Uploading iCloud Photos from desktop

You have created an untitled folder in finder > Macintosh HD > users > your user name ( photos you have stored ) .

Storing massive photos will occupy massive space of hard drive .

Select those photos use command and A keys , then right click over the selected items and share > click on add to photos .

Open photo application from Mac , those photos will be uploaded in the application as well in iCloud

Make sure you have set up photo library Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support and its preferences Change preferences in Photos on Mac - Apple Support

Note : you can't upload the folder in www.icloud.com ( only photos will be uploaded ) Upload and download photos using iCloud.com - Apple Support

See the article Folders that come with your Mac - Apple Support

. There are certain locations where you may not be able to create additional folders.

Note : you should never add folder in pictures folder in finder .

Hi AtxTitan,

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities. We understand you'd like to be able to upload folders of photos to iCloud. If you'd like to keep your own file folder structure you can upload to iCloud Drive instead. This article explains how: Access and manage your files in iCloud Drive - Apple Support.

"Cloud Drive lets you securely access all of your documents from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Windows PC.

When you sign in to iCloud, you have access to iCloud Drive. With iCloud Drive, you can keep files and folders up to date across all of your devices, share files and folders with friends, family, or colleagues, and more.

You can store files* in iCloud Drive as long as they're 50GB or less in size and you don't exceed your iCloud storage limit. If you need more iCloud storage, you can upgrade to iCloud+. With iCloud+, you can also share iCloud storage with your family, without sharing your files. Learn more about prices in your region.

*Avoid storing app folders, libraries, .tmp, .vmdk, .vmware, .vbox, .vm, and .pvm files in iCloud Drive.

Access your files in iCloud Drive

Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. Then you can access your files in iCloud Drive in a number of ways.

On your Mac

You can access iCloud Drive in the Finder on your Mac.

When you add your Desktop and Documents folders to iCloud Drive, you can access all of the files in those folders anywhere you use iCloud. Learn more about adding Desktop and Documents to iCloud Drive. 

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you're on a device with iOS 11 or later, you can access your files from the Files app.

On iCloud.com

From a supported browser, sign in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID.

On your PC

On your PC with Windows 10 or later and iCloud for Windows, you can go to iCloud Drive in File Explorer."

We hope this helps.

Take care.

Photos are uploaded in iCloud , when you set up photo library , never create folders and save photos in it .

The way you are trying to work will corrupt photo application .

For iCloud back ups from Mac archive the data Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

You might have attached that folder with mail application from Mac and sent to iPhone Share files and folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com - Apple Support , but not using photo sharing , you can always take suggestions from apple support senior care advisors .

You should not touch default inbuilt folders or create folders in pictures , and in next column in finder , those folders if created having photos inside it won't sync with iPhone / iPad that are even signed in with same Apple ID and password on the network .

Right click on those untitled folders and delete to trash , restart the Mac and empty the trash .

The only way is set up photo library between devices , all photos in iCloud will sync with connected devices .

Hi AtxTitan,

Have you tried just selecting all the photos from your computer and dragging them to the correct folder in iCloud rather than dragging the folder in its entirety? This should avoid the error you're seeing.

If you're still having an issue you can reach out for additional support here: Get Support

Take care.

Hello AtxTitan, 

Thank you for replying with more details.

To be sure that you can find a solution for your photos library, please contact Apple directly for more help: Get Support

All the best!