Ryan Patton
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: How do I delete photos from my iPhone without deleting them from iCloud Photo Library?

My iPhone is full and I'd wanted to delete some photo to free up some spaceso I backed them up to iCloud and I started to delete photos. ***? They're disappearing from iCloud! Now they're just gone. This is crazy! Image capture can import them to wherever, but the "delete after import" feature seems to have disappeared. I'm sure this question has been beat to death, but how does one delete photos from their phone without deleting them from their iCloud photo library?!!

So frustrating.

Does anyone know of a solution to this?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 12:06 PM

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Ryan Patton

Q: How do I delete photos from my iPhone without deleting them from iCloud Photo Library?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by javaliga,

    javaliga javaliga Jun 3, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Ryan Patton
    Level 4 (3,562 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 3, 2016 12:31 PM in response to Ryan Patton

    iCloud is a syncing system, not simply external storage.  Once you turn on Photo Library anything you do with a photo gets done on ALL of your devices (including deleting them).  See the last section of this article on how to recover photos you inadvertently deleted:

     

    iCloud: Use iCloud Photo Library on your iOS device

     

    It is also explained here:

     

    Get help with your iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

     

    How do I delete photos and videos from a device using iCloud Photo Library?

    If you want to remove photos and videos from all your iOS devices, Mac, and iCloud.com, you can delete them in the Photos app.

    When you delete a photo or video from your Photos app, it will also delete from your iCloud Photo Library and iCloud storage. You can recover your photos and videos from the Recently Deleted album for 30 days.

  • by Ryan Patton,

    Ryan Patton Ryan Patton Jun 3, 2016 1:01 PM in response to javaliga
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 3, 2016 1:01 PM in response to javaliga

    Ok. Thanks. I think I'd like to NOT sync my photos with iCloud.

    Sounds like Dropbox or Google Drive is the way to go until this is fixed.

    It's really not important that they can be seen on all my devices.

    I can transfer stuff manually pretty quick with a ss external drive if I need to sync devices.

    What is important is that I have free space on my phone.

    If I turn off  iCloud Photo Library on my phone and my mac can I download everything to my mac?

  • by javaliga,Helpful

    javaliga javaliga Jun 3, 2016 1:09 PM in response to Ryan Patton
    Level 4 (3,562 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 3, 2016 1:09 PM in response to Ryan Patton

    You should be able to download everything to your mac if you turn off  iCloud Photo Library on your phone and your mac.