iCloud Photos is a synchronization service, not a storage replacement. Turning on iCloud Photos in the Photos app on your Mac, iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device will sync your photos across all your devices signed in with the same Apple ID. This means adding or deleting a photo on one device will add or delete it on all others. Don’t delete photos on your device if you don’t want to lose them permanently, though they will initially move to the Recently Deleted album where you can recover them.
To view your photos in iCloud:
- On your Mac: Open the Photos app. With iCloud Photos enabled, your photos will be visible there.
- On your iPhone or iPad: Open the Photos app. Again, with iCloud Photos turned on, you’ll see your synchronized library.
- On iCloud.com: Go to iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID. Click on Photos to access your iCloud Photos Library. You can browse, search, and download your photos from here.
While iCloud Photos syncs your library, it doesn’t automatically free up space on your device. However, you can optimize storage by choosing “Optimize Mac Storage” (or the equivalent on other devices) within iCloud Photos settings. This keeps smaller, optimized versions of photos on your device while storing full-resolution originals in iCloud, potentially saving significant space over time. The optimization process occurs as needed, so you won’t see an immediate change in storage capacity.
Initial synchronization can take a while depending on your library size and internet connection speed. It might stall if incompatible photos or videos exist. One way to identify problematic files is to create a Smart Album in the Photos app with specific criteria to isolate them. If you encounter issues, further troubleshooting may be required. For example, ensure your devices are running the latest software and have sufficient iCloud storage. You can find additional help on Apple’s support website.
