Lorraine99
Level 1 (8 points)
Apple Watch

Q: I cannot access all my photos from the cloud on my iPhone 6

I uploaded all my photos to the cloud anticipating I would have all my photos accessible from all my devices.  If I am home, in front of my Mac, all photos appear on my iPhone 6.  Earlier today, away from my home and Mac, I wanted to show someone a special photo and could not access it.  There were lots of blank spaces that contained a little white cloud in the corner but no photo.  I do have iCloud set to use Cellular Data when not connected to Wi-Fi.  What can be the problem?

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.3

Posted on Sep 4, 2016 4:50 PM

by Eric Root,Apple recommended
Eric Root Eric Root
Level 9 (69,536 points)
iTunes
A:

If you remove the photos from your phone, they will be deleted from iCloud and any device/computer syncing iCloud Photos unless you try off syncing before deleting.

 

iCloud is a syncing system, not an external 'hard drive'.

Posted on Sep 5, 2016 12:01 PM

Close
Lorraine99

Q: I cannot access all my photos from the cloud on my iPhone 6

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Ferd II,

    Ferd II Ferd II Sep 4, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Lorraine99
    Level 7 (28,109 points)
    Applications
    Sep 4, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Lorraine99

    Lorraine,

     

    Did you choose to "Optimize Storage" on your iPhone? iCloud Photo Library - Apple Support

     

    If not, cellular download for full versions is in my opinion quite glacial.

    SmallWings.png

  • by Lorraine99,

    Lorraine99 Lorraine99 Sep 4, 2016 5:11 PM in response to Ferd II
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 4, 2016 5:11 PM in response to Ferd II

    Yes I do have "Optimize iPhone Storage" checked.  Is that something I should have?

  • by Ferd II,Helpful

    Ferd II Ferd II Sep 5, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Lorraine99
    Level 7 (28,109 points)
    Applications
    Sep 5, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Lorraine99

    Lorraine99 wrote:

     

    Yes I do have "Optimize iPhone Storage" checked.  Is that something I should have?

    No, that is what I would recommend for saving space on your iPhone.

     

    If you recently activated the ICPL, it may be possible that the photos are still being populated to the iPhone Photo App. FWIW, I have found a WiFi connection to be preferable, if available.

    SmallWings.png

  • by Lorraine99,

    Lorraine99 Lorraine99 Sep 5, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Ferd II
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 5, 2016 10:06 AM in response to Ferd II

    I'd uploaded my photos to the cloud quite some time ago but I recently decided to remove whatever photos were on my phone as I was running out of space.  It is possible that the photos were still being populated and iCloud was updating.  It may have been too soon to try to access.  It had only been an hour or so.

     

    I'm not terribly worried at this point.  I do have all my photos on my computer as well as the cloud so it's not a major issue that one photo was not available.  Thank you for responding.

  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 5, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Lorraine99
    Level 9 (69,536 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 5, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Lorraine99

    If you remove the photos from your phone, they will be deleted from iCloud and any device/computer syncing iCloud Photos unless you try off syncing before deleting.

     

    iCloud is a syncing system, not an external 'hard drive'.

  • by Lorraine99,

    Lorraine99 Lorraine99 Sep 5, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 5, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thank you Eric.  I didn't delete them from my phone.  I realize iCloud is not an external 'hard drive'.  I did sync them first and they are stil available on my computer.  My issue was when I was away from my computer, most of the cloud photos were not available on my iPhone as expected.  I have more than 5,000 photos in the cloud already and they're usually available.  But I may have been too quick to try to access them after this last sync.  Next time I'm out and about, I'll try to access them to see if there is an ongoing issue.  Thanks again.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 5, 2016 1:16 PM in response to Lorraine99
    Level 9 (69,536 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 5, 2016 1:16 PM in response to Lorraine99

    You are welcome.