Use iCloud Photos to store photos in iCloud
With iCloud Photos, all the photos and videos in your photo library are stored in iCloud, so you can access them from your Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, and on iCloud.com.
Any new photos and videos you add to Photos, or take with an iPhone or iPad, appear on all your devices that have iCloud Photos turned on. Your photos and albums are organized the same way on every device, and if you make edits or remove items, you see the changes on all your devices. And when you get a new device, iCloud Photos quickly syncs your photo library to it.
Before you begin
Before you set up iCloud Photos, do the following:
Make sure your Mac and other devices have the latest software: Update to the latest version of macOS on your Mac, or iOS or iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad.
Sign in with your Apple ID: If you’re not already signed in with your Apple ID, choose Apple menu
Turn on iCloud Photos
In the Photos app
on your Mac, choose Photos > Settings, then click iCloud.Select the iCloud Photos checkbox.
Select one of the following options:
Download Originals to this Mac: Stores the full-size versions of your photos both on your Mac and in iCloud.
Optimize Mac Storage: Stores smaller versions of your photos on your Mac when storage space is limited, and keeps the original, full-size photos in iCloud. Choose this option to conserve space on your Mac. To restore the originals to your Mac, just select “Download Originals to this Mac.”
When you first turn on iCloud Photos, it can take a while to upload your photos to iCloud. You can continue to use Photos while your photos are being uploaded.
Tip: To temporarily pause uploading or downloading of photos and videos with iCloud Photos, click Library in the sidebar, click Days in the toolbar, then click the Pause button at the bottom of the Days view. Photos pauses uploading and downloading for 24 hours and then resumes automatically.
You can have multiple photo libraries, but iCloud Photos keeps only the photos and videos in the System Photo Library up to date. See System Photo Library overview and Designate a library as the System Photo Library.
Stop using iCloud Photos on a Mac
You can turn off iCloud Photos on your Mac so that photos aren’t updated between your Mac and your other devices—for example, if you’re selling or giving away your Mac.
Important: If you turn off iCloud Photos in Photos settings, you’ll be prompted to download your photos from iCloud to your Mac. Be sure to allow time for your originals to download before turning off iCloud Photos. Once downloaded, your photos are safely stored on your Mac and available in Photos, but they are no longer transferred to your other devices.
In the Photos app
on your Mac, choose Photos > Settings, then click iCloud.Deselect the iCloud Photos checkbox.
Click Download to download your photos in iCloud to your Mac, or click Remove from Mac to remove any photos and videos that have not been fully downloaded.
These items will still be available on your other devices that use iCloud.
After you turn off iCloud Photos, edits you make to photos on your Mac don’t appear on your other devices. New photos and videos from other Mac computers and devices aren’t transferred to your Mac. Your photo library remains in iCloud and available to other devices that use iCloud Photos.
If you don’t use iCloud Photos on your Mac, you can sync your Mac and a connected iPhone or iPad to transfer photos. See Sync photos between your Mac and iPhone or iPad.
Stop using iCloud Photos on all your Apple computers and devices
You can stop using iCloud Photos on all your Mac computers and devices and no longer share any items between them.
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
If you don’t see your name, click Sign in with your Apple ID to sign in with your Apple ID or to create one.
Click iCloud on the right.
Click the Manage button, click Photos, then click “Turn Off and Delete.”
WARNING: If you turn off iCloud Photos on all your devices, your photos and videos will be deleted from iCloud in 30 days, and you won’t be able to recover them, unless you click Undo Delete before that time.
After you set up iCloud Photos, you can share albums of photos with others. You can also create an iCloud Shared Photo Library that up to five family members and friends can collaborate on and enjoy.
For more information, see the Apple Support article Set up and use iCloud Photos. For information about using iCloud Photos on a Windows PC, see the Apple Support article Set up and use iCloud Photos on your Windows PC.