Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How do you select multiple photos in iCloud?

I am trying to select multiple photos in iCloud without having to click on each photo individually. Is there a way to do so?

Icloud.com

Posted on Feb 25, 2015 5:57 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jan 1, 2017 6:46 AM

Agree with the fed-up users on here : Extremely annoying that Apple would change the simple, common, fundamental functionality of being able to Shift-Click to select multiple photos from "All Photos". Especially since it was already there!! It's baffling as to why they would even take this out. Restore this immediately, please.

474 replies

Aug 19, 2017 10:06 PM in response to Tiggertiffany

I think i just found the solution. I downloaded iCloud app for Win and it took me a while to figure out how does it work.

Anyway, all you have to do is run this app then go to the task bar next to clock, right click on its thumbnail and click download. Then you can choose photos by year or simply tick ALL. Photos are downloaded to selected folder. Works like a charm 🙂

Dec 10, 2017 1:40 PM in response to appleSIMPLYcaresTOOlittle

Ok! Bravo! So solve the problem!


I posted a reasonable workaround for this in Oct of 2016. 14 months ago.


#Nobodyreads.


User uploaded file


If you are moaning about bulk deleting photos, you can do the above to make the bulk selection. Then once the "Moment" is selected, click away. The photos stay selected and now you can delete them in one click.


Not all at once, but it is better then nothing. This is only possible in the "Photos" view at the top, and not in the "All Photos" view further down. It's the view that shows the dates for each moment.


User uploaded file

Feb 27, 2018 12:09 AM in response to Tiggertiffany

There might be a way to do this; it's not as simple as hitting the Command button and selecting your photos but it is quite handy. Just 3 simple steps! 🙂


1. In your iCloud Photos, go to Photos (the uppermost folder).

User uploaded file

2. On the right-hand side, click at either the "+" or the Share button next to it. Then, simply click anywhere in the iCloud to close the pop-up message (i.e. Share 24 items to).

User uploaded file

3. Click at the iCloud Download button next to the Trash Bin button on the right-hand side. Done!

User uploaded file


Hope this helps. 🙂

Mar 18, 2018 5:04 AM in response to Tiggertiffany

In iClud Web you can click one by one or select one daily folder. But if you want to save them all, or by years, here is the efficient way...

It took me 2 hours to find the solution!😠 After that it become obvious that Apple support intentionally missing (hiding) this information from all helps and support sites. Helps are always about one direction, that you can upload, you can run out of space, you can pay regularly. No way to get back your (or your daughter's) personal data. Maybe for 30 days streaming, but not all of your saved ones. (This is my personal opinion: Shame on the inventor of this tricky cross selling idea! Unfortunately Jobs has passed away Apple is on its way down.)


But here is the solution:


1. You have to install iCloud for Windows. (Maybe restart your machine to make background services up and running. Without restart it did not work for me.)


2. Open iCloud. Select Download Library... button on bottom left and select ALL or the folders by years.


3. And thats all. Be patient as the synchronization is slow, takes time for large folders. You can find the pictures in your Download folder set (default is my Pictures\iCloud Photos\Downloads)


(4. You can consider to turn of iCloud Photos upload feature.)

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

User uploaded file

Jan 24, 2017 8:22 AM in response to shesdarnsilly

I'm going to loose 4,000 pics in a month because Apple thinks a select all function isn't important. I'm so ****** right now.

Before you risk losing your photos, jump through the hoops and download them in small batches as I pointed out previously. It will take a few hours of clicking, but you will have your photos safe.


See LACAllen's work-around in this discussion: Re: iCloud - Can't select mass photos


You can use the Share menu to select all photos in a moment.

Use the SHARE icon to select the entire moment. then click away to remove the SHARE feature, but the entire moment stays selected

Then use the Download button.

Jan 25, 2017 8:03 PM in response to Tiggertiffany

If you are on a PC, I strongly recommend you follow the instructions on this page:


Set up and use iCloud Photo Library on your Windows PC - Apple Support


It takes a while to get all of the steps done, but it is worth the while!


In the end you have the best of both worlds with all of your photos on your own PC where you can select them and organise them any way you want.

Jan 29, 2017 12:39 PM in response to PetraNova

You cannot delete photos from your iPhone using iCloud Photo Library, and keep those photos in iCloud. iCloud Photo Library is a single source library, so anything you do anywhere will be done everywhere. It is a sharing service intended to share all of your photos with all of your devices.


If you want an archival cloud service to safely store your photos, you need to use something like Dropbox or Flikr. iCloud Photo Library is a syncing/sharing service only. It is not an archival service.


If you have Optimize Photos turned on in iCloud Photo Library on the phone, then iCloud Photo Library will dynamically replace full resolution photos on your phone with thumbnails.


If you want to control the photos that are on your phone, and you want them to be different than the entire set up photos in your iCloud Photo Library, then you need to turn off iCloud Photo Library on your device, and then sync photos to your device from your computer. Or, you can share photos to your iPhone from your iCloud Photo Library by using iCloud Photo Sharing.


But if you want iCloud Photo Library turned on on your iPhone, then it is going to house as many full-resolution photos as it can based on the amount of space available, and then reduce the remaining photos to thumbnails. But they all will be there on the phone. And if you delete them from the phone, you delete them from the Library:


iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support


iCloud Photo Library Help - Apple Support


Cheers,


GB

Feb 7, 2017 7:47 AM in response to ferari

"To select multiple files or folders that are listed together, click the first item you want to select, hold down the Shift key, then click the last item."

Something has changed?

Yes , the last update of the iCloud web interface made it impossible to select multiple photos using the shift key. I hope Apple will fix this soon.

Hold down the command key while clicking each photo individually to select them all.


Or see LACAllen's work-around in this discussion: Re: iCloud - Can't select mass photos


You can use the Share menu to select all photos in a moment.

Use the SHARE icon to select the entire moment. then click away to remove the SHARE feature, but the entire moment stays selected

Then use the Download button.

Feb 8, 2017 7:23 PM in response to niafckM

niafckM wrote:


But in this multi-connected devices system, a device with limited storage becomes full in very short time. Then you need the system to pull every files out easily and clear them all. And iCloud does not offer this function!! It is major malfunction I should say.

Sorry, but that is how it was designed, so if it is working as designed, it is functioning perfectly.


niafckM wrote:


And there is great option to replace images in device with optimized version. Then the originals only place in iCloud. And I cannot get them out !!! The only options left for me then is moving photos one by one at a time-which costs at least few days to do it- and the other is constantly upgrading iCloud storage.

What do you mean, you can't get them out? Are you indicating that you want to download all of the originals from iCloud for some reason? If not, then what is the issue you are describing?


niafckM wrote:


I should say this can be major reason that I change whole system from Mac&iOS to Win&Android. Apple should work on it. They should make system easy and light, intuitive like they always do. iCloud system is a vulgar trick. It's not right, it's not good. It not only wastes users time, but also hinders their system DOF.

OK, so you must have seen the multiple links provided where you can let Apple know what you think: Apple - Feedback. Tell them.


There is no trick here. Just a total misunderstanding of iCloud and how it works. If you don't like it, then use Dropbox or Flikr. The macOS and Mac have zero to do with it. There is no inherent "cloud" service that works the way you want with Windows and Android. You'd be using the same services there as you would here - Dropbox, Flikr, Google Photos, Amazon Cloud. Just use one of those and don't use iCloud if you do not like what it is designed to do. It's not that complicated.


GB

How do you select multiple photos in iCloud?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.