If your iCloud Photos aren't syncing or syncing with iCloud is paused

If your photos aren't syncing on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, check your device settings. Then check the status bar in the Photos app and learn what your library status message means.

Check your device settings and library status

1. Connect your device to power and to Wi-Fi, then let the device sync uninterrupted overnight.

2. Check that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple Account that you use on your other devices.

3. If you set up iCloud Shared Photo Library, check your Library view. When you move photos to your Shared Library, you no longer see them in your Personal Library.

4. Check the status of your library in Photos on your iPhone or iPad, or on your Mac:

   • On your iPhone or iPad: Open the Photos app, go to Collections, then tap the profile button in the upper corner. Check your library status below your name and photo count. In iOS 17 or earlier, go to the Library tab, tap All Photos, and scroll to the bottom to see your library status.

     

   • On your Mac: Open the Photos app, then select Library in the Photos sidebar. Click All Photos in the toolbar at the top of the window, then scroll to the bottom to see your library status.

5. Follow the onscreen directions of your library status message or learn what your status message means.

6. Depending on the size of your library and your Wi-Fi speed, you may need to wait overnight for your device to finish syncing. Some larger-sized files may take longer to upload or sync.

Learn what your status message means

If your photos aren't syncing, don't turn iCloud Photos off. Syncing with iCloud pauses for a variety of reasons.

If you see Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode

If you see a message that says Low Data Mode or Low Power Mode, syncing paused to reduce network data usage or save battery. You can turn these behaviors on or off in Settings.

If you see Optimizing Battery Power, Optimizing System Performance, or Poor Network Connection

If you see a message that says Optimizing Battery Power, Optimizing System Performance, or Poor Network Connection, syncing paused to improve power, performance, and network connection. To force syncing, tap Sync Now, or wait a few minutes for syncing to resume automatically.

If you see Low Battery

If you see a message that says Low Battery, syncing paused because your battery charge is below 20 percent. To resume syncing, charge your device.

If you see [Device] Needs to Cool Down

If you see a message that says [Device] Needs to Cool Down, syncing paused to protect your device from overheating. You might see an option to Sync Now. If not, wait a few minutes to let your device cool down.

If you see iCloud storage is full

If you see a message that your iCloud storage is full, syncing paused because you exceeded your iCloud storage limit. You can reduce the amount of storage that you're using or upgrade your storage plan.

If you see Move Photos to Personal Library to Continue Syncing

If you see a message that says Move Photos to Personal Library to Continue Syncing, syncing paused because a Shared Library owner has hit their storage limit. If you see this message after trying to move items to the Shared Library, move those items back to your Personal Library. After the Shared Library Owner upgrades their storage plan or reduces the amount of storage they use, your Personal Library syncs again.

If your iCloud Photos still won't sync

1. Don't turn off iCloud or iCloud Photos. This restarts the syncing process.

2. Make sure that you updated your device to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS.

3. Check if other iCloud services that you use are working, such as Mail, Contacts, or Messages. If other services also aren't working, check your Wi-Fi connection and the System Status for outages.

4. Make sure that you're using supported file types. Supported file types include HEIF, JPEG, RAW, PNG, GIF, TIFF, HEVC, MP4, and special iPhone and iPad formats like slo-mo, time-lapse, 4K videos, and Live Photos.

5. Check if you have an album named Unable to Upload. Edit each photo or video, then check to see if the photo or video uploads to iCloud. Or upload items in the Unable to Upload folder to iCloud again from your iPhone or iPad, or reimport items in the Unable to Upload folder to iCloud from your Mac.