Fotos changes to "optimize storage" on its own

Hi, I have a Mac Mini 2023 - M2 Pro, running on Sonoma 14.3 and recently my selection for "Download Originals to this Mac" changed to "Optimize Mac Storage" without me doing anything. (nobody else has access to the device)

I don't know what triggered it. I added a new iPhone to my apple account and I did the last minor upgrade to Sonoma 14.3.

On iPhone/iPad I have set this to "Optimize Storage" deliberately, but on my mac it's crucial (for backup purposes) that my whole photo/video library is locally on disk.

Just posting this, because I'm curios if it happened to someone else or if someone knows more.

Mac mini (M2 Pro, 2023)

Posted on Jan 28, 2024 4:48 AM

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,837 points

Posted on Jan 28, 2024 4:57 AM

I am seeing this occasionally after installing a system upgrade. Some settings may be reset to the default, when we install a new system version. "Optimize Mac storage" is the default for iCloud Photos, unfortunately.

Or could it be, that you are having more photos iCloud than will fit onto your Mac?

View in context

Fotos changes to "optimize storage" on its own

Similar questions