User profile for user: zim_the_invader
zim_the_invader Author
User level: Level 1
22 points

Why is iCloud photos not syncing on my new MacBook?

My 2-month old M4 MacBook running the latest version of Sequoia has stopped syncing up to iCloud. It is able to download images from iCloud that I uploaded with my iPhone and iPad, but when I add (or delete) an image on the Photos app on my MacBook it does not upload the changes to iCloud.

I have tried going into preferences and turning off iCloud Photos and turning it back on.

I have also sign out of my Apple account entirely, restarted and then signed back in. It still refuses to sync up.

How can this be resolved?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Feb 22, 2025 2:55 PM

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User profile for user: Richard.Taylor
Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7
21,350 points

Posted on Feb 23, 2025 10:31 AM

That's troubling. I just tried adding a picture to Photos on my Mac, and it showed up on my iPad in less than one minute. I was impressed!


Is your Photos Library located in your Pictures folder?

On your Mac and at iCloud, is more than 10% of your storage free?


I think that I would try these steps to narrow things down:

  • Restart the computer (of course, you've done this)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.


The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.


Let us know what happens…

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Richard.Taylor
Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7
21,350 points

Feb 23, 2025 10:31 AM in response to zim_the_invader

That's troubling. I just tried adding a picture to Photos on my Mac, and it showed up on my iPad in less than one minute. I was impressed!


Is your Photos Library located in your Pictures folder?

On your Mac and at iCloud, is more than 10% of your storage free?


I think that I would try these steps to narrow things down:

  • Restart the computer (of course, you've done this)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.


The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.


Let us know what happens…

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Why is iCloud photos not syncing on my new MacBook?

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