How to turn off iCloud Photos
If you no longer want to store your photos and videos in iCloud so that they’re synced across your devices, you can turn off iCloud Photos for one device, or for all of your devices. To keep your photos safe, download them to your device or save a copy first.
Before you turn off iCloud Photos
Before you turn off iCloud Photos, make sure you have all of your original photos and videos on your device. To download the original photos and videos:
On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings [your name] iCloud Photos and select Download and Keep Originals. Keep your device plugged into a power source and connected to the internet.
On your Mac, open Photos, choose Photos Settings (or Photos Preferences), then click iCloud and select Download Originals to this Mac. Keep your Mac plugged into a power source and connected to the internet.
On your PC, find out how to download photos and videos from iCloud Photos.
You can also select the photos and videos you want to download from iCloud.com. After your originals have downloaded, you can turn off iCloud Photos and new changes such as uploads of new photos, edits and deletions will no longer be synced across your devices.
Turn off iCloud Photos on one device
Before you turn off iCloud Photos, make sure you make a copy of your photos and videos.
On your iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap iCloud Photos.
Deselect “Sync this [Device]” to turn off iCloud Photos.
On your Mac
Open the Photos app, then choose Photos Settings or Photos Preferences.
Click iCloud, then deselect iCloud Photos.
On your PC
Open iCloud for Windows. Make sure you’ve signed in with your Apple ID.
Next to Photos, click Options.
Deselect iCloud Photos.
Click Done, then click Apply.
On your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD
Go to Settings Accounts iCloud.
Under Photos, press Select to turn off iCloud Photos.
Turn off iCloud Photos in iCloud and on all of your devices
Before you turn off iCloud Photos, make sure you make a copy of your photos and videos. Photos and videos stored in iCloud will be deleted 30 days after you’ve stopped using the service.
On your iPhone or iPad with iOS 16 or later
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap iCloud, then tap Manage Account Storage.
Tap Photos, then tap Turn Off & Delete from iCloud.
If you change your mind, follow these steps on your device, then select Undo Delete.
On your iPhone or iPad with iOS 15 or earlier
Go to Settings, then tap your name.
Tap iCloud, then tap Manage Storage.
Tap Photos, then tap Disable & Delete.
If you change your mind, follow these steps on your device, then select Undo Delete.
On your Mac
Choose Apple menu System Settings or Apple menu System Preferences, then click Apple ID.
Choose iCloud, then click Manage.
Select Photos, then click Turn Off and Delete.
If you change your mind, follow these steps on your Mac, then select Undo Delete.
