iOS Photos App Extremely Slow Syncing a Single Photo to iCloud

Question

Level 1

7 points

iOS Photos App Extremely Slow Syncing a Single Photo to iCloud

I've been waiting for almost 45minutes for my iPhone 16 Pro Max to sync a *single* photo to iCloud (we pay for the 200GB plan). During this time it has failed at least twice showing the "Optimizing Battery Power" message and pausing syncing. My phone is 100% charged!!! Why is it doing this? Resuming just results in it failing again after 5-10minutes of it barely updating the progress bar in the Photos app.

I rely on being able to access photos from my phone online in a reasonable amount of time. I never had problems with my Pixel syncing. During this last issue, I performed several speed tests from my phone using different services and all of them reported at least 340mbps down / 325mbps up (we're on a 300mbps fiber connection).

I've had this phone 3 months now, and it has had this problem at least ten times when I've needed a photo from my phone. Is there some way to fix this!?

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Posted on May 28, 2025 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 4, 2025 9:36 AM in response to Corgi-Dad

Since syncing uses the battery, and since lots of people are very anxious about battery drain, the iPhone will avoid syncing when not plugged in. And since syncing uses processing power, and people hate slow downs, the iPhone will avoid syncing while you use it. And since syncing requires bandwidth, the iPhone will avoid syncing when the internet connection is weak.

So, if you want faster syncing, then find good wifi, plug the phone in, lock it and leave it alone. All this applies to a lesser extent for the Mac.

My iPhone 16 usually syncs with my Mac in seconds. Occasionally, it takes way longer.

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Answer 2

Dwainman

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2025 1:40 PM in response to Corgi-Dad

I may have found a work around. I could not convince my iPhone 15 to sync 25 photos to iCloud, it said it was, but after several hours and pause/resumes and power/offs, I decided to try and text myself an iCloud link to the photos. This forced an upload to iCloud and the photos immediately (al most) appeared in my photos app. Apple is being stingy with the bandwidth.

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Answer 3

Corgi-Dad Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 4, 2025 2:24 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

I realize this may be what they're hoping to do, but if my phone is at 100% and I repeated have to ask it to Resume Syncing, then there is something else wrong. Plugging it in doesn't help, and I'm not always where I can plug it in.

This is clearly a bug with either the phone or their servers that they need to fix, especially for paying customers. As I mentioned, there were no problems with my WiFi connections during the 45+mins that I tried to get my phone to sync.

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Answer 4

markwmsn

Level 6

16,947 points

Jun 4, 2025 3:55 PM in response to Corgi-Dad

You should be sure to tell actual Apple staff about how you feel, using their formal channel for such matters:

Feedback - Photos - Apple

Alternatively, you could work through their direct Support channels to see if your iPhone 16 Pro Max has developed a problem specific to something about it.

As it happens, my iPhone 16 Pro Max hasn't exhibited the problem to the extent yours has, not that it helps you.

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Answer 5

Corgi-Dad Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 5, 2025 8:45 AM in response to markwmsn

@markwmsn - Yes, I submitted feedback twice already, but it hasn't helped. I was going to try support, but it seems the only way to get support is from a phone call, and I'm not always able to wait around for that...

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Answer 6

Jun 5, 2025 9:10 AM in response to Corgi-Dad

Corgi-Dad wrote: … the only way to get support is from a phone call, and I'm not always able to wait around for that...

Chats can be pretty quick. I just checked, and it said "Wait Time 2 min."

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iOS Photos App *Extremely* Slow Syncing a Single Photo to iCloud

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iOS Photos App Extremely Slow Syncing a Single Photo to iCloud