iCloud Photos Taking
All Your Storage?
Photos are usually the #1 reason your iCloud is full. Years of iPhone photos, screenshots, and videos add up fast. Here is how to get them off iCloud without losing anything.
How much space Photos uses
The average iPhone user takes 1,000+ photos per year. With Live Photos, 4K video, and Portrait mode, a typical library uses 30-80 GB of iCloud storage.
How to move Photos off iCloud
- Download originals to Mac — Open Photos > Settings > iCloud > select "Download Originals to this Mac". Wait until the progress bar shows all items are downloaded.
- Verify the download — Scroll to the bottom of your Photos library. It should say "All items are up to date".
- Turn off iCloud Photos — Photos > Settings > iCloud > uncheck "iCloud Photos". WARNING: Only do this after step 1 is complete.
- Delete from iCloud — System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage > Photos > "Turn Off and Delete".
Important warnings
- Do NOT delete iCloud backups before photos are downloaded — Your backup is your safety net.
- Check for low-resolution items — Photos may warn about items that could not be downloaded in full resolution. Review these before proceeding.
- Make a local backup — Consider copying your Photos Library to an external drive before turning off iCloud Photos.
Skip the manual work
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