Set up and use iCloud Photos

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

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

  • How iCloud Photos works
  • Plow on iCloud Photos
  • What happens when y'all edit or delete photos
  • Download copies of your photos and videos
  • Make sure that you have plenty storage

How iCloud Photos works

iCloud Photos automatically keeps every photo and video y'all take in iCloud, so yous can access your library from any device, anytime you want. Any changes you make to your collection on 1 device change on your other devices too. Your photos and videos are organized into Years, Months, Days, and All Photos. And all of your Memories and People are updated everywhere. That manner yous can chop-chop find the moment, family member, or friend you're looking for.

Depending on your cyberspace speed, the time it takes for you to run into your photos and videos on all of your devices and iCloud.com might vary.

Turn on iCloud Photos

Make sure that y'all fix iCloud and sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. If you have a PC, you need Windows vii or subsequently and iCloud for Windows.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > [your proper name].
  2. Tap iCloud.
  3. Tap Photos, then plough on iCloud Photos.

On your Mac

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

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

On Apple tree Boob tube 4K and Apple tree TV HD

  1. Go 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 as well every bit special formats you capture with your iPhone or iPad, like 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 edit or delete photos or videos, it'south reflected across all of your devices.

Edits show up on all of your devices

When you brand edits in the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch or on your Mac, the photograph automatically updates beyond all your devices, including your Apple tree TV. So when y'all ingather or enhance a photo from your iPhone, you meet the changes when you admission your library from your Mac. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and you tin can go back to them at any fourth dimension, and revert whatsoever changes you fabricated.

Photos delete from all of your devices

The photos and videos that you delete on one device are deleted everywhere that yous utilize iCloud Photos. Photos and videos stay in the Recently Deleted binder for 30 days before they're deleted permanently.

Download copies of your photos and videos

When you plough on iCloud Photos, your photos and videos automatically upload to iCloud. They're non duplicated in your iCloud backup, so yous should continue backup copies of your library. Utilise the steps below to download copies of your photos and videos to your Mac or PC. Or you lot 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 impact

  1. Open the Photos app, then select one or more photos or videos.
  2. Tap the share button.
  3. Tap AirDrop, then select the device that you lot want to share with. Learn more about using AirDrop.

Download photos and videos from your Mac

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

Make certain that yous take plenty storage

The photos and videos that you go on in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage and your device storage. And equally long as you lot take enough space in iCloud and on your device, you lot tin can store every bit many photos and videos equally y'all like. Learn more near iCloud storage and device storage.

If you need more than iCloud storage

When you lot sign upward for iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of gratis storage. If you demand more space, you tin can purchase more iCloud storage. Plans get-go at 50GB for $0.99 (USD) a month. If y'all choose 200GB or 2TB plans, y'all can share your storage with family. Learn how to buy more iCloud storage.

If you lot demand more than device storage

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

If yous 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 space-saving versions are kept on your device. Your library is optimized but when you need space, starting with the photos and videos you access least. Y'all tin download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you demand them.

If yous turn 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. Get to Settings > [your proper noun] > iCloud.
  2. Tap Photos.
  3. Choose Optimize [device] Storage.

On your Mac

  1. Open the Photos app and click Photos in the carte du jour bar.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Become to the iCloud tab and choose a storage setting.

Interruption library uploads to iCloud

When you turn on iCloud Photos, the time information technology takes for your photos and videos to upload to iCloud depends on the size of your collection and your internet speed. If you lot have a large drove of photos and videos, your upload might have more time than usual. Y'all tin see the status and suspension the upload for ane twenty-four hours.

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

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