iCloud Photos is a synchronization service, not a storage solution. It mirrors your photos across your devices, meaning changes made on one device are reflected on all others. Deleting a photo on your Mac, for example, will also delete it from iCloud Photos. While iCloud Photos doesn’t automatically free up space on your Mac, it offers an “Optimize Storage” option. This feature replaces original photos on your Mac with smaller versions, storing full-resolution files in iCloud.
Enabling “Optimize Mac Storage” can significantly reduce the space photos consume on your hard drive, potentially saving hundreds of gigabytes. However, this space-saving won’t be immediate and occurs as needed. The initial synchronization between your Mac and iCloud Photos can take several days, depending on your library size. Occasionally, incompatible photos or videos can stall the process. This issue frequently arises with videos due to evolving codecs.
One way to pinpoint problematic files is by creating a Smart Album in Photos with specific criteria to isolate them. If you can’t identify the culprit files, further troubleshooting might be required. If you encounter difficulties, providing more details about the issue can help in finding a solution. You can access your iCloud Photos through the Photos app on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or by logging into iCloud.com on a web browser.
