icloud photos application won't open

It is not the age of the Mac. I am getting this warning also on my MacBook Pros (mid 2015), running High Sierra. But only, if I try to access my iCloud Photo Library from a user account, where I am not signed into iCloud Photos Library from the system preferences.

From my main account I can open Photos at www.icloud.com without any problem.

You wrote - My icloud storage is almost full, so I am trying to download my photos to my iMac (which is too old to automatically connect to icloud). When I go to the icloud web application it will not open Photos.

See this article iCloud: Delete photos and videos to save storage

iCloud: Access your photos and videos on iCloud.com

I first get a message saying, "Network unavailable or slow. - read this article How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity - Apple Support

If you are viewing this screen shot -

It happens sometimes when there is a glitch on the service provider network , open system preferences and click on network > advanced > TCP/IP click on renew DHCP see this article Internet connection does not work with an IP address space of 169.254.xxx.xxx from ISP, router, or manual configuration …

A question the issue you are facing is it permanent pop up or occurs sometimes for a very short while .

Also incorrect dns server settings , some proxies , vpn services are set up could cause this issue .

You must also create a new user account and just test , is that problem occurring in this account see this article How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

In the last don't ever use any anti virus , any type of cleaners , softwares , not a single third party applications in your Mac .

I am seeing this error message, whenever I am using an user account, where I am not signed into iCloud Photo Library in System Preferences > iCloud with my AppleID.

In that case the Photos.app will give this error message.

It may be related to this warning in iCloud: Use iCloud.com

If you have web-only access to iCloud.com, you only see Contacts, iCloud Drive, Notes, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Settings, and Launchpad. To see and use other iCloud features, set up iCloud on your iOS device or Mac.

It just stinks not being able to download any of my photos from the cloud to my computer!

It makes no sense at all, that we cannot download from www.icloud.com, if we cannot sign into iCloud Photo Library on the device in the preferences. There would be no need to use www.icloud.com, if we can use the Photos.app on the device.

So Apple, hello are you listening? How many people in the world have this issue? I feel like I am being painted into a corner by you taking away the possibility of being able to use a service that I pay for (extra space in iCloud). It seems you are trying to get me to upgrade to the latest OS, but in order to do that I have to buy a new iMac bcecause a lot of my (very expensive) installed software will not function and I'll also have to invest more in repurchasing/upgrading those.

I refuse to spend upwards of £5000 just to be able to use iCloud!!!

I cannot cancel my extra storage space until I can download all photos and videos but hey you won't let me.

When I find a way, I shall remove iCloud and related services, buy a portable external drive.

No Apple is not listening - apple is not here - this, as you know, because your read and agreed to the TOU when you signed up is strictly a user to user support forum and Apple is not here and does not act on things here - and also as you know from the TOU RANTS are not appropriate here and are waste or your and our time

LN

Storage upgrades and downgrades

Storage upgrades and downgrades (2)

Best guess is you need to increase your iCloud storage to complete this - once you have everything done you can downgrade your storage again

LN

Then why doesn't iCloud tell you that???? No, I think its a bug. Otherwise, why would Apple miss an opportunity to redirect you to upgrade?

So, did you solve it? I have been having this happen for the last week and my connection is anything but slow.