iCloud Photo Library and local iOS storage issues

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Level 1

6 points

iCloud Photo Library and local iOS storage issues

I have iCloud Photo library turned on with the optimize iPhone storage activated. However, I still have over 1GB of space being taken up locally on my iOS. If all of my photos that I take on iOS are automatically sent to iCloud for storage, why is there such a large footprint still on my phone locally? If I try to delete the photos from my iOS device, I am prompted with a message stating that this photo will be removed from all devices and iCloud. Is there a way to have all of your photos sent to iCloud and then removed from your iOS device?

iPhone 6s

Posted on Apr 26, 2016 10:12 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Apr 26, 2016 1:50 PM in response to ryskee

You need to keep them on the device or they will be removed from iCloud. The optimization occurs as required, not all at once.

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Answer 2

gujamin

Level 4

1,099 points

Sep 17, 2016 1:25 PM in response to Eric Root

I think what the user is asking is why the iCloud Photo library, even with Optimized Storage enabled, is still eating up so much space on the device? For example, I have a few devices where the iCloud Photo Library is taking up 14GB of space and the system is choking because there is 0 space available. How can you get the system to purge all the photos already uploaded to iCloud so that there is room on the device?

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Sep 17, 2016 1:57 PM in response to gujamin

iCloud is a syncing system, not an external 'hard drive'. If you delete them on your device, they will delete from iCloud. To increase space available, go Settings/iCloud/Photos and select Optimize iPhone/iPad Storage. That will reduce the space required by about 90% when fully effective.

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