Where is my iCloud data stored?

Question

Level 2

177 points

Where is my iCloud data stored?

iCloud is a great feature for keeping my Calendar and Contacts synchronised, and sharing new photos. But exactly where is all this data stored?

I don't use iCloud Drive, and there are times when I am offline when having access to Contacts and Calendar would be useful. So I know that this data is stored in iCloud on Apple's servers, but is it also stored on all my devices such that I can access it when offline? I recently had occasion to turn off iCloud Contacts sync (in connection with a problem, now resolved), and all my contacts disappeared: so it appears that it isn't stored locally, as I would wish.

I don't want to archive Contacts or Calendar, as the archive wouldn't sync. I just want my regular data to sync normally and be available when off-line. So where is the data stored?

I have a similar question about myPhotoStream. New photos on one device appear on all the others via myPhotoStream, but are these photos actually automatically imported into my Photos library on the secondary devices, or do I have to do something? And how much time do I have to do that something? I sometimes travel for weeks with just my iPad, but want the new photos to get to my main library in my iMac when I get home. Again, exactly what is stored where, and when?

All the documentation I have seen really doesn't answer these questions: it just says that stuff magically appears everywhere and stays in sync. I'm probably a bit old-fashioned in that I really want to know where all my data is all the time, so that I can keep track of it.

Thanks for any clarification on this.

Paul.

iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.5), i7 2.8Ghz, 12 GB RAM

Posted on Jul 29, 2018 8:15 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

gail from maine

Level 9

52,663 points

Jul 30, 2018 10:02 PM in response to Paul Fryer

Something to be aware of regarding Photo Stream:

I don't use iCloud Photo Library either - just Photo Stream and Photo Sharing. I have Photo Stream set up on my devices and my Mac, and on my Mac, and new Photo Stream Photos are automatically imported into my Mac's Photos Library. Videos still have to be imported the old fashioned way via the USB cable, but photos are imported automatically.

Sometimes when I do hook up to import videos, it shows some or many of the photos that have already been imported, but I just let it do the import, and I don't seem to have duplicates.

You can also use iCloud Photo Sharing to send sets of photos to your Mac or your various devices:

iCloud Photo Sharing - Apple Support

Best,

GB

Reply

Answer 2

Jul 31, 2018 1:42 PM in response to Paul Fryer

Somewhere along the line, Apple changed the way Mac Photos worked with Photo Stream and this is what that option in Photos now states:

Of course you have to make sure that you also have the setting in the General section to import photos to the Photos app:

I have had mine set up this way since, I think, Yosemite, but not sure. It does import my photos from my Photo Stream so I don't have to worry about importing as much (just the videos 🙂).

Best,

GB

Reply

Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,687 points

Jul 31, 2018 8:39 AM in response to Paul Fryer

Unless you turn off syncing like you did, the data is available in the respective applications when off line. Going off line doesn't delete the data. The data is stored in your user folder. Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library.

For Photo Stream, you need to import the photos. Photo Stream photos are synced for 30 days. Until you import the photos from Photos Stream, they are in the cloud.

"My Photo Stream uploads your most recent photos (except Live Photos) so that you can view and import them to all of your devices. Photos are stored in My Photo Stream for 30 days. iCloud Photo Library uploads all of your photos and videos to iCloud and keeps them up to date across your devices."

Photo Stream FAQ

Photo Stream Troubleshooting

Photo Stream Troubleshooting (2)

You might want to consider using iCloud Photo Library instead of Photo Stream.

Photo Library

Reply

Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,687 points

Jul 31, 2018 8:54 AM in response to Paul Fryer

You are welcome. If you aren't syncing with iCloud, you should be able to hook the device to the computer using a USB cable and use the Photos application or Image Capture to import your photos.

Photos and videos from iOS devices to your computer - Importing

Reply

Answer 5

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

177 points

Jul 30, 2018 5:22 PM in response to Eric Root

Thanks for that perspective. It's good to know that Contacts & Calendars are always available. The links you provided were also helpful.

I looked into iCloud Photo Library, and it may not work well. Typically what I do is to keep my entire photo collection on the iMac (all 35 GB of it), and only the most recent and most useful on the iPad/iPhone. Not only would my large library overwhelm the iPad storage, but I couldn't delete photos from the iPad without them also being deleted from the iMac.

So I will have to be cognisant of that 30-day limit when using PhotoStream, and if I occasionally exceed it (won't be often) will have to find another way to get recent pictures across. I looked at AirDrop, but it needs a slightly newer iMac than mine (mine is 2011), so that won't work. Any suggestions?

Reply

Answer 6

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

177 points

Jul 31, 2018 8:38 AM in response to gail from maine

Thanks GB. That was most helpful. I was able to transfer photos and videos from the iPad to the iMac using iCloud Photo Sharing, using my home wifi network, and that solves my question.

One question from what you said. You have set up Photos on your mac to automatically import new PhotoStream photos into the Photos library. I thought that you had to explicitly go in and carry out an import - am I wrong, or is there some option I have to turn on, or does it automatically happen anyway?

Reply

Answer 7

Paul Fryer Author

Level 2

177 points

Aug 2, 2018 8:37 AM in response to gail from maine

That's good. Thanks.

Paul.

Reply

Answer 8

Aug 2, 2018 10:10 AM in response to Paul Fryer

You're most welcome!

Best,

GB

Reply

Where is my iCloud data stored?

Similar questions