How do I remove and save pictures and videos from iCloud to free up space?

Question

How do I remove and save pictures and videos from iCloud to free up space?

I have optioned to buy extra space on iCloud but the space filled up much quicker than I anticipated. I would like to remove and save to a real hard drive or SSD at least half the pictures on my iCloud account without "deleting" them forever. IOW, I want to move a portion of the images back to my external drive and then... figure out a way to only selectively upload certain pictures. Again... I do NOT want to simply delete 50, 100, or 1000 images. I want to see them, then selectively transfer them, and make sure they don't get backed up again.

Also, if my iCloud is full... doe that mean anyone sending email to my iCloud email account is going in some junk folder that I can't see? I haven't received an iCloud email in almost two months.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), iMac, MacBookPro, iPad, iPhones

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 11:12 AM

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Answer 1

zinacef

Level 10

88,960 points

Sep 21, 2016 2:13 PM in response to LightningMike

See if this helps -- Archive or make copies of your iCloud data - Apple Support OR

http://www.imore.com/how-backup-your-icloud-photo-library

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,583 points

Sep 21, 2016 4:50 PM in response to LightningMike

Open the Photos application and export to your Desktop pictures/videos you want in iCloud. Select one, then while holding down the shift or command key, select others. Then File/Export. Quit/reopen Photos with the option/alt key held down and create a new system Library. Import the photos/videos and sync with iCloud. Then copy the larger Library to an external drive and delete from the internal if desired.

Article is for iPhoto, but the basics are the same.

iPhoto: Move your iPhoto library to a new location

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