HT204264: iCloud Photo Library

Learn about iCloud Photo Library
daffy135
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: will someone from apple please explain why it takes days to place all the photos from my Mac onto iCloud

Will someone from Apple please explain WHY it is taking for ever to download my photos to iCloud Photo Library

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 7, 2015 11:20 AM

by ChrisJ4203,Solvedanswer
ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203
Level 9 (59,914 points)
iPhone
A:

This is a user to user support forum. You will not get someone from Apple to explain anything to you here. If you wish to speak to Apple, use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page.

Posted on May 7, 2015 11:22 AM

Close
daffy135

Q: will someone from apple please explain why it takes days to place all the photos from my Mac onto iCloud

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by ChrisJ4203,Solvedanswer

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 May 7, 2015 11:22 AM in response to daffy135
    Level 9 (59,914 points)
    iPhone
    May 7, 2015 11:22 AM in response to daffy135

    This is a user to user support forum. You will not get someone from Apple to explain anything to you here. If you wish to speak to Apple, use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page.

  • by daffy135,

    daffy135 daffy135 May 7, 2015 11:24 AM in response to ChrisJ4203
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 7, 2015 11:24 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

    Thanks Chris

  • by ChrisJ4203,

    ChrisJ4203 ChrisJ4203 May 7, 2015 11:29 AM in response to daffy135
    Level 9 (59,914 points)
    iPhone
    May 7, 2015 11:29 AM in response to daffy135

    You're welcome.

  • by Michael C. Reilly,Helpful

    Michael C. Reilly Michael C. Reilly May 8, 2015 12:20 AM in response to daffy135
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 8, 2015 12:20 AM in response to daffy135

    The reason is that photos are fairly large. Those off my phone are 1.4MB (megabytes), those off my camera can be 3-4MB.


    Most internet providers give us connections with fast download speeds but slow upload speeds. My connection is 10Mb/s (megabits per second, 8 bits in a byte) down, 1Mb/s up.


    So assuming an ideal connection between my computer and the cloud, I can upload 1GB every 130 minutes. My library is currently 74GB, so that would translate to 6.5 days.

     

    My connection is business service which means they guarantee those speeds. Consumer connections are often advertised with higher numbers, but those are "peak" meaning that you're not guaranteed those speeds, and typically share a line with many people in your neighborhood so your speeds will vary depending on how much your neighbors are using it. You can use speedtest.net to find out what speeds you are actually able to achieve.