Set and use iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos works with the Photos app to go on 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 yous edit or delete photos
  • Download copies of your photos and videos
  • Make sure that you have enough storage

How iCloud Photos works

iCloud Photos automatically keeps every photo and video you take in iCloud, so y'all can access your library from any device, anytime you want. Whatever changes you brand to your collection on one device modify on your other devices as well. Your photos and videos are organized into Years, Months, Days, and All Photos. And all of your Memories and People are updated everywhere. That way you can apace find the moment, family fellow member, or friend you lot're looking for.

Depending on your internet speed, the fourth dimension it takes for you lot to see your photos and videos on all of your devices and iCloud.com might vary.

Turn on iCloud Photos

Make sure that yous set up iCloud and sign in to iCloud with the same Apple tree ID on all of your devices. If you have a PC, you lot demand Windows 7 or later and iCloud for Windows.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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

On your Mac

  1. Choose Apple bill of fare  > System Preferences.
  2. Click Apple ID.
  3. Click iCloud in the sidebar, then select Photos.

If you accept an earlier version of macOS, go to System Preferences > iCloud. Click Options next to Photos, and so select iCloud Photos.

On Apple Goggle box 4K and Apple TV HD

  1. Become 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 every bit well as special formats you capture with your iPhone or iPad, similar slo-mo, fourth dimension-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's reflected across all of your devices.

Edits prove up on all of your devices

When you make edits in the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch or on your Mac, the photo automatically updates across all your devices, including your Apple tree TV. And so when you crop or enhance a photo from your iPhone, you run into the changes when you access your library from your Mac. Your original photos and videos are stored in iCloud and you lot tin can go back to them at any time, and revert any changes you made.

Photos delete from all of your devices

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

Download copies of your photos and videos

When you turn on iCloud Photos, your photos and videos automatically upload to iCloud. They're not duplicated in your iCloud fill-in, and so you lot should keep backup copies of your library. Use the steps below to download copies of your photos and videos to your Mac or PC. Or you tin 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 touch

  1. Open the Photos app, then select one or more photos or videos.
  2. Tap the share push.
  3. Tap AirDrop, then select the device that y'all desire to share with. Larn more than about using AirDrop.

Download photos and videos from your Mac

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

Make sure that you have enough storage

The photos and videos that you keep in iCloud Photos use your iCloud storage and your device storage. And as long as you take enough space in iCloud and on your device, you tin store as many photos and videos as yous similar. Learn more than virtually iCloud storage and device storage.

If y'all demand more iCloud storage

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

If you demand more than device storage

iCloud Photos keeps all your photos and videos in their original, high-resolution version. To save storage space on your device, yous can turn on Optimize Storage.

If you plow 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 just when you need infinite, starting with the photos and videos you access least. You can download the original photos and videos over Wi-Fi or cellular when you demand them.

If you 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. Go to Settings > [your proper name] > iCloud.
  2. Tap Photos.
  3. Choose Optimize [device] Storage.

On your Mac

  1. Open the Photos app and click Photos in the menu bar.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Go to the iCloud tab and choose a storage setting.

Interruption library uploads to iCloud

When you lot turn on iCloud Photos, the time it takes for your photos and videos to upload to iCloud depends on the size of your collection and your internet speed. If y'all have a large collection of photos and videos, your upload might have more fourth dimension than usual. You lot can run across the status and pause the upload for i day.

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

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