iCloud photos not appearing on new iPhone

Question

Level 1

6 points

iCloud photos not appearing on new iPhone

My iPhone 5 has water damage so swapped to old iPhone 4s. Now all of my photos from my iPhone 5 have disappeared despite logging into iCloud.

Photos were backed up using iCloud on iPhone5 - the last back up was done the day before it got water damaged.

When I log into iCloud website on my laptop, only the photos from the iPhone4 are showing. Where have all my photos disappeared to? I have plenty of storage space as upgraded my plan.

Also, iCloud photos are not appearing on laptop despite having iCloud app on laptop and photos option turned on.

Posted on Sep 1, 2016 7:04 AM

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Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Sep 1, 2016 7:51 AM in response to katec1602

Hi

There is a difference between an iCloud backup and using iCloud Photo Library.

If you were not previously using iCloud Photo Library on your iPhone 5, then your Camera Roll was included as part of your iCloud backup (photos that form part of a backup cannot be viewed separately via the iCloud website).

To restore content and settings to your iPhone 4s, restore from that iCloud backup:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

More information:

About backups for iOS devices - Apple Support

iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

Get help with your iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 1, 2016 8:34 AM in response to katec1602

I Don't use iCloud Photo library myself, but if you have it turned on in the Settings on all devices, the photos should download to those devices as long as the photos were not deleted from iCloud on any of the devices that are signed into iCloud.

iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

I don't see how restoring the phone would recover the photos anyway. Perhaps Jonathan UK can offer some more insight if he uses iCloud Photo Library.

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Answer 3

katec1602 Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 1, 2016 7:57 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Thanks, I was using the iCloud photo library on my old iPhone 5. When I tried to restore my settings/apps/photos etc using iCloud on the iPhone 4s it said there was no iCloud back up available which is impossible. When I log into iCloud on my laptop app it shows the back up was done the day before the phone was dropped in water.

I've since updated the apple software - when I tried to sync my iPhone 4 is was running version 7 - could this be why it hasn't backed up?

Also, do you have any idea as to why the photos on my iPhone aren't downloading to my laptop? I have all the options checked under the 'Photos' section on the iCloud app on my pc. I have read that since version 3.0 it has not been working correctly. I have been manually dragging and dropping when my iPhone is plugged in.

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Answer 4

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Sep 1, 2016 8:05 AM in response to katec1602

iCloud Photo Library is not available in iOS 7. The phone needs to be running iOS 8.3 at minimum. You can upgrade the phone to the latest version now which is 9.3.5 as long as the phone is the 4s.

When you use iCloud photo Library, the photos are NOT stored in the backup, since they are being stored in iCloud itself.

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Answer 5

katec1602 Author

Level 1

6 points

Sep 1, 2016 8:23 AM in response to Demo

Thanks. I've since updated the software.

Ok, I understand re the back up but why can I no longer see the photos on the iCloud when I open it using internet explorer? I'm baffled. The only photos I can see when I log into iCloud online are the ones from my iPhone 4s.

Is there any way I can get these photos back on my 4s without restoring the phone?

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