Jill Unwin
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: How do you delete photos from an iPhone but keep them on a mac

I want to delete some photos from my iPhone 6 but keep them on my MacBook - how do I do this?

iPhone 6

Posted on Mar 8, 2016 11:03 AM

by klacklac,Apple recommended
klacklac klacklac
Level 1 (37 points)
A:

Hey Jill,

 

That should be possible as long as you are not using iCloud Photo Library.

 

With iCloud Photo Library, your devices are giving you access to your library which is stored directly in iCloud. As such, when you delete a picture from iCloud Photo Library on any device, it deletes from everywhere.

 

When you turn iCloud Photo Library off, each device is its own independent photos library. You would need to manually import pictures from your phone to your MacBook, then you could delete them from your phone at will.

 

If you would like to continue using iCloud Photo Library, but would also like to save space on your phone, consider turning on Optimize iPhone Storage in the iCloud Photos section of your phone settings!

Posted on Mar 8, 2016 3:30 PM

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Jill Unwin

Q: How do you delete photos from an iPhone but keep them on a mac

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  • Helpful answers

  • by klacklac,Apple recommended

    klacklac klacklac Mar 8, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Jill Unwin
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mar 8, 2016 3:30 PM in response to Jill Unwin

    Hey Jill,

     

    That should be possible as long as you are not using iCloud Photo Library.

     

    With iCloud Photo Library, your devices are giving you access to your library which is stored directly in iCloud. As such, when you delete a picture from iCloud Photo Library on any device, it deletes from everywhere.

     

    When you turn iCloud Photo Library off, each device is its own independent photos library. You would need to manually import pictures from your phone to your MacBook, then you could delete them from your phone at will.

     

    If you would like to continue using iCloud Photo Library, but would also like to save space on your phone, consider turning on Optimize iPhone Storage in the iCloud Photos section of your phone settings!

  • by Jill Unwin,

    Jill Unwin Jill Unwin Mar 8, 2016 3:33 PM in response to klacklac
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Mar 8, 2016 3:33 PM in response to klacklac

    Thank you for your help - I'll try the option of optimising more storage first and if I am still short of space I will follow the other instructions you have given me. 

    Many thanks, Jill

  • by klacklac,

    klacklac klacklac Mar 10, 2016 2:40 PM in response to Jill Unwin
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mar 10, 2016 2:40 PM in response to Jill Unwin

    No problem! It is a powerful tool—I have about 20k photos in iCloud Photo Library and they only take up about 3 GB of space on my iPhone, a huge improvement over the old way of doing things.

     

    Enjoy!

  • by cyranorox,

    cyranorox cyranorox May 25, 2016 1:20 PM in response to klacklac
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 25, 2016 1:20 PM in response to klacklac

    How did you do that? I have about 3k photos jamming my iPhone5. And is there an alternative within the Mac system to iCloud Photo Library? Such as the old Pictures?