Reformat MacBook Keep Photos

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Level 1

8 points

Reformat MacBook Keep Photos

Hi, I currently backup my iPhone to my MacBook Pro and use "photos" to manage and view my snaps! I pay for a little extra storage on iCloud and all of my photos are synced to the cloud. I'm not sure why they're in the cloud I thought this was a backup solution although I'm now confused.

I need to reformat my macbook pro start again with a clean MAC OSX install. However, after doing some reading am I right in thinking I will lose all my photos? Even though they're on the cloud as soon as I wipe my hard drive even though I want to re-download them I'll lose them?

How can I reformat my MBP and keep my photos?

iPhoto '11, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Oct 5, 2018 2:54 PM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,257 points

Oct 6, 2018 12:40 PM in response to xronn

If your photos are in iCloud, they should sync back to the computer once you get the computer running normally, and set up syncing.

As Terrence posted, backing up to an external drive is a much safer way of ensuring your will retain your photos.

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Answer 2

tygb

Level 9

65,010 points

Oct 5, 2018 10:45 PM in response to xronn

See some articles Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

iCloud: iCloud Photo Library on iOS devices

Use iCloud Photos to store photos in iCloud - Apple Support

Your photos are syncing with iOS and Mac as the same Apple ID and password is signed in with both machines .

Before erasing the hard drive and reinstalling the Mac make sure the box of photos , icloud drive - click on options each setting must be checked in they will definitely sync in new os .

In iCloud photo preferences these boxes must be checked in .

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Oct 5, 2018 10:56 PM in response to xronn

The iCloud Photo Library is a sharing mechanism not a back up.

The preserve the photos, make a back up on an external disk before wiping the drive?

Also, are you sure you need to wipe the drive? in an awful lot of cases this is akin to demolishing a house because there's a cracked tile in the kitchen...

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Reformat MacBook Keep Photos

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