Delete Photos Just Off iPhone, Not iCloud
Is there any way to delete photos/videos from my iPhone without deleting them from my iCloud? I'm trying to free up device space without losing the pictures/videos on the cloud.
iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.2
Question marked as
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.
78 replies
now wondering what the point of icloud is at all
It is a synchronization service.
thank you. not sure why so many people (myself included!) think of it as backup storage.
I have wondered that myself.
Agreed!
lohmdj1 wrote:
And what if you already have photos on the phone that you want to save, but want to take off the phone to make room for more?
Stop using iPhoto (cloud) Library and use one of the other cloud storage/backup options. (e.g., I use Box.)
Copy your photos to a thumb drive or external HD.
And you're telling me this because...?
If you have submitted 100s of times, then you know Apple will not answer here. having said that, I will suggest some of the iOS 11 changes coming in the fall were as a result of customer feedback.
A filesystem of sorts. Shared iCloud storage.
since years go by and the same dumb bugs are still there.
Perhaps it's time to move on.
No one at Apple can talk to normal people so that they can understand how to use their iPhone and Macbook Pro efficiently. That's sad.
I followed the directions on my cell phone to Optimize photo storage and it does nothing.
The FACT IS, I have so many photos on my iPhone that are already stored on iCloud it's eating up my cell phone space making my iPhone USELESS ... I have to consider buying another phone just so I can use other options ...
But maybe that's the point. They want me to spend money not find ways to make their products work for me.
if i delete photos in icloud ... how can i retore it??
iCloud photos works exactly as Apple describe it.
helpful. thank you
Could you please tell us what it does that isn't like Apple says?
And what if you already have photos on the phone that you want to save, but want to take off the phone to make room for more?
No need to do any of that if you have photo stream enabled.
Yes! Apple, move on, it's been years since this has worked.
Delete Photos Just Off iPhone, Not iCloud