HT204486: Use Photos and iCloud Photo Library on multiple Mac computers

Learn about Use Photos and iCloud Photo Library on multiple Mac computers
Wesley Kidd

Q: turn off iCloud photos what is deleted from Library

Hi. I turned on iCloud photos on all my devices. This proceeded to eat up all my space on mac mini to the point where it won't function (yes optimize is on). I would like to turn it off now but my question is which photos are deleted from each computer? All the newly imported photos from other devices PLUS what you originally had on that computer or just the newly imported photos?

 

Also, if you press download originals, does it download the entire iCloud combined library or just the originals from the device you are working on.

 

Thanks for the help

Mac mini (Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Oct 11, 2015 5:03 AM

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Q: turn off iCloud photos what is deleted from Library

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Oct 11, 2015 6:23 AM in response to Wesley Kidd
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 11, 2015 6:23 AM in response to Wesley Kidd

    If you turn off iCloud Photo Library with optimise enabled, none of your photos will be saved to the Mac unless you choose to download the originals, which it sounds as though you may not be able to do because you don't have enough room.

  • by weskidd,

    weskidd weskidd Oct 11, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 11, 2015 6:32 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Thanks for your reply. I am looking to going back to where it was before I combined all the photos from all my devices. If I turn off iCloud now will I remove all the originals that were there in the first place? Meaning I will have NO pictures on my computer, just in iCloud?

     

    My main question is are the multiple Photos libraries that were combined via iCloud sharing forever combined?

     

    Thanks

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Oct 11, 2015 6:46 AM in response to weskidd
    Level 10 (103,375 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 11, 2015 6:46 AM in response to weskidd

    I believe all your photos will be removed. I have to admit to not being 100% sure since it seems you haven't allowed the change to iCloud Photo Library and optimisation to finish, but I'm inclined to suspect that won't make any difference.