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Delete photos off Mac but keep in iCloud

How do I delete the photos and videos from mac to free up storage without deleting from iCloud?


When following instructions online, it says “If you want to stop using iCloud Photos and recover your iCloud storage, you can disable it on all your devices. You then have 30 days to download your photos and videos in the Photos app.”


I have 62.9GB of photos from my phone on my Mac right now that I only want on my phone and I don’t want any of those deleted.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 2:19 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 8, 2020 4:26 PM

Short story is... iCloud is not off device storage and is designed to sync photos between devices.


To some degree, your photos will be on both your Mac and iCloud. There is an optimization feature to greatly reduce the storage needed on your Mac, but will never eliminate it.



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 8, 2020 4:26 PM in response to embst

Short story is... iCloud is not off device storage and is designed to sync photos between devices.


To some degree, your photos will be on both your Mac and iCloud. There is an optimization feature to greatly reduce the storage needed on your Mac, but will never eliminate it.



Jun 12, 2020 10:50 AM in response to embst

For Mac OS catalina 10.15.5 open system preferences > click on Apple ID icon > again click on iCloud > click on manage , select photos and click on turn off and delete .



and you click on delete the photos are deleted but can be brought back , an immediate mail will be received in IMAP account , click on the link and revert it .


iCloud Photos has been disabled on all your devices and new photos and videos are no longer uploading to iCloud.


There are currently 54 photos and 0 videos in your iCloud Photos



Original format, full resolution versions of your photos and videos are not stored on your devices. You must download your full resolution photos and videos to at least one device before they are deleted from iCloud Photos in 30 days.


To download your photos and videos to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 8 or later:


       1. Connect to a power source and Wi-Fi.


       2. Go to settings, tap on your account, tap iCloud, and then select Photos.


       3. Tap Download and Keep Originals.



If your library exceeds the storage space available on your device, you can download your photos and videos to your Mac or PC from iCloud.com.



If you do not want iCloud Photos turned off, you can turn it right back on your iOS device:


       1. Go to Settings and tap iCloud.


       2. Select Storage and tap Manage Storage.


       3. Select iCloud Photos and Undo Delete.

You can increase the iCloud storage space by purchasing a new plan https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201318

When sufficient space is created , you can download the photos from iCloud.com https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT209454

And you have not deleted any photo from the device .

Delete photos off Mac but keep in iCloud

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