Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all your devices

iCloud Photo Library is the easiest way to keep your entire library safe—even if your device goes missing. If you prefer to sync your photos manually, you can use iTunes to send them from your computer to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

With iCloud Photo Library, you can access your photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple TV, on iCloud.com, and even your Windows PC. When you're connected to Wi-Fi, your newest shots upload automatically and your edits update in real time. So you always see the latest version on your devices and online.

Before you begin

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest version of iOS, your Mac to the latest OS X, and your Apple TV (4th generation) to the latest tvOS.
Make sure that you’re signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices.
Set up iCloud on all of your devices. If you have a PC, download iCloud for Windows.
Make sure that your device is connected to Wi-Fi.

Turn on iCloud Photo Library

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > iCloud > Photos, then turn on iCloud Photo Library.
On your Mac, go to System Preferences > iCloud > Options next to Photos, then select iCloud Photo Library.
On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud > iCloud Photo Library.
On your Windows PC, download iCloud for Windows then set up iCloud Photo Library.

If you have photos synced to your iOS device from iTunes and then turn on iCloud Photo Library, you’ll see “Photos and Videos Synced from iTunes will be Removed.” The original versions of the photos and videos will stay on your computer and the copies are removed from your iOS device. When you turn on iCloud Photo Library on your Mac or PC, your original versions will upload to iCloud and you can access them on all of your devices.

If you choose not to turn on iCloud Photo Library, you can sync your photos and videos manually in iTunes.

Sync your photos manually with iTunes

You can set up iTunes to sync photos to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from the Photos app, or from a folder on your computer. Each time that you sync your iOS device with iTunes, the photos and videos on your iOS device will update to match the albums on your computer. If you have photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that aren't on your computer, follow these steps to import them.

Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes.
Open iTunes on your computer.
Use the included USB cable to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer.
Click on the device icon in iTunes.
Click Photos in the sidebar.
Click the box next to "Sync Photos." If instead you see "iCloud Photos is On," all your photos and videos are already on all of your devices that use iCloud Photo Library. You don't need to sync them through iTunes.
In the drop-down menu, choose the app or folder that you want to sync from.
Choose to sync all photos or selected albums.
Select "Include videos" to sync the videos from your app or folder too.
Click Apply.

You must import Slo-Mo and Time-Lapse videos through the Photos app or Image Capture in OS X Yosemite or later for their effect to be synced via iTunes. You can also sync Slo-Mo and Time-Lapse videos when you use iCloud Photo Library.

If you're syncing from Photos, only your System Photo Library is available in iTunes.

Turn off iTunes syncing

If you don't want the synced photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch anymore, turn off syncing in iTunes and they'll be removed from your device. You can turn off syncing for some of your photo albums or all of them at once.

Stop syncing some albums

Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Click on the device icon in iTunes.
Click Photos.
Choose "Selected albums" and deselect the albums or collections that you want to stop syncing.
Click Apply.

Stop syncing all photos

Open iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Click on the device icon in iTunes.
Click Photos.
Deselect "Sync Photos" then click "Remove photos."
Click Apply.

Learn how to delete photos and videos synced from iTunes when you can't access the originals.

Learn more

iCloud Photo Library doesn't upload photos and videos you add to your device from iTunes. If you're missing photos after you turn on iCloud Photo Library, follow these steps.
Learn how to import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer. If you use an iPod nano (5th generation), learn how to import recorded videos using Windows or Mac.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Risks are inherent in the use of the Internet. Contact the vendor for additional information. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Last Modified: Jul 23, 2016