I have a brand new iMac V. 15.3.1. I loaded it up with back up from my old iMac and my photos don't download from the Cloud. My photos do show on my phone and my laptop but not on this new desktop.
iMac 24″, macOS 15.3
The first things to check are, maybe,
So
#1: with Photos closed, option-click the Photos icon to bring up the Library Chooser. It might look something like this:
As you see, I have several Photos Libraries. If you have more than one library, you can load and check those.
#2: the Favorites Library is my System Library. The System Library is the Library that apps, like Messages, or Screensaver, or Safari, go to when they use a picture or save a picture in Photos. It is the only Library on a Mac that can synchronize with iCloud Photos. The Library Chooser shows which Library is the System Library. If you want to change that, then go to Photos' Settings>General
Here, "Use as Photos System Library" is grayed out, because it already is.
#3 If the Library you're using is the System Library, you can check to see if it's connected to iCloud at Photos' Settings >iCloud
If you have room on your new iMac's drive, the best setting is Download Originals so your pictures can be backed up.
Let us know what you find…
The first things to check are, maybe,
So
#1: with Photos closed, option-click the Photos icon to bring up the Library Chooser. It might look something like this:
As you see, I have several Photos Libraries. If you have more than one library, you can load and check those.
#2: the Favorites Library is my System Library. The System Library is the Library that apps, like Messages, or Screensaver, or Safari, go to when they use a picture or save a picture in Photos. It is the only Library on a Mac that can synchronize with iCloud Photos. The Library Chooser shows which Library is the System Library. If you want to change that, then go to Photos' Settings>General
Here, "Use as Photos System Library" is grayed out, because it already is.
#3 If the Library you're using is the System Library, you can check to see if it's connected to iCloud at Photos' Settings >iCloud
If you have room on your new iMac's drive, the best setting is Download Originals so your pictures can be backed up.
Let us know what you find…
Mac OS 15.3.1 Photos not downloading from cloud?
