I have started using iCloud, but don't understand how syncing works. for example, can I delete photos from iPhone without losing them from my MacAir?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: deleting photos from one device only.
iPhone 13 mini, iOS 18
No.
If multiple devices synchronize their Photos databases with iCloud, by doing so, they indirectly synchronize their Photos libraries with each other. Add a photo and you will be adding it everywhere. Delete a photo, and you will delete it everywhere.
iCloud always keeps full-size copies of your photos and videos. You can tell a device to "optimize" storage – in which case you are giving it permission to keep reduced-quality, space-saving copies. But that device will still attempt to keep copies – even if only space-saving ones – of every photo.
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That said …
On a Mac, it is possible to have multiple Photos libraries. In that case, you could have a "system" Photos library, connected to iCloud Photos, and one or more local Photos libraries. The "system" Photos library would operate according to the synchronization rules outlined above, but you could have photos in the secondary, local Photos libraries that would appear only on your Mac – not on your iPhone.
Create additional photo libraries in Photos on Mac - Apple Support
Unfortunately, you can only work with one Photos library at a time. If you would like to move some photos out of your "system" Photos library, and into an additional library (so they are still on your Mac but no longer appear on your iPhone), you can't open windows onto both libraries and drag-and-drop, to copy photos complete with both original and edited versions (and the ability to Revert to originals).
You have to do something like
This is clunky and Apple really should do better.
No.
If multiple devices synchronize their Photos databases with iCloud, by doing so, they indirectly synchronize their Photos libraries with each other. Add a photo and you will be adding it everywhere. Delete a photo, and you will delete it everywhere.
iCloud always keeps full-size copies of your photos and videos. You can tell a device to "optimize" storage – in which case you are giving it permission to keep reduced-quality, space-saving copies. But that device will still attempt to keep copies – even if only space-saving ones – of every photo.
----------
That said …
On a Mac, it is possible to have multiple Photos libraries. In that case, you could have a "system" Photos library, connected to iCloud Photos, and one or more local Photos libraries. The "system" Photos library would operate according to the synchronization rules outlined above, but you could have photos in the secondary, local Photos libraries that would appear only on your Mac – not on your iPhone.
Create additional photo libraries in Photos on Mac - Apple Support
Unfortunately, you can only work with one Photos library at a time. If you would like to move some photos out of your "system" Photos library, and into an additional library (so they are still on your Mac but no longer appear on your iPhone), you can't open windows onto both libraries and drag-and-drop, to copy photos complete with both original and edited versions (and the ability to Revert to originals).
You have to do something like
This is clunky and Apple really should do better.
In short: The main purpose of iCloud Photos is to keep your photo library automatically identical on all your devices. Use iCloud Photos only, if you want to have identical photo libraries on all your devices . The device with the smallest storage will be the bottle neck for thesis of your iCloud Photos Library. let your iCloud Photos Library not grow larger then the storage of your smallest device permits, after you enable "Optimize Storage" for iCloud on that device, as recommended by Servant for Cats. See: Three Good Reasons for Using iCloud Photos Library and when not to use it - Apple Community
I support the suggestion to keep the majority of your photos and videos in additional photos libraries.
I am archiving my photos in a collection of small libraries, kept on external drives. And only my favorite photos and the most recent photos I am still working on are in my system Photos Library and in iCloud Photos on all my devices. If you want to archive your Photos on external drives don't forget that you need a backup of the archive. Buy the external drives in pairs, so you can use cloning software to make automatically backups of them.
And prepare the drives exactly as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support
How can I delete photos from iPhone without losing them on MacBook Air?
