iCloud Clean Down - Any tips / hints

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iCloud Clean Down - Any tips / hints

Apple has really lost its way in the last few years. Software is just nuts at times. Which brings me to iCloud.

I want to clear down my iCloud. It's mainly photos taking up space. I want to download them to an external drive and delete them. There is 1500 photos and videos.

Should be an easy task - select all photos (a hidden Command A option - not on right click).

and press download.

Is that possible - no.

It's limited to 1000 photos at a time.

How do you select 1000 photos - practically impossible

(Also a hidden command to unselect photos).

Is there any practical solution to this. Can I select a years photos (besides clicking each image) and downloading?

Is there any practical way to declick 500 photos to keep it to 1000?

I know its all a bit of scam to keep you buying extra storage but its nuts its so user unfriendly.

iMac 27″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Oct 25, 2024 2:19 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 25, 2024 4:45 AM in response to HectorHector1970

I was able to select large numbers of pictures using the shift key on the start and end image. I could download them to the Mac and then onto a back up disk. So I ended up with a number of downloads. Then to delete the images on iCloud - guess what you can only delete 1000 at a time!. Same procedure delete them in block selections using the shift key. The deleting them a second time (because they hold them for 30 days) and eventually you get your iCloud freed up a bit. Deliberately engineering iCloud to make it awkward to remove content or back it up elsewhere is poor form by Apple. It all reminds me of iTunes and what a mess of an implementation it is. Steve Jobs is sorely missed. A 2 year old can use their phone designed back in Steve Jobs time, everything else is a mess.

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iCloud Clean Down - Any tips / hints