I'm trying to clear up some storage space on my phone by transferring photos to iCloud. However, I'd like to keep a certain few photos on my phone as well as having a full copy of all photos in iCloud. When syncing, the only two options are to remove all from my iPhone or keep them. How can I select only the images I'd like to keep and delete the rest off of my iPhone?
iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.2
It all depends on how big the file size is , so there is no way to estimate the number.
If necessary, contact iTunes Support. Scroll to the bottom of the page in the 2nd link.
You can't.
With iCloud Photo Library enabled, you cannot delete a photo on one device (or at iCloud.com) without deleting it from every device that uses iCloud photo library (and iCloud.com). In order to save space on your mobile devices (and indeed your Mac if you wish to do so) turn on optimisation for photos on these devices (settings > photos & camera > optimise storage on your mobile device and Photo preferences > optimise storage on your Mac)
Optimisation is dynamic, it reduces the resolution of your photos as and when needed, so you may not notice it occurring at first. However when it is needed, it is very effective and users have reported libraries being optimised to much less than 10% of their original size in some cases. My own library is about 9% of its original size on my phone.
In most cases optimising your photos should be enough to elevate space related issues on your device. If however you have an exceptionally large library you may need to turn off iCloud photo library on your mobile device and use photo stream instead. You can then use a computer to handle photo stream photos and have them automatically imported into you iCloud photo library.
Hi, just hoping you can provide some clarification to your statement "use a computer to handle photo stream photos and have them automatically imported into you iCloud photo library." I would like for iCloud to backup all new photos, and that's it. Current day onward. Is that possible?
Not if there are other photos on the device. It is an all or nothing sync.
This is helpful information. Let’s say I have a new iPhone with 64 gigs. If I have “optimize” for icloud turned on can you give me an estimate of how many still photos I can store on my phone?
How can I sync only certain photos from iCloud to my iPhone?
