iCloud Photos is a fantastic service for keeping your precious memories safe and accessible across all your Apple devices. But what if you want to have a copy of your photos and videos directly on your device or computer, perhaps for editing, backup, or simply to have them available offline? Downloading your photos from iCloud is straightforward, and there are several methods you can use depending on your device and preferences.
Downloading Photos Using the Photos App Settings
One of the simplest ways to download your iCloud Photos is directly through the settings of the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This method is ideal if you want to download all your original photos and videos to a specific device.
On Your iPhone or iPad
-
Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
-
Tap on your name at the top to access your Apple ID settings.
-
Select iCloud, then tap on Photos.
-
Under the “Download and Keep Originals” option, choose Download and Keep Originals.
iPhone settings showing iCloud Photos download options, illustrating how to download original quality photos from iCloud.By selecting this option, your iPhone or iPad will begin downloading the original, full-resolution versions of your photos and videos from iCloud. Keep in mind that this process may take some time depending on the size of your library and your internet connection speed.
On Your Mac
-
Open the Photos app on your Mac.
-
In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click on Photos and then select Settings (or Preferences in older versions).
-
Click on the iCloud tab.
-
Choose Download Originals to this Mac.
Similar to the iPhone and iPad, this will download the original, high-resolution versions of your iCloud Photos library to your Mac. Ensure you have enough storage space on your Mac to accommodate your entire photo library.
Downloading Photos from Shared Albums
If you only need to download specific photos or videos from iCloud, especially those within Shared Albums, the Photos app offers a convenient way to save individual items.
On Your iPhone or iPad
- Open the Photos app and navigate to the Shared tab at the bottom.
- Select the Shared Album you want to download photos from.
- Tap on the specific photo or video you wish to download.
- Tap the Share button (the square with an upward arrow) in the bottom left corner.
- Choose Save Image or Save Video to save the selected item to your device’s Camera Roll.
On Your Mac
- Open the Photos app and find Shared Albums in the sidebar on the left.
- Select the desired Shared Album.
- Select the photo or video you want to download.
- Control-click (right-click) on the selected item and choose Import to save it to your Photos library, from where you can access it locally.
Downloading Photos via iCloud.com
For accessing your iCloud Photos from any computer or even directly through a web browser on your iPhone or iPad, iCloud.com provides a versatile solution. This is particularly useful for downloading photos in batches or choosing specific download options.
On Your iPhone or iPad
- Open a web browser (like Safari or Chrome) and go to iCloud.com/photos.
- Sign in using your Apple ID credentials.
- Tap Select in the top right corner, and then select the photos or videos you want to download. To select your entire library, tap Select All.
- Tap the More button (three dots in a circle) at the bottom right.
- Choose Download. You might also see More Download Options, allowing you to choose between:
- Unmodified Originals: Downloads the photos and videos in their original format as captured or imported.
- Highest Resolution: Downloads the best quality version suitable for your device, often in HEIC or H.265 format.
- Most Compatible: Downloads in JPEG or MP4/H.264 formats for broader compatibility.
- Tap Download to start the download process.
On Your Mac or PC
-
Go to iCloud.com/photos in a web browser on your Mac or PC.
-
Log in with your Apple ID.
-
Click to select one or more photos or videos. Use the command key (on Mac) or control key (on PC) to select multiple items.
-
Click the Download button (cloud icon with a down arrow) in the top right corner. Alternatively, click More (three dots) and then More Download Options to choose download formats like:
- Unmodified Originals
- Highest Resolution
- Most Compatible
-
Click Download to begin downloading your selected photos and videos.
When downloading via iCloud.com, especially on a PC, ensure your browser is up to date for optimal performance. If you are a PC user and frequently manage iCloud Photos, consider setting up iCloud for Windows for seamless integration and management of your photos.
Downloading your photos from iCloud gives you control over your media and ensures you have local backups. Whether you prefer using the Photos app or iCloud.com, these methods provide flexible options to access and save your cherished memories.
