Prepare and use iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos works with the Photos app to go along your photos and videos securely stored in iCloud, and up to date on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple tree TV, and iCloud.com.

iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro showing the same iCloud Photo Memory

  • How iCloud Photos works
  • Plough on iCloud Photos
  • What happens when you edit or delete photos
  • Download copies of your photos and videos
  • Make sure that yous have enough storage

How iCloud Photos works

iCloud Photos automatically keeps every photo and video you take in iCloud, and then you can access your library from any device, someday you want. Whatever changes you brand to your collection on one device change on your other devices also. Your photos and videos are organized into Years, Months, Days, and All Photos. And all of your Memories and People are updated everywhere. That way you tin quickly discover the moment, family unit member, or friend you lot're looking for.

Depending on your internet speed, the time information technology takes for you to see your photos and videos on all of your devices and iCloud.com might vary.

Turn on iCloud Photos

Make certain that you prepare up iCloud and sign in to iCloud with the aforementioned Apple tree ID on all of your devices. If yous have a PC, you need Windows seven or later and iCloud for Windows.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod bear upon

  1. Go to Settings > [your name].
  2. Tap iCloud.
  3. Tap Photos, so plow on iCloud Photos.

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple card  > Organisation Preferences.
  2. Click Apple tree ID.
  3. Click iCloud in the sidebar, then select Photos.

If you accept an earlier version of macOS, go to System Preferences > iCloud. Click Options next to Photos, then select iCloud Photos.

On Apple Idiot box 4K and Apple TV Hd

  1. Become to Settings > Users and Accounts.
  2. Select iCloud.
  3. Turn on iCloud Photos.

On your Windows PC

What happens when you edit or delete photos

Your photos and videos are stored in iCloud in their original formats at full resolution. This includes HEIF, JPEG, RAW, PNG, GIF, TIFF, HEVC, and MP4 besides as special formats you capture with your iPhone or iPad, similar slo-mo, time-lapse, 4K videos, and Live Photos. The photos and videos you capture with these devices are in HEIF and HEVC format. When you lot edit or delete photos or videos, it'due south reflected beyond all of your devices.

Edits evidence up on all of your devices

When yous make edits in the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch or on your Mac, the photo automatically updates across all your devices, including your Apple Tv set. Then when you crop or enhance a photograph from your iPhone, you see the changes when you access your library from your Mac. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and you can get back to them at any time, and revert any changes you made.

Photos delete from all of your devices

The photos and videos that you delete on ane device are deleted everywhere that you use iCloud Photos. Photos and videos stay in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days earlier they're deleted permanently.

Download copies of your photos and videos

When you lot turn on iCloud Photos, your photos and videos automatically upload to iCloud. They're not duplicated in your iCloud backup, so you lot should keep backup copies of your library. Use the steps beneath to download copies of your photos and videos to your Mac or PC. Or you can import your library to your Mac or PC.

Download your photos and videos from iCloud.com

Download photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Open up the Photos app, then select one or more than photos or videos.
  2. Tap the share button.
  3. Tap AirDrop, and then select the device that you want to share with. Acquire more almost using AirDrop.

Download photos and videos from your Mac

  1. On your Mac, open up the Photos app.
  2. Select one or more photos or videos.
  3. Drag the content to your desktop, or Control-click and select Share > AirDrop.

Make sure that you accept enough storage

The photos and videos that you keep in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage and your device storage. And as long equally you have plenty space in iCloud and on your device, yous can store as many photos and videos every bit you lot like. Learn more about iCloud storage and device storage.

If you demand more iCloud storage

When you sign upward for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of free storage. If you need more space, you tin buy more iCloud storage. Plans start at 50GB for $0.99 (USD) a month. If you choose 200GB or 2TB plans, yous can share your storage with family unit. Acquire how to buy more than iCloud storage.

If you need more device storage

iCloud Photos keeps all your photos and videos in their original, high-resolution version. To relieve storage space on your device, y'all tin can plough on Optimize Storage.

If you turn on Optimize Storage, iCloud Photos automatically manages the size of your library on your device. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and infinite-saving versions are kept on your device. Your library is optimized only when you need infinite, starting with the photos and videos you access to the lowest degree. Y'all tin download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you need them.

If y'all plow on Download Originals, iCloud Photos keeps your original, full-resolution photos and videos in iCloud and on your device.

On your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
  2. Tap Photos.
  3. Choose Optimize [device] Storage.

On your Mac

  1. Open the Photos app and click Photos in the card bar.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Go to the iCloud tab and choose a storage setting.

Pause library uploads to iCloud

When you turn on iCloud Photos, the time it takes for your photos and videos to upload to iCloud depends on the size of your collection and your net speed. If you accept a big drove of photos and videos, your upload might take more than time than usual. You tin can run across the status and break the upload for one day.

  • On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Photos app, go to the Library tab, and tap All Photos. Then scroll to the lesser of your screen.
  • On your Mac, open up the Photos app. Select Library in the sidebar, so click All Photos in the listing of tabs in the toolbar. Roll to the lesser of your photos and click Pause.

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