how do I back up my photo files so I can see them in a file directory. They are on iCloud and I can't download or access them

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how do I back up my photo files so I can see them in a file directory. They are on iCloud and I can't download or access them

I have been using a MacBook for a few years but before that I used windows. I am so frustrated by the way that Apple uses a 'Photos library' icon for all my photos.

I recently decided to back up all my photos somewhere other than my MacBook - so I started with iCloud as that was quickest and easiest.

First of all, it seems the size of my photo library went from 29 GB to 23 GB, which has really stressed me out - have Apple deleted or reduced the quality of my photos??

secondly - the photos are no longer saved on my MacBook. I wanted the photos backed up, not removed from my computer!

I just want to take them off my MacBook and put them in a drive where I can see each photo in a file directory. Photos is a decent enough app for viewing photos but without seeing the original files it feels very hard to know what exactly is happening to my pictures if I edit them or organise them into albums. I would always want a copy of the originals saved somewhere!

I tried looking for my photos here:

~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Masters/

but they aren't even there anymore since I signed up for iCloud. PLEASE is there a way to export from 'Photos' the actual files, without them being in loads of individual subfolders.

The download button is not available to me when I log on to iCloud either. Between my MacBook, my iPhone and iCloud, I have literally no idea where my photos actually are because it also says there's 16 GB of photos on my iPhone, and I have no idea how to save them and back them up on my own drive, and not as a 'photos library' object.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Oct 11, 2020 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

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Old Toad

Level 10

210,591 points

Oct 11, 2020 10:55 AM in response to 7654jazz

First you need to know that the iCloud Library is NOT an off computer storage solution. It's a syncing service between your local library and the iCloud Library. Any action done locally, i.e. edit, deletion, etc., will be duplicated in the iCloud Library.

First of all, it seems the size of my photo library went from 29 GB to 23 GB, which has really stressed me out - have Apple deleted or reduced the quality of my photos??

That will happen if you also selected "Optimize Mac Storage" in your Photos library.

If you want to get a new library with all, full sized originals in it you need to do the following:

1 - get an external HD and format it OS X Extended (journaled) with Ownership set to be ignored.

2 - create a new, empty Photos library on the EHD.

3 - set the new library as the System Photo Library and enable iCloud Library, DO NOT enable Optimize Mac Storage.

4 - once the download is complete you will have a complete library with all of your full sized images in it.

Now you can export the unmodified originals to folders on the EHD so you can manage the files with the Finder instead of with the Photos app.

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Answer 2

Oct 11, 2020 8:09 AM in response to 7654jazz

Hi - no problem, it is very easy.

Select the images you want to export, and go to file, export, export unmodified originals. Like this...

You will get copies of the files exactly as they were when you imported them, and can put them where you like.

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how do I back up my photo files so I can see them in a file directory. They are on iCloud and I can't download or access them

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