How Do I Get My Photos From The Cloud? A Simple Guide to Downloading Your iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos is a fantastic service for automatically storing your precious memories safely in the cloud, accessible across all your Apple devices. But what if you want to have a local copy of your photos and videos, perhaps for backup, editing, or simply to have them available even without an internet connection? Understanding how to download your photos from iCloud is essential for managing your digital life. This guide will walk you through the straightforward methods to download your iCloud Photos to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC.

Downloading iCloud Photos Using the Photos App

The Photos app, whether on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, offers a direct way to download your original, high-resolution photos and videos stored in iCloud. This method is ideal when you want to ensure you have local copies of everything.

On Your iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings: Begin by tapping the Settings app icon on your home screen.

2. Navigate to Your Apple ID: Tap on your name at the very top of the Settings menu.

3. Access iCloud Settings: Select iCloud from the Apple ID menu.

4. Go to Photos: Tap on the Photos option within the iCloud settings.

5. Choose Download and Keep Originals: Under the “iCloud Photos” section, select Download and Keep Originals.

   Screenshot of iPhone iCloud Photos settings with "Download and Keep Originals" highlighted

   By selecting “Download and Keep Originals,” your iPhone or iPad will start downloading the original versions of your photos and videos from iCloud. Keep in mind that this process can take a significant amount of time and storage space, depending on the size of your iCloud Photo Library. Ensure you have enough free space on your device before starting the download.

On Your Mac

1. Open the Photos App: Launch the Photos application on your Mac.

2. Access Photos Settings: In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click on Photos and then select Settings (or Preferences in older macOS versions).

3. Navigate to iCloud Tab: In the Settings window, click on the iCloud tab.

4. Select Download Originals to this Mac: Choose the option Download Originals to this Mac.

   Screenshot of iPhone iCloud Photos settings with "Download and Keep Originals" highlighted

   Similar to the iPhone and iPad, selecting “Download Originals to this Mac” will initiate the download of your iCloud Photo Library to your Mac. Again, be prepared for a potentially lengthy download time and ensure sufficient disk space on your Mac.

Downloading Photos from Shared Albums

If you’re looking to save photos and videos specifically from Shared Albums in iCloud, the Photos app provides a straightforward method as well. This is useful for saving photos shared with you by family and friends.

On Your iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Photos App and Go to Shared Albums: Open the Photos app and scroll down to the Shared Albums section.
2. Select a Shared Album: Tap on the album you want to download photos from.
3. Select Photo or Video and Share: Tap on the specific photo or video you wish to save. Then, tap the Share button (the square icon with an upward arrow).
4. Choose Save Image or Save Video: From the share sheet, select Save Image to save a photo, or Save Video to save a video. The item will be saved to your device’s Camera Roll.

On Your Mac

1. Open Photos and Select Shared Album: Open the Photos app and select the desired Shared Album from the left-hand menu.
2. Select Photo or Video: Choose the photo or video you want to download.
3. Control-Click and Import: Control-click (or right-click) on the selected photo or video, and then choose Import. This will save the selected item to your Photos library on your Mac.

Downloading iCloud Photos via iCloud.com

iCloud.com provides a web interface to access your iCloud Photos and offers another versatile way to download your photos and videos, accessible from any device with a web browser, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and PCs.

On Your iPhone or iPad

1. Go to iCloud.com and Sign In: Open a web browser (like Safari or Chrome) and navigate to iCloud.com/photos. Sign in using your Apple ID credentials.
2. Select Photos and Videos: Tap Select, then tap to choose the photos or videos you want to download. You can tap Select All to download your entire library if needed.
3. Tap More Button and Choose Download: Tap the More button (usually represented by three dots or lines). Choose Download.
4. Select Download Options (Optional): You may see More Download Options. Here you can choose:
   • Unmodified Originals: Downloads the photos and videos in their original format.
   • Highest Resolution: Downloads in the best quality for your device, typically HEIC or H.265.
   • Most Compatible: Downloads in JPEG or MP4/H.264 formats for broader compatibility.
5. Tap Download: Finally, tap Download to start the download process. The files will typically be downloaded as a ZIP archive.

On Your Mac or PC

1. Go to iCloud.com and Sign In: Open a web browser and go to iCloud.com/photos. Sign in with your Apple ID.

2. Select Photos and Videos: Click to select the photos or videos you wish to download. Use the command key (⌘) on Mac or control key on PC to select multiple items.

3. Click Download Button or More Options: Click the Download button (usually a cloud icon with a down arrow) in the upper-right corner. Alternatively, click More (often three dots) for More Download Options to choose formats as described above for iPhone/iPad.

4. Click Download: Click Download to begin downloading your selected photos and videos. They will usually be downloaded as a ZIP file to your computer’s downloads folder.

   Screenshot of iPhone iCloud Photos settings with "Download and Keep Originals" highlighted

Downloading your photos from the cloud doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you prefer using the Photos app on your Apple devices or accessing iCloud.com through a web browser, you have multiple options to retrieve your cherished photos and videos. Choose the method that best suits your device and needs, and ensure you always have a copy of your memories safely stored locally.