crm20
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: Delete photos off phone but not iCloud

I want to free up storage and delete photos off my iPhone. I want them to stay in my photos in my iCloud. When I go to delete photos off my phone it says "These photos will be deleted from iCloud Photo Library on all your devices." Does this include photos in iCloud?

Posted on Oct 16, 2016 9:14 PM

by gail from maine,Apple recommended
gail from maine gail from maine
Level 7 (27,065 points)
iCloud
A:

That is correct. iCloud Photo Library is not a Storage service, it is a Sharing service. It is intended to provide a single place for all photos to be managed. Any device or computer that is signed in to iCloud Photo Library shares all of the photos in the library and they also affect all of the photos in the library. Any Add, Edit, or Deletion will immediately update the iCloud Photo Library and those changes will be immediately shared with all of the other iCloud Library devcies.

 

If you want to be able to manage photos independently on your device, then you can turn off iCloud Photo Library, and then import new photos directly to your Mac. You can keep the Mac set up to use iCloud Photo Library, and once the photos are imported, the Mac will upload them to the iCloud Photo Library.

 

However, if you are only using this for the Phone and the Mac, then it is a bit pointless, since, as indicated, it is a sharing service. So, if one is turned off, then it is being shared only between iCloud.com and the Mac, for instance.

 

Here are a couple of support articles that may help:

 

iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

 

iCloud Photo Library Help - Apple Support

 

Cheers,

 

GB

Posted on Oct 16, 2016 9:22 PM

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crm20

Q: Delete photos off phone but not iCloud

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  • by gail from maine,Apple recommended

    gail from maine gail from maine Oct 16, 2016 9:22 PM in response to crm20
    Level 7 (27,065 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 16, 2016 9:22 PM in response to crm20

    That is correct. iCloud Photo Library is not a Storage service, it is a Sharing service. It is intended to provide a single place for all photos to be managed. Any device or computer that is signed in to iCloud Photo Library shares all of the photos in the library and they also affect all of the photos in the library. Any Add, Edit, or Deletion will immediately update the iCloud Photo Library and those changes will be immediately shared with all of the other iCloud Library devcies.

     

    If you want to be able to manage photos independently on your device, then you can turn off iCloud Photo Library, and then import new photos directly to your Mac. You can keep the Mac set up to use iCloud Photo Library, and once the photos are imported, the Mac will upload them to the iCloud Photo Library.

     

    However, if you are only using this for the Phone and the Mac, then it is a bit pointless, since, as indicated, it is a sharing service. So, if one is turned off, then it is being shared only between iCloud.com and the Mac, for instance.

     

    Here are a couple of support articles that may help:

     

    iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

     

    iCloud Photo Library Help - Apple Support

     

    Cheers,

     

    GB