Q: Are shared photo streams connected to iCloud Photo Library?

Hi kristinah,

The resource below will explain how to save your Photo Stream photos to your computer, and how to archive your photos in iCloud Photo Library should you decide to disable it.  I've included some key information below.  Click on the link for complete details.

Archive or make copies of your iCloud data
 

Photos and videos

You might already have a copy of your library in iCloud Photo Library and the last 30 days of photos in My Photo Stream:

• If you enabled iCloud Photo Library, your photos and videos are automatically uploaded to iCloud at full resolution. To make copies of these photos and videos: 
   
  • In iOS 8 or later, tap Settings > iCloud > Photos. Then select Download and Keep Originals and import the photos to your computer. 

 

• In OS X, My Photo Stream photos are automatically imported to your Photos, iPhoto, or Aperture library, unless My Photo Stream and Automatic Import are turned off in the app's preferences. If you enabled iCloud Photo Library, you can find your photos in the All Photos folder instead of My Photo Stream. 

 

Use these steps to check your settings:

• In Photos, go to Photos > Preferences > iCloud.
• In iPhoto, go to iPhoto > Preferences > iCloud. 
• In Aperture, go to Aperture > Preferences > iCloud.
• In Windows, My Photo Stream photos are automatically imported when My Photo Stream is turned on in iCloud for Windows.

You can also use the steps below to manually copy your photos and videos. Any comments or likes attached to a shared photo aren't saved, and photos and videos saved from shared albums aren't full resolution.

Copy content from My Photo Stream and iCloud Photo Sharing on your iOS device

If you haven’t turned on iCloud Photo Library, use these steps to copy content from My Photo Stream in iOS 8.1 or later:

1. Open Photos, tap Albums, then tap My Photo Stream.
2. Save photos using one of these methods: 
    
   • Tap an image to open it, then tap . To select more images, scroll the images left or right and tap the ones you want to save. Tap Save Image.
    
   • Tap Select, then tap the images you want to save. Tap , then tap Save Image.
3. Import the photos to your computer.

Use these steps to copy content from a shared album in iOS 8 or later:

1. Open Photos, tap Shared > Sharing, then tap the name of the shared album.
2. Save photos using one of these methods: 
    
   • Tap an image to open it, then tap . To select more images, scroll the images left or right and tap the ones you want to save. Tap Save Image.
    
   • Tap Select, then tap the images you want to save. Tap , then tap Save Image.
3. Import the photos to your computer.

Copy content from iCloud Photo Sharing in OS X Mountain Lion or later

Follow these steps to manually import photos and videos in shared streams to your Photos Library: 

1. Open Photos and select the Shared tab.
2. Double-click a shared stream.
3. Right-click (or Control-click) a photo and choose Import.

Follow these steps to manually import photos and videos in shared streams to your iPhoto library: 

1. Open iPhoto and choose Shared > iCloud in the Source list.
2. Select a shared stream under Family and Friends' Streams.
3. You can import all new content or choose which items you want to import:  
    
   • To import all new content, click Add To, then click Import.
    
   • To import specific items, open the shared stream, hold down Command, and select what you want to import. Click Add To, then Click Import.

Take care,