Turning on iCloud sync removed all my Live Photos

I used my iPhone 7 for about 5 months without synchronization with iCloud. I turned on sync and all my Live Photos disappeared. They were removed and I can't even find them in trash. I don't know what to do. I tried to turn off sync but photos are gone. How can this be even possible? It's my worst experience with phones!!!

Posted on Apr 23, 2017 2:28 PM

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26 replies

Aug 5, 2017 4:54 AM in response to skEzio

Here's one more user having this exact same issue. Such a mess, most of my work related photos are missing.

I have tried to re-login to iCloud, restart the phone, sync with iTunes - all of them several times. Only conclusion seems to be that users need to avoid iCloud service at first place.


Will for sure be using Google Photos instead. If I would only knew this before yesterday...

Aug 13, 2017 10:40 AM in response to skEzio

Same thing happened to me. In addition to finding out that the upload speed is horrible, I have now lost around 2000 Live Photos from my phone! Apparently permanently, as they are nowhere to be found.


This should be as the pinned warning on /r/apple. People need to use non-Apple services to backup their Apple products in order to be safe!


Shame on you, Apple, for knowing about these problems for months and not doing anything about them!!!

Aug 16, 2017 4:06 PM in response to skEzio

Same here. iCloud deleted all my live photos. Of course, Apple denies responsibility. I have lost more than 4000 photos. A whole year of invaluable memories gone. I trusted iCloud for backing them up and they got deleted. I will never trust Apple again.


I called Apple support and they told me to try recovering the deleted photos using a third party data recovery service, which I have done with no success.


I can't believe Apple is aware about this issue since several months ago and they do nothing about it, not even displaying a warning when enabling iCloud!


Did anybody find any solution?

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Turning on iCloud sync removed all my Live Photos

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