HT204618: Set up and use Back to My Mac

Learn about Set up and use Back to My Mac
viewman
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: How can I tell if a photo is in iCloud or not?

Just activated an iCloud account and not sure how it works. Did not activate all features because I don't want

Apple messing things up in unanticipated ways until I understand what they do with my data. My purpose in using iCloud is to free up storage space on my laptop.

Q1- How can I verify if a particular video or photo is safely on iCloud? My computer shows 37GB in Home>Pictures> Photos Library, but my iCloud account shows only 1.2GB of photo storage. Is one showing uncompressed size and the iCloud showing some super-compressed version? Note: I did check the box for iCloud to synch/backup Photos.

Q2- Does iCloud delete original larger photos to regain storage on my laptop, then replace it with a small version stored on the computer? If I want toward on an image on my computer, does it then access/apply to the large file in iCloud (if that is indeed where it is)

 

Over two decades of using Mac products and always stunned at the constant failure by Apple to provide clear usage instructions for their systems and devices.

 

MacBook Pro retina, 2.6 Ghz IntelCorei7, 16 GB RAM, 500 GB SSD

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), null

Posted on Apr 14, 2016 2:40 PM

Close
viewman

Q: How can I tell if a photo is in iCloud or not?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by FoxFifth,

    FoxFifth FoxFifth Apr 14, 2016 3:19 PM in response to viewman
    Level 7 (25,932 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 14, 2016 3:19 PM in response to viewman

    Your post shows that you are running OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5) but it also mentions "Photos Library" and that requires OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 or later.

     

    If you do have Yosemite 10.10.3 or later and are using the Photos app and have turned on Photos > Preferences > iCloud > iCloud Photo Library, all of your photos should upload to the Photos app at https://www.icloud.com/ although it may take some time depending on your internet upload speed and other factors. That same Preference window will show the status of the upload (in small print just above the Download Originals to This Mac option).

     

    iCloud only stores full size originals (not compressed versions) at https://www.icloud.com/

    It offers the possibility of storing smaller optimized versions on the Mac if space is low and needed for something else. That will happen automatically but only if you have selected "Optimize Mac Storage" in the Preferences window.

     

    Note that iCloud Photo Library is primarily oriented towards syncing photos between devices. It is not a backup -- any photo that you delete on the Mac (accidentally or otherwise) will automatically be deleted on iCloud and on any other device connected to that iCloud Photo Library.

     

    More information: iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support