HT204570: Get help with your iCloud Photo Library

Learn about Get help with your iCloud Photo Library
Sean C. Carter
Level 1 (104 points)
Photos for Mac

Q: Is there a way to bypass the 30 day wait to wipe iCloud Photo Library?

Long story short, I am trying to completely wipe my iCloud Photo Library (some 100+GB with 36,000 photos) so I can start fresh.  I have the library backed up on my mac in a couple places to be safe until this is all sorted out.  But I have to wait 30 days???  I get that this is so that you don't accidentally lose everything, but I have it safe and sound, and I want to move forward.

 

A little more explanation:

I reinstalled OSX and manually restored my files to avoid bringing a problem back over with a full time machine restore.  When I first opened my Photos Library, it complained that I needed more iCloud Storage in order to fit all the photos.  This didn't make sense to me, all the photos in iCloud are the same exact photos in this library (obviously the Photos app disagrees).  The only way I could see getting past this point without upgrading to 1TB of cloud storage was to delete everything in my iCloud Photo Library, via the Manage button in iCloud under System Preferences.  I did so, and it told me about the 30 day window when it will all be deleted, and to download copies before then if I needed to.

 

Now I was able to launch Photos, and I turned iCloud Photo Library off, then back on again to start over and upload the library fresh.  But it seems I am in limbo until this 30 day window is up.  Photos sat overnight "adding" 36,000 items to my library, and now today it is downloading another 36,000 items?!?  I don't understand what it is doing or if I'm going to end up with a bunch of duplicates.  I have a feeling I will have to trash this library after burning through 100+GB of bandwidth and lots of time, and try again after 30 days is past.  It's insanely frustrating.  I just want a big glowing delete button buried deep within iCloud that I can hit and nuke it all at once.

Posted on May 26, 2016 11:13 AM

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Sean C. Carter

Q: Is there a way to bypass the 30 day wait to wipe iCloud Photo Library?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen May 26, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Sean C. Carter
    Level 5 (4,586 points)
    iCloud
    May 26, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Sean C. Carter

    Are you able to see a RECENTLY DELETED album on iCloud?

     

    If so, you should be able to re-delete (if that's a word) the images before the 30 day sober-second-thought period.

     

    It is possible with a library of your size, that may take a bit longer than instant.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-05-26 at 8.11.51 PM.png

  • by Sean C. Carter,

    Sean C. Carter Sean C. Carter May 26, 2016 5:36 PM in response to LACAllen
    Level 1 (104 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 26, 2016 5:36 PM in response to LACAllen

    Unfortunately there were only a handful from the past few weeks, normal deleted stuff basically.  I permanently deleted those while in there though.  Seems like I might just need to wait this out.

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen May 26, 2016 5:44 PM in response to Sean C. Carter
    Level 5 (4,586 points)
    iCloud
    May 26, 2016 5:44 PM in response to Sean C. Carter

    ahh... OK.. I misread your post, my bad.

     

    I think that action does not dump stuff in to the recently deleted folder.  I would call Apple Support to see if they can intervene.

     

    I think turning off the library generates a ticket to their engineers to delete the library. Maybe that can be escalated?

     

    Otherwise, you could turn it back on, pay for a month's extra storage and start over, but that burns a lot of time and bandwidth.

     

    The other idea is to create a new Apple ID (and I hate myself for suggesting this) just for your photos. This starts you clean and you can create a Family Sharing account with both Apple ID's to share content. That could get you back up and running faster.