPhone, you can find and remove duplicate photos by following the actions here:


Find and delete duplicate photos and videos on iPhone - Apple Support


Keep us posted.


Have a great day!


Oct 31, 2022 4:00 PM in response to jeffd55

Jeffd55


All photos and screenshots were taken with an Apple iPhone, the most recent ones with an iPhone 12 using iOS 16.1.


After taking the photos and screenshots they are uploaded to the Apple iCloud.


From there they download to my Windows 11 PC using iCloud for Windows.


Once downloaded I view them on my PC going to the default download folder.


SehlMan

iCloud photos download more than once

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