You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

how can i only delete photos from my mac but not my icloud and other devices

Hi. I have iCloud and enough space for my photos and videos. I have different apple devices. However, on my MacBook, recently I receive an error that my space is full and I can not even download the latest software. I checked my space and I have noticed all my photos/videos are saved on my mac from my icloud. I actually don't want any of them on my Mac, only on my icloud and iphone. How can I delete them from my Mac, without deleting them on my icloud and iphone?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.5

Posted on Sep 30, 2022 3:08 PM

Reply
5 replies

Sep 30, 2022 11:28 PM in response to ShokoufehA

See a thread Cloud and Hard Drive - Apple Community

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support


When an iPhone and Mac are signed with same Apple ID and password on the same network and photos box is turned as on the photos will sync , if photos are deleted from iCloud.com they will get deleted from iPhone and Mac .


In Mac set up photo library and its preferences see the articles 

Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-in


Change preferences in Photos on Mac - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-in › guide › photos › mac


System Photo Library overview for Photos on Mac - Apple ...support.apple.com › guide › photos › mac


When photos are hundred percent synced , sign out Apple ID from an iPhone .


Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV ...support.apple.com › en-in


And sign in with new Apple ID and password that is created with you in the past .


Sign in with your Apple ID - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-in


Then share photos from Mac to iPhone .


Subscribe to shared albums in Photos on Mac - Apple Supportsupport.apple.com › en-in › guide › photos › mac


 The Apple ID and password are totally different in iphone and mac if you delete photos from mac or icloud the photos will be not deleted from iPhone .


The invitation has to be accepted to receive photos ( has to be subscribed ).


Share iPhone photos with Shared Albums in iCloud - Apple ...support.apple.com › en-in › guide › iphone › ios

Your previous old photos are in primary icloud account and are not lost as they are saved on Mac .

Hence photos are in iPhone as well in Mac - this method was according to your original title - How do I delete photos from my iCloud account but leave them on my iMac and iPhone .

Oct 1, 2022 12:27 AM in response to ShokoufehA


ShokoufehA wrote:

Thank you. I already turned off the photos from the icloud on my mac. But do i don't know how to delete from my mac only. Could you please advise on that as well?

Do you want to delete all photos summarily from your Mac and stop using the Photos.app on your Mac completely or remove only selected Photos?

  • If you want to remove all photos from your Mac, quit Photos, then move the Photos Library from the Pictures folder to an external volume, to keep a copy of all your photos, just in case you regret the deletion. Then delete the Photos Library from the Pictures folder and empty the Trash. All photos will be gone from your Mac.
  • If you want to delete just some photos from your Mac, make sure, iCloud Photos has really been disabled on your Mac, then open Photos and select the photos you want to delete. Enter the keyboard shortcut ⌘⌫ to move the selected photos to the recently Deleted album. Now empty recently Deleted. Do not let get Recently Deleted very full, Only trash up to 500 photos at a time, then delete then empty Recently Deleted immediately.


how can i only delete photos from my mac but not my icloud and other devices

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.