HT201302: Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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Liz Entman

Q: How do I delete photos from my iPhone but not iCloud?

I got a new iPhone 6 and set it up using my most recent backup. I am not sure how this happened--because my old iPhone 5 was not configured to do this--but it ended up downloading every photo I've ever taken onto the phone. Even with storage optimized, it eats up almost all my phone's storage.

 

I went on a deleting binge and discovered that I was also deleting photos from my iCloud library. (Fortunately I was able to restore them from the "Recently Deleted" folder.)

 

I want my laptop to sync with iCloud, but not my phone. I assume turning off iCloud Photo Library will stop that from happening, correct? Is there any setting I need to adjust in Photos on my laptop to ensure it doesn't re-download all those photos to my phone when I sync it?

 

Also: Is there an easy way to clear all these photos off my phone besides going moment to moment? I must have hundreds of moments.

Posted on Aug 2, 2016 4:49 PM

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Q: How do I delete photos from my iPhone but not iCloud?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Aug 2, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Liz Entman
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 2, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Liz Entman

    If you enable iCloud Photos the images on your phone will always sync with iCloud and with any other devices that sync to iCloud. You can enable the Optimize function on the phone, which will reduce the memory occupied by the photos, but you cannot delete photos from your phone and keep them in the Photos app on another device. One kludgy alternative is to export the photos from the photos app on your computer to another photo management program, disable iCloud photos (which will remove them from your phone), then sync the ones you want back to the phone using iTunes. Another option is to use a 3rd party cloud storage solution; there are many. upthere.com is an excellent one that stores your images only in their cloud (and also your music, if you wish), and only shows them in the Upthere.com app. Another is Google Photos, which is really pretty amazing, as it organizes your photos in the background, creates panoramas when it can, creates slideshows automatically, and has a host of other features that Apple can't match. There's also dropbox.com, box.com, and shutterfly. And a few that I've forgotten.

  • by Liz Entman,

    Liz Entman Liz Entman Aug 2, 2016 5:28 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 2, 2016 5:28 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    So if I turn iCloud OFF on my phone, but ON on my Mac--that won't solve the problem? What I want to do is what used to happen with my iPhone 5: I'd import any new photos on my phone to Mac Photo and let Mac Photo sync with iCloud.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Aug 2, 2016 5:30 PM in response to Liz Entman
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 2, 2016 5:30 PM in response to Liz Entman

    That will solve the immediate problem. You then have to import photos to Mac Photo using a USB cable, rather than the automatic real time sync that iCloud Photos (or upthere or google photos) does.

  • by Liz Entman,

    Liz Entman Liz Entman Aug 2, 2016 5:38 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 1 (59 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 2, 2016 5:38 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Oh, that's fine, I don't need real-time syncing. I charge/sync my phone with my computer almost every night.

     

    I've turned iCloud off -- but all the photos are still on my phone. is there a better way to clear them off than batch-deleting them moment by moment?