Issue replaying iCloud videos

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Level 1

4 points

Issue replaying iCloud videos

on iPhone 16 Pro, the iOS version of IPhoto library has difficulty replaying already stored on my physical device. Even so, when I’m connected to WiFi, the speeds are typically more than sufficient to support audiovisual content 4K UHD with special audio (typically 20 Mbps per device like another connected device such as a iPad Pro, TV or MacBook).

I would toggle on WiFi and Cellular data and checked the Speed test, even when it’s 200+Mbps speed on Visible+ Unlimited and Spectrum up to 1Gbps speeds, why am I experiences so much latency or lag when trying to replay my iPhotos content saved in the cloud?

im trying to delete and remove any extraneous data, but with +2TB of iCloud storage, and merely 128GB on the physical device, why does it matter about the physical storage on the device? It all still connects to the cloud servers whether you decided to download a movie, podcast, audible, or music. It’s quite perplexing to me. If someone could explain a reason other than unauthorized third-party electronic telecommunication interference intentionally throttling my services, I don’t conceivably figure out why what this issue persists?

in the Cloud slow and stops playing video after 1min

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 8, 2025 6:31 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 8, 2025 7:28 AM in response to AndrewChun

Videos don't play "from iCloud." Everything, pictures, videos, files, works locally-- they are downloaded to the device before they can be used.

Perhaps you have misunderstood how what iCloud is for. iCloud Photos is a synchronization service. It keeps the Photos Library on all the connected devices exactly the same. It is not extended storage like an external hard drive can be. If this is what you are expecting, then iCloud may not provide what you need.

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Answer 2

AndrewChun Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 8, 2025 7:43 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

So when you stream Hulu, ESPN, Max, Netflix, YouTube, or any other video streaming service, it’s not physically stored on the device.

So why don’t I encounter these periodic arbitrary pauses with loading scroll symbol just throttling my device, while other apps or video streaming services are loading from where exactly?

here’s another example. When I accidentally cracked the screen on my iPhone 13 Pro Max 512GB from Apple Store on AT&T retail installment I had insurance so they sent a replacement overnight to the front doorstep, albeit subject to a $250 deductible and $17/mo per device at the time, including AppleCare+ $9.99/mo. Anywho, they sent a iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB replacement, so when I called AT&T customer service, I told them like “hey, I purchased a 512GB device but you send a 128GB replacement.. so then a few minutes later, they confirm, and like yeah, next thing I know, I check the settings, and what do you know! Immutable data types like IMEI or Dara Capacity isnt simply limited to physical hardware or device capacity, so there’s really no good explanation as to why they choose to not allow me to freely and seamlessly and in-unobtrusively access my own iCloud data store with 2TB plan, where I’m constantly deleting hundreds of GB of data, and it’s still not adding up.” The cloud servers also have 2TB of backup storage for Google’s Cloud servers and Microsoft’s cloud servers. It’s not physically on a 1TB external hard drive, but somewhere encrypted in the “cloud” however that works. God?

i encounter excessive throttling like AT&T Wireless was penalized by the FTC reaches settlement with AT&T to refund millions of customers who experienced Data Throttling and Data Breaches, but moreover it could very well be an FCC violation as well in terms of net neutrality.

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