HT204570: Get help with your iCloud Photo Library

Learn about Get help with your iCloud Photo Library
eider2
Level 1 (8 points)
iCloud

Q: If you choose to download originals to your device does it involve the full iCloud library or only the items initially taken by that one device?

If you choose to download originals to your device does that mean your full iCloud library or just the photos and pics taken with that device? Eg the pics on your Mac that are also on the iCloud Photo Library, are those also downloads to the device for instance an iPhone?

thanks

iPhone 5s, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 5:05 AM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (105,882 points)
iCloud
A:

Exactly.  You could not even restore this earlier state from the iCloud backup of your iPhone, because the photos in iCloud are not included in the iCloud backup.

 

If you want to use iCloud Photo Library to sync your Mac and your iPhone, but only the photos currently on your iPhone, you could create a new, empty library on your Mac and make that the System Photo Library  and enable it for iCloud. Import only your favorite photos to this library, that you want on your iPhne as well.

See this help page on how to use more than one Photos Library:  https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.2/?lang=en#/pht6d60b524

Posted on Sep 12, 2016 11:02 PM

Close
eider2

Q: If you choose to download originals to your device does it involve the full iCloud library or only the items initially taken by th ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Sep 12, 2016 2:04 PM in response to eider2
    Level 10 (105,882 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 12, 2016 2:04 PM in response to eider2

    The originals from all photos in your current iCloud Photo Library will download to the device, if you do not use "Optimize Storage".  Disable this option only on your iPhone, if you are having enough free storage on the iPhone to accommodate the complete iCloud Photo Library on your device.

  • by eider2,

    eider2 eider2 Sep 12, 2016 2:04 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 12, 2016 2:04 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks Leonie. So in my case I have over 20k pics on my Mac which are not on the iCloud photo library yet. The 7k pics from my iphone are on the iCloud Photo Library and optimize storage is on. So if I was turn on the iCloud Photo Library on my Mac and the turn it off the optimize on my phone, I can never get back "just" the pics originally taken by the i phone? All 27k pic would be downloaded provided I have enough space on my iPhone ( which of course I don't)

     

    Thanks

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Sep 12, 2016 11:02 PM in response to eider2
    Level 10 (105,882 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 12, 2016 11:02 PM in response to eider2

    Exactly.  You could not even restore this earlier state from the iCloud backup of your iPhone, because the photos in iCloud are not included in the iCloud backup.

     

    If you want to use iCloud Photo Library to sync your Mac and your iPhone, but only the photos currently on your iPhone, you could create a new, empty library on your Mac and make that the System Photo Library  and enable it for iCloud. Import only your favorite photos to this library, that you want on your iPhne as well.

    See this help page on how to use more than one Photos Library:  https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.2/?lang=en#/pht6d60b524

  • by eider2,

    eider2 eider2 Sep 12, 2016 11:03 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 12, 2016 11:03 PM in response to léonie

    Thanks again Leonie. What do you mean by the photos in iCloud are not included in the iCloud backup.?

     

    Thanks

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 12, 2016 11:13 PM in response to eider2
    Level 10 (105,882 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 12, 2016 11:13 PM in response to eider2

    What do you mean by the photos in iCloud are not included in the iCloud backup.?

    How are you backing up your iPhone, so you can restore it if need be? With iCloud or with iTunes?

    If you have set your iPhone to regularly backup with iCloud, this backup will include your application data, but not include items already stored in iCloud.  See this support document: iCloud: Backup and restore overview

  • by eider2,

    eider2 eider2 Sep 13, 2016 1:47 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 13, 2016 1:47 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks again I see what you meant.

    I Actually have another question I have not found an answer for: got 539 videos on my iphone ( taken with the iPhone), and they are all in the icloud photo library. However my Mac only shows 270 videos, and there is certainly enough storage space in my Mac. They are not in the hidden folder either. Any idea how this could be?

    thanks