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I want to stop using iCloud to store my original photos, how do I download them back onto my device?

I want to stop using iCloud to store my original photos, how do I download them back onto my device?


When I go to turn off iCloud for photos, it says that the originals for over 600 photos will be deleted as they have not been downloaded to my device. How then do I go about downloading them all to my iPhone?

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Jan 21, 2016 1:18 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 22, 2016 11:56 AM

I have clicked "download and store originals" but it does not actually download them. Every time I go to turn off the iCloud photo sharing it still says "This iPhone was not able to download 593 full-resolution photos and videos. If you continue, the low-resolution versions of these photos and videos will be removed."


How do I go about downloading the 593 original pictures? Simply selecting "Download and Keep Originals" does nothing to those previously stored, and only has an effect on those being stored from here on out.

11 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 22, 2016 11:56 AM in response to FoxFifth

I have clicked "download and store originals" but it does not actually download them. Every time I go to turn off the iCloud photo sharing it still says "This iPhone was not able to download 593 full-resolution photos and videos. If you continue, the low-resolution versions of these photos and videos will be removed."


How do I go about downloading the 593 original pictures? Simply selecting "Download and Keep Originals" does nothing to those previously stored, and only has an effect on those being stored from here on out.

Jan 21, 2016 2:46 PM in response to Clark Michael

See the information below from Get help with your iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

To turn off iCloud Photo Library for a single iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Photos and turn off iCloud Photo Library.

To turn off iCloud Photo Library for a single Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Options next to Photos, then deselect iCloud Photo Library.

If you have Optimize Storage turned on, you might not have all of your original photos and videos on your device. To download the original photos and videos on your iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Photos and select Download and Keep Originals. On your Mac, open Photos, choose Photos > Preferences, then select Download Originals to this Mac. Then you can turn iCloud Photo Library off. You can also select the photos and videos that you want to download from iCloud.com.

Mar 7, 2016 11:16 AM in response to reemfromridgewood

To reemfromridgewood,


Are you sure you have enough iPhone storage to download ALL your photos from iCloud? You may find this article helpful:


Get help with your iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support


especially the last section:


Photos and videos will be stored in your account for 30 days. To download your photos and videos on your iOS device, go to Settings > iCloud > Photos and select Download and Keep Originals. On your Mac, open Photos, choose Photos > Preferences, then select Download Originals to this Mac. You can also select the photos and videos that you want to download from iCloud.com.

I want to stop using iCloud to store my original photos, how do I download them back onto my device?

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