Removing photos to save device storage

Question

Removing photos to save device storage

I’m out of storage space on my iPad. If I delete photos on iPad to save storage, will they still be on iCloud or other devices?

iPad, iOS 12

Posted on May 9, 2019 7:21 AM

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Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,203 points

May 9, 2019 7:28 AM in response to Michele Irwin

Do you have iCloud Photos turned on in your iPad? Note that iCloud Photos is a syncing service. Any photo you delete from a device where iCloud Photos is turned on will also be deleted from iCloud and from any other device connected to iCloud Photos. You can potentially reduce the storage space required on a device by turning on Optimize Storage. See: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

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Answer 2

May 9, 2019 7:35 AM in response to FoxFifth

Yes I have iCloud photos turned on my iPad. And I have Optimize storage turned on as well. I only have 32 GB iPad. Is there a way to turn off or reduce number of Photos on my iPad without wiping out everything on iCloud?

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Answer 3

May 9, 2019 7:55 AM in response to FoxFifth

Thank you for guidance. One more question. I have checked those articles but what I am not clear about is if I download or already have pictures on my Mac computer photo library, and then Delete some from my iCloud photos, will they stay in my computer photo library? Or do I need to put them on another drive to save them. I have thousands of older photos in my computers photo library that I don’t need shared across devices.

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Answer 4

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,203 points

May 9, 2019 8:05 AM in response to Michele Irwin

It depends on whether or not you have iCloud Photos turned on in your Mac. iCloud Photos syncs with all devices where it is turned on; if you delete a photo from iCloud or from any device where it is turned on, it will also be deleted from iCloud and from all of the other devices.

You can check Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud > Photos on your Mac to see if it is on.

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Answer 5

May 9, 2019 9:12 AM in response to Michele Irwin

Save your photos from iCloud to another place. Put them in a folder directly on your Mac (not iCloud). Put them on Amazon Photo, Google Photo, DropBox, etc. Then delete them off the iPad once they are stored safely elsewhere.

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Answer 6

May 9, 2019 9:24 AM in response to lobsterghost1

Thank you! You’ve been most helpful!,

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Answer 7

FoxFifth

Level 10

472,203 points

May 9, 2019 7:39 AM in response to Michele Irwin

See the "How do I turn off iCloud Photos on only one device" section in Get help with iCloud Photos - Apple Support

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Answer 8

May 9, 2019 9:06 AM in response to FoxFifth

Oh boy. So it’s all or nothing for photos on my iPad. Do you have any other suggestions on how to open up storage space on a device? I really appreciate your help

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Answer 9

May 9, 2019 9:30 AM in response to Michele Irwin

You're welcome

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Removing photos to save device storage

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